Spring Essentials: The Norton Jacket

Why We Love The Norton Jacket

Put simply, it's a breeze to style. The trucker silhouette obviously gives it a classic blouson shape which is inherently masculine, while the turn-down collar affords the jacket some formal structure, despite being relaxed. We love the fact that you can wear it with a t-shirt and jeans for an off-duty look, or you can pair it with tailored wool trousers and a turtleneck for a more refined autumnal fit. It works with denim jeans especially well, too. In recent popular culture, Jeremy Allen White's character, Carmy, in the hit series The Bear, is partial to a wool trucker, often pairing it with a simple white tee and jeans for a really rugged look. But these summer styles can be worn just the same, with a tee or polo shirt offering a nice laid-back look.

The History of the Trucker Jacket

While the genesis of the denim jacket is indelibly linked to the American West, the fabric itself was born in the French city of Nîmes, lending its name to the cloth (albeit anglicized as 'de Nimes'). The tale of the jacket begins way back in 1853 during the frenzy of the Gold Rush when a enterprising bloke called Levi Strauss (you might have heard of him?) opened the doors of his haberdashery store in San Francisco. Initially offering robust cotton trousers for miners and gold prospectors, Strauss's venture took a significant turn when a customer named Jacob Davis reinforced the seams and pockets with copper rivets.

This innovative design was patented and mass-produced, marking the inception of a success story. Soon after, Strauss recognized the potential for a complementary upper garment. Despite the end of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1899, rugged workwear had carved a niche in fashion. Consequently, in 1905, Strauss unveiled the 'Levi Blouse,' bearing the code 506. Like its denim-clad predecessor, this blouse featured a sturdy, unsanforized 9oz denim, a cropped, boxy silhouette, and front double pleats (expandable with a pair of scissors if needed). By 1917, the 'blouse' had been rebranded as the 'Number 1' style in the Dude Ranch Duds Western catalog, which ultimately gave rise to the modern 'Type I' label. Types II and III followed, each with its unique characteristics.

Throughout the 20th century, these jackets held steadfast in the realm of men's fashion, retaining their rugged utilitarian charm while becoming symbols of rebellion, counterculture, and, eventually, high-end fashion. Few garments have been imitated as relentlessly as the trucker jacket, and few have withstood the test of time so resolutely.