Coat 1890s

This coat was made by John Patterson & Co., a tailoring business dating back to 1852. Made of wool broadcloth with a velvet collar, this garment is a reminder of the material culture of menswear at the time. The tailoring of this coat speaks to the culture of mass production and the rise of ready-to-wear clothing. The industrial revolution meant the availability of new technologies like the sewing machine, and the creation of patterns. The rise of department stores also allowed companies like John Patterson & Co. to manufacture and distribute at scale. However, the very specific cut of this coat speaks to a bespoke past, of handcraft and a certain expectation of the elite customer. Look at the details – the perfect alignment of the double-breasted buttons, the fit of the velvet collar to the broadcloth. This history is woven into every stitch. So next time you put on a coat, consider the hands and machines that brought it into being. That's a part of its story too.