Up Close: Hunting Jacket.
At 3sixteen, we are relentlessly focused on details - those tiny differences that we hope make our pieces into one of the first things you look for in your closet when you get ready to face the day. While we try to make our webshop as informative as possible, not everything we love about certain pieces can be translated to a simple description.
The very best solution would be for you to come to our flagship store or visit one of our retail partners to see, touch, ask questions about, and try on a piece you're interested in. As powerful and wonderful as the Internet is, we strongly believe there is no substitute for an in-person experience. This isn't feasible or convenient for everybody though, so every now and again we'll be taking some time out to talk more about pieces that we think you'd love if you saw them up close.
Many of us here at 3sixteen grew up with a variation of the Barn Coat; countless companies produced their takes on this popular outerwear style over the decades and still do so today. We’ve wanted to design our own interpretation of this classic piece for years, and were finally able to do so through our FW17 collection. We took inspiration from a vintage camo Hunting Jacket that we purchased from our friends at Wooden Sleepers many years ago, and went to work on simplifying the jacket and modernizing the fit. We also made a few design tweaks to really make it ours, including a rounded collar shape that is a detail we pulled from old French Bleu de Travails, and a more streamlined pocket construction that gives a sleeker look while still preserving functionality.
For our most recent version, we made a few adjustments to improve both wearability and comfort. First up was an update to the fabric: we chose a classic navy and a darker tan midweight canvas. The hues work for any wardrobe, and the new canvas is easier to break in than the previous year’s. We reengineered the fit with roomier armholes and sleeves to allow for easier layering. Of course, we kept the jacket’s tried-and-true design elements: horn buttons, signature corduroy collar and cuff linings. And as with our past iterations of the Hunting Jacket, we sourced our fabric from Japan and constructed the jackets in our factory in San Francisco, CA. The Hunting Jacket will continue to be a core item in our seasonal collections, and we’re looking forward to seeing it evolve in the coming years.
Featuring seven pockets in total, the practicality of the jacket itself may be one of its biggest draws; we especially love the inside zippered pocket which allows for valuables to be secured when traveling or riding. But we think this year’s fabric is really what takes center stage. Initially, the heavyweight canvas feels rough, stiff and boxy (if you know our brand, you already know where this is going). After a couple weeks of wear and a soak or two, the fabric comes alive: some of the pigment in high-wear areas fade, the combs settle in, and the fabric softens to form to the wearer’s body.
On top of its practicality and fabric quality, we feel that this jacket is a great addition to any wardrobe because it pairs well with anything: khaki chinos, jeans, and even sweatpants. Our intent was for the Hunting Jacket to be a subtle statement piece that stands out while supporting other pieces in your outfit. We think you’ll agree once you try it on.
Because we want you to have a chance to see and appreciate the Hunting Jacket in person, for this weekend only we are offering free domestic returns on this piece. Place an order for one before Monday (2/4), and if you're not in love with it when you receive it, email us at info@3sixteen.com and we'll generate a return shipping label for you to send the order back at no cost to you.