The Stratford Short Sleeved Jacket

The Stratford Chef Jacket Story

The Stratford is a first for Oliver Harvey for a variety of reasons. Most notably, it is our first single breasted chef jacket. Traditionally, we have always favoured a double breasted front due to the additional fabric which offers you greater protection from heat and its popularity with the majority of our customers who are executive or head chefs. However, since we last introduced a new jacket, preferences have changed and we’ve seen more of our customers requesting this style. So we have delivered. The benefits of a single-breasted front are its lightweight, which makes The Stratford more comfortable in hotter kitchen environments. Bib aprons are also increasing in popularity among chefs, so the need for additional protection of the double breast is diminishing. We have incorporated this trend into the design of The Stratford and added a back neck loop to prevent the apron riding up the collar and discomfort for the wearer.

Comfort, design and breathability were the values we instilled into this jacket. It has Coolmax mesh fabric at both the underarm and side panels. This is so your body is as ventilated as possible without compromising the protective features of the traditional chef jacket. Another first for us is the collar. Again, we have historically advocated a top stitched collar due to the protection it provides the neck area. We decided to introduce a new style for The Stratford. This new lower collar with a ring stud fastening is designed to be comfortable for the wearer and we are confident that this will be a new style seen across chef jackets worldwide. We are the industry leader after all! The Stratford’s fabric composition is Cooltex polycotton. This is a tried and tested contemporary material which delivers on breathability and comfort. It is also incredibly simple to put on and take off with 5 ring studs, concealed by a fly front to look as sleek as possible.

As you have no doubt seen from the product images, the design of The Stratford is unlike anything we have created before. Its shirt style appearance is a real innovation in the chef jacket market and combining that with its lightweight means it feels and looks not like a chef jacket at all. The precision required by our seamstresses and finishers is phenomenal. It is stitched to the millimetre with each of the signature details added individually by hand. Overall, after months of development we are truly proud of The Stratford Chef Jacket and think it will be a cornerstone in contemporary kitchens worldwide for years to come.

Learn more about The Stratford Story here: http://www.oliverharvey.co.uk/news/designing-a-chef-jacket-the-right-way-the-stratford-story.html