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a day out in the country - rapha gentleman's cap

waxed cotton cap

john barbour, perhaps the most well-known purveyor of the waxed cotton coat, jacket and a myriad of other items of apparel was born in 1849 and raised on a farm in west galloway, a most scottish rural retreat if ever there was one. he married his wife margaret and, in the days prior to satellite television had eleven children, many of whom eventually joined him in the business of j barbour & son, set up in 1894 at 5 market place, south shields. the principal source of income at that time was the selling of beacon brand oilskins to sailors and fishermen. a relatively little known fact is their production of motorcycle suits from the 1930s up until 1977 when they took the step to withdraw from this area of clothing. in 1974, they received their first royal warrant from the duke of edinburgh, and many of their current designs of barbour waxed cotton jackets originate from this era.

barbour clothing is immediately identifiable by the tartan lining, a green and gold enamel badge and a label proclaiming their three royal warrants. unless of course, it's a rapha gentleman's waxed cotton cycle cap.

when i first moved to islay, it seemd that the barbour jacket was an unwritten item of uniform amongst summer visitors, presumably under the misapprehension that such would help them blend into island life. in much the same way that prospective art students dress flamboyantly, this actually served only to mark them out from local dress sense. the waxed cotton jacket has, more recently, been replaced by roof racks bearing bicycles that seemingly never stray from this rooftop location, whatever the duration of their visit.

having soundly berated perren street for their fixation with urban matters (only kidding simon) in yesterday's review, there can be no doubt that this has been at least partially remedied by a cap that wouldn't look at all out of place in bridgend hotel, about three miles from washingmachinepost towers, where stalking parties are want to abide. parking the bike at roadside and surveying the estates in the manner of the landed gentry is easy enough if you have the correct dress code; the waxed cotton cap is as good a start as any.

the peak is finished underside with brown corduroy and the waxed cotton outer bears a centre ribbon also of waxed cotton. the lining is remarkably similar to that of the original barbour jacket, as is the enamel rapha pin badge hooked to the front left (low enough to avoide interference with helmet). each side features two brass eyelets for ventilation, both mesh covered.

art lies in the details.

the caps are available in small, medium and large, but the waxed cotton is of a consistency that separates it from any other cotton cap you might own. it satisfactorily retains its shape even when you take it off, but really the very best bit is the waterproof ability of waxed cotton. if you cast your mind back to my rain soaked ride from the jura ferry to home, it gives me great pleasure to inform that at least a part of my scraggly hairstyle remained sheltered from such precipitation.

there are two other designs available in this particular range of rapha caps, but for a hebridean intent on carving him/herself a piece of epic this is really the only logical choice. each retails at £45 ($60) and is a more than worthy addition to any casquette collection, particularly if you reside in the more refined parts of the british isles.

rapha

twmp

posted monday 28 september 2009

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