Clarke Parka

The Clarke Parka is a modern interpretation of one of the most enduring outerwear icons, designed in collaboration with Joselyn Clarke, former Creative Director of Grenfell and Gloverall. Its story begins in the early 1950s with the US Army’s M51 fishtail parka, created to shield soldiers from the cold, wet Korean winters. Celebrated for its practicality and adaptability, the design soon transcended its military origins, adopted by Britain’s Mod subculture in the 1960s to protect sharp tailoring while riding scooters, and later revived by the Britpop movement of the 1990s as a symbol of effortless cool. Today, the parka remains a timeless blend of utility and style, and the Clarke Parka continues that legacy with contemporary refinement and British craftsmanship.

Crafted in England from a water-repellent cloth (90% cotton, 10% polyurethane) developed exclusively for Cordings by a specialist mill in Como, Italy, this parka is as functional as it is stylish. The interior features a bespoke Portuguese-woven check lining, a removable quilted liner made in Japan, and thoughtful detailing throughout, from Cordings-engraved buttons and branded poppers to a corduroy-trimmed hood using cloth from Brisbane Moss. With patch pockets, hand-warmer pockets, underarm eyelets, and leather-buckled cuff straps, the design balances heritage utility with luxury finish. Each garment is individually patterned, cut, and finished in a small Kent workroom, ensuring the Clarke Parka upholds Cordings’ enduring commitment to British-made excellence.