A constant theme on this blog has been my love for traditional outdoor wear. Tweeds and natural cloths may not work in the greatest extremes of weather, but for most conditions they are more than adequate and, arguably, more comfortable and stylish than sweaty man-made waterproof fabrics. In this feature I'm looking at outdoor clothing from Purdey whose country sports credentials are unequalled.
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| Purdey's AW21 collection of country and town wear for men and women |
The UK has a long tradition of poor weather so it's natural that we have developed practical weather-resistant clothing for outdoor tasks; country sports, dogwalks, farming, wildlife watching - whether we work or play outside, we need durable clothes that will keep us warm and dry. If, in addition, they are stylish, that's a bonus.
James Purdey & Sons are best known for their bespoke sporting rifles and shotguns, the owners of which will be out making use of them in all weathers. Of course you don't need to indulge in country sports to wear Purdey's clothes. I own several shooting coats, breeches and boots designed for such use, but I use them for fellwalking, walking the dog and wildlife walks in the wilds of The Lake District where their practical and weatherproof properties are essential.
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| Trying on some of the AW21 menswear range at Purdey |
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| Practical, durable and stylish - Purdey AW21 |
I was invited recently to see Purdey's AW21 range at their magnificent premises in Mayfair, London. While Purdey is no longer family owned and is part of the Richemont empire, the feel of the place and of the clothing is essentially British. Tweeds abound, woven in the Scottish borders. Where additional weather resistance is needed Sympatex is used to line the field coats. Every effort is made to manufacture as sustainably as possible to the extent that excess cloth is used to manufacture ties. As consumers it's our responsibility to buy only sustainable products when we can and it's good to see Purdey making efforts here to meet that need.
I've not been able to use any of these clothes in the wild but trying them on and close inspection suggests that they are well-made and designed to be practical and to last. What further encouragement do we need to ditch the bright nylon anoraks and try practical, stylish and durable tweeds for the next outing in the country - or indeed the town?
See Purdey for more information and to purchase.
I was invited to press day at Purdey and this feature is unsponsored.
