There are coats that offer warmth, and then there are coats that carry weight, in cloth, in purpose, and in history.
The Admiral’s Great Coat belongs to the latter class, a long, commanding silhouette steeped in British military tradition, engineered for today with quiet authority and meticulous craft.
The Great Coat first appeared on the backs of field officers during the Napoleonic campaigns. It was designed to shield the uniform beneath, cut long for protection and tailored with stature in mind.
By the time of the First World War, it had become standard issue for commanding ranks, a coat of resilience, presence, and practicality. But the naval versions were distinct: darker in hue, often heavier in cloth, and worn by those who led through squalls and storms rather than over muddy fields. The Admiral’s coat stood for order, clarity, and command at sea.
The PWVC interpretation builds on this legacy, weaving together military precision and considered innovation. At its core is an extraordinary 600g double-sided wool cashmere cloth, woven by Kynoch of Scotland, it is a homage to the regimental blanket issued to Private Jack White upon his conscription in 1916. The cashmere lends a natural softness, tactile, breathable, and unmistakably luxurious, while the wool ensures strength and structure. Working with such a venerable mill ensures the fabric will not only wear beautifully but endure for decades. The coat is unlined, with fully bound internal seams finished in our signature copper, a quiet flourish that frames the workmanship within.
This allows the wearer to feel the integrity of the cloth and keeps the coat light enough to wear across seasons. But look inside and it becomes something else entirely. Both the dark and light olive stripes, woven vertically through the double-faced cloth, are perfectly aligned across every panel, every pocket, every seam. It’s a hidden composition, a technical feat that speaks to a level of craftsmanship long abandoned by most but still practised with pride in our Manchester factory. Where others cut corners, we match stripes.
The inverted box pleat and back vent with button tab offer movement without losing structure, while the inset sleeve ensures a clean, tailored fit across the shoulder line. Functional military detailing runs throughout: the button-adjustable half-back belt, turn-back cuffs, and real-horn British-made buttons nod to traditional officer kit.
The Van Dyke-stitched collar is both decorative and structural, a nod to ceremonial tailoring, reinforced at stress points with technical flourish. A detachable shearling collar adds warmth and visual heft in colder conditions. Then there are the subtle upgrades: internal zip-secure pockets, virtually unheard of in formal wool overcoats, provide modern utility without compromising form.
The angled welt pockets with flaps echo classic Great Coat design, while the etched copper rivets at the back neck serve as a quiet mark of distinction, a tribute to the copper telephone wire that Private White famously carried across enemy lines, earning him the Victoria Cross.
This is a coat not only steeped in military history but elevated by naval rank. The title is no accident. In the naval chain of command, an Admiral leads fleets, often from shore, sometimes from deck, always from the front. The Admiral’s Great Coat speaks to that same sense of enduring leadership.
Built for storms, cut for stature, worn with confidence anywhere in the world.
Built for storms, cut for stature, worn with confidence anywhere in the world.
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