Barkcloth Coat is Eco-Fashion Chic
Barkcloth is back. Designer Gary Symor, in collaboration with Dutch research agency Refinity, has created a stylish men’s trench coat made from the fibres of the Mutuba tree. The bark has many advantages over a trench coat made from traditional leather, which requires chemical-intensive tanning.
The process of making Barkcloth is centuries old. Strips of Mutuba bark are beaten into sheets, which are then boiled into a pliable fibre. The trees are not uprooted by the process and recover well. Like leather, barkcloth is durable and does not fray. The Mutuba tree is found in Uganda and harvesting the barkcloth is a source of income for local people.
The trench coat comes in a dark brown colour to make it more durable between washes. It closes without buttons using a click/fold design. An accompanying vest, made from German linen, allows the wearer to subtly change his appearance and adds to the versatility of the garment.
Written in association with WasteCare waste management.
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