MotivMFG is headed by Samuel Wei, founder of Radiance Blue and the pioneer of the heritage market in China; and Daniel Gu, a third-generation tailor and designer. Together, they combine old-world tailoring (from various antique European manuals) with workwear production techniques. Constant research into garment production techniques around the world informs their design, with the goal of creating “recreations” rather than “reproductions”
A contemporary utility garment inspired by several historical military garments, the Hybrid Parka borrows details from British Dispatch Rider & Gas Coats from WWII, as well as military parkas from the 1950s. The final result is a modern garment that manages to look both technically advanced and of the era, while easily fitting in with military and outdoor styles from the last hundred years, what Motiv refer to as "a parka indistinct in both era and origin."
Lightweight and designed with function as a primary concern, it features a relaxed and open body, with gathering above the hem to allow for a small backpack to be worn inside the garment when it's raining. The raglan sleeves are wide and comfortable, with an anatomical taper to a more fitted (and adjustable) cuff, while the collar features a collapsible/hidden hood.
It has three roomy exterior pockets, an angled chest pocket taken from WWII motorcycle jackets, and two large front pockets that sit above the hem. The back of the jacket has a snap down rain flap that can be opened to help with ventilation and drying, while the curved hem includes elasticated drawstrings for adjusting the silhouette.
It's made from a specialty nylon taffeta that was processed at a specialty dying facility in Japan. Lightweight and flowy, it's evocative of military parachute fabrics, with slightly more heft and structure - it's trimmed with a coated linen for extra durability and elemental resistance. The pattern is achieved through a special low water immersion tie-dye process, using carefully chosen colors to develop an irregular "natural" camouflage pattern. After dying, the entire garment is given a thorough washing treatment to develop the fabric's desired tonal and textural depth.
It's got tonal hardware, mostly coated snaps, but a stainless zipper is also hidden beneath the asymmetrical covered placket on the front. Inside the jacket is cleanly finished, with covered seams and a self-lining using the same fabric as the exterior body - there's also a few woven hang tabs for drying, because rain garments do get wet sometimes.
Fits true to size with a relaxed fit. Dry clean or spot clean.
- 100% nylon body
- Coated linen trims
- Tie-dye camouflage pattern
- Relaxed fit
- Three external pockets
- Convertible hood
- Raglan sleeves
- Internal backpack space
- Covered seams
- Front and rear rain vent
- Tonal coated snaps
- Asymmetrical covered placket
- Stainless zip with leather pull tab
- Internal woven drying tabs
- Adjustable cuffs
- Rounded hem with drawstrings
- Fits true to size
- Custom woven labels and ceramic hang tag
- Produced by MotivMFG in Beijing