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The Harrington Jacket: A Hit Across the Pond

Since its humble beginning in the north of England, the Harrington Jacket has gained admirers on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.

James Smith

The Harrington jacket is a true sportswear classic worn by some of the most iconic figures in menswear over the last 60 years. Since its humble beginning in the north of England, the Harrington has gained admirers on both sides of the Atlantic and navigated all corners of society.

We’re taking a moment to shine a light on the Harrington and the brand that pioneered this menswear staple.

Getting Into the Swing of Things

The English City of Manchester was once the center of the world’s cotton textile production. After producing 8 billion yards of cloth in 1912, Manchester was nicknamed ‘Cottonopolis’, and the city stood as an industrial powerhouse peppered with numerous textile mills.

As well as its thriving cotton trade, Manchester was known for being extremely wet. Seeing over 150 days of rain per year, Manchester’s unfortunate climate proved fruitful for clothiers John and Isaac Miller. The Miller brothers were finding great success in Cottonopolis in the 1930s, producing full-length cotton rain Macs for the likes of Burberry and Aquascutum. By the mid-1930s, the Miller Brothers had decided to begin selling their goods directly under the name of Baracuta. Stationed on Beswick Street, Manchester, Baracuta designed a range of high-quality coats and jackets, each named with a unique alphanumeric code.

Baracuta proved highly successful and the Miller Brothers soon found themselves rubbing shoulders with other high-flyers in the prestigious Lancashire Golf Club. Ironically, when rainfall hit the golf course, the Miller Brothers found that their Baracuta rain macs weren’t suitable for golfing. The traditional full-length construction reduced traction in the lower body and affected their golf swing. The Miller Brothers recognized this and designed a new jacket that would be perfect for the golf course.

Baracuta G9, available for $522 from DeeCee Style.

In 1937, Baracuta designed the G9 Jacket. The modifications made to their full-length coats made the G9 suitable for golf, hence the ‘G’ in G9. A short-fitting jacket with a zip closure, the G9 sat just above the waistline, reducing any restrictions when swinging the golf club. At the time, the G9 was constructed from a water-resistant poplin, with a ventilated rear yoke and elasticated cuffs and waistband. Shortly after its release, John Miller approached Lord Lovat, the 24th Chieftain of the Scottish Fraser Clan, to ask for his permission to use the Fraser clan’s tartan as a lining for the G9. Lovat accepted his request and the newly added Fraser tartan brought a hint of flare to the otherwise understated G9, making it even more desirable.

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By the late 1940s, the Miller Brothers had begun exporting the Baracuta G9 to America. The G9 was instantly appreciated by golfers across the U.S.A., including celebrity enthusiasts like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

The stateside success of the G9 soon spawned imitations. U.S. company, McGregor, released the ‘Drizzler’ in 1947, a lightweight sporting jacket that featured a similar construction to the Baracuta G9, minus the tartan lining, and with a point collar instead of a stand collar. Also aimed at golfers, the McGregor Drizzler became an American classic in its own right and has since been reproduced and riffed upon by brands like Polo Ralph Lauren, Iron Heart, Pherrow’s, and Kapital.

Mainstream Success & Coining of ‘Harrington’

The Harrington jacket, known then as the ‘golfer’, hit the mainstream when James Dean famously sported a bright red Harrington in the iconic 1956 film, “Rebel Without a Cause”. Despite popular belief, Dean’s jacket wasn’t a Baracuta or a McGregor. It was a similar piece from an American brand named Bud Berma. Paired with a set of faded blue Lee jeans and a plain white t-shirt, Dean’s casual ensemble created an everlasting blueprint of ’50s casual wear. The Baracuta G9 was later donned by Elvis Presley in the 1958 film “King Creole”, and later by Steve McQueen on the front cover of Life Magazine in 1963. With the backing of these male icons, the Harrington became a menswear staple, worn by anyone from weekend golfers to the Ivy League set.

It wasn’t until the mid-60s that the term ‘Harrington’ would be used to name the G9 and its counterparts. The Baracuta G9 was worn by Rodney Harrington, a character played by actor Ryan O’Neill in the 60s soap opera, “Peyton Place”. It is claimed that in 1966, British-American menswear specialist and Baracuta stockist, John Simons, marketed his stock of the Baracuta G9 as the “Rodney Harrington Jacket” after the Peyton Place character, a name that was later abbreviated to “Harrington”.

As the years went on, the Harrington jacket’s appeal continued to grow. Steve McQueen continued his advocacy of the Baracuta G9 by wearing a navy version in the stylish 1968 film, “The Thomas Crown Affair”. Thanks to Japan’s love of Ivy League style, the Harrington resonated with stylish Japanese youth who named it the ‘Swing jacket’ or ‘Swing Top’ due to its golfing roots. The Harrington became fashionable amongst the Mod and Skinhead cultural movements in the 60s and later enjoyed resurgences in the late 70s and early 80s with Punks and the Mod and Skinhead revivalists. Mods were particularly attracted to the Harrington as its short, boxy fit made it appropriate for scooter riding.

What’s so interesting about the Harrington jacket is how it is so quintessentially British and American at the same time. Just like McGregor in the 1940s, English brands like Ben Sherman and Fred Perry produced their renditions of the Harrington jacket as it swept their nation. While Frank Sinatra and Steve McQueen sported their G9s as an understated menswear staple, The Clash rocked customized Harrington’s in the most rebellious manner. It’s this widespread appreciation and application of the Harrington jacket that makes it one of the most ubiquitous menswear pieces of all time, and one that still plays a large role in men’s fashion today.

Harringtons Today

The Harrington is alive and well, enjoying steady popularity within menswear. Baracuta still produces its classic G9 jacket in England, coming in a range of materials and colorways – all lined with Fraser tartan. McGregor jackets are still produced (abroad) but not in the same time-honored way as the Baracuta, save for some small Japanese licensing productions.

Baracuta G9

Baracuta G9 Jacket, available for $521 from DeeCee Style.

Falcon Garments Lamb Suede Harrington

Available at Falcon Garments for $965.

45r Lightweight Cotton Harrington Jacket

Available for $521 from DeeCee Style.

The Real McCoy’s All-Weather Swing Jacket Mint (McGregor Drizzler repro)

Available for $680 from Clutch Cafe.

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