Gabardine is a durable twill worsted wool. It is a tightly woven waterproof fabric and is used to make outerwear and various other garments, such as suits, overcoats, trousers, uniforms, and windbreakers. Thomas Burberry created the fabric in the late 1870s and patented it in 1888.[1] The name gabardine comes from "gaberdine", a type of long, cape-like dress worn during the Middle Ages.[2]
Since its debut in the late 19th century, gabardine has taken on an important role in military, active, and outerwear due to its durable, breathable, waterproof, and lightweight nature. In particular, its widespread use by the British Armed Forces during World War I produced the garments now widely recognised as the trench coat.[3]
- ^ Gilroy, Darla-Jane (11 May 2023). Little Book of Burberry: The Story of the Iconic Fashion House. Headline. ISBN 978-1-80279-268-3.
- ^ "gabardine". www.bloomsburyfashioncentral.com. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
- ^ "The trench coat's forgotten WW1 roots". BBC News. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2024.