The History of the Traditional Explorer Outfit -Their Clothing Had a Greater Impact on the Fashion Industry Than You May Think
Explorer - ‘A person who travels to places where no one has ever been in search of geographical or scientific information'.
We may think that every corner of the earth has been explored but some modern-day explorers think otherwise. The explorers of the past have been able to achieve great things because of research including that of their clothing and equipment. This was impressive given their limitations of technology. It was a time before Gore-tex and waterproof fabrics.
Jaeger outfitted the Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton and Mawson Antarctic expedition. A standard issue included Jaegar wool long underwear, a wool pullover sweater, wool trousers, wool coat, wool muffler, wool balaclava, wool socks, fur mitts and leather hobnail, cotton gaberdine or reindeer fur fine skin boots.
These men must have been incredibly uncomfortable. Wool holds water and doesn’t wick moisture away from the skin, so the men would have been wet and chaffed from the scratchy wool. The build-up of soot and seal blubber on their unwashed bodies over such a long period of time could have provided a little protection. The Burberry gaberdine coat would have provided some wind and water resistance. Many of the woollen sweaters also had a layer of Jaeger fleece. Some expeditions were provided with Jaeger fleece shirts, vests and pants for layering.
Today, Antarctic clothing is designed to be lightweight and comfortable and is fit for purpose. Technological fabrics are extensively tested.
Jaeger was established by British businessman Lewis Tomalin as Dr Jaeger’s Sanitary Woollen System Co Ltd n 1884, capitalising on a craze for wool jersey long johns by the theories of the German scientist Dr Gustav Jaeger. Lewis Tomlin read the works of Dr Gustav Jaeger, a professor of zoology and physiology who pioneered the benefits of animal hair in clothing. Tomlin translated the doctor’s work into English. The company supported the war effort by making underwear and blankets, promoting wool for health. The company grew into the global fashion brand Jaeger, who continued to use natural animal fibres as a key part of their collections.
The explorer’s gaberdine coats were provided by the company Burberry. From the late 1800’s the company was known as an outdoor clothing company. In 1879 Thomas Burberry invented the fabric Gaberdine, a lightweight breathable, waterproof, tear-proof and hard-wearing fabric that was used for jackets and even tents. This fabric was patented in 1888.
Further Moments in History
In 1893 the Norwegian polar explorer, zoologist and Noble Peace Prize Dr Fritjof Nansen became the first recorded polar explorer to take Burberry Gaberdine to the poles when he set sail for the Arctic circle in 1893.
In 1907-1909 Sir Ernest Shackleton wore Burberry Gaberdine for his expedition to the South Pole.
In 1910 the Aviator Claude Grahame-White wore Burberry Gaberdine when he became the first person to fly between London and Manchester in less than 24 hours.
In 1911 the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team became the first to reach the South Pole with a Burberry tent and clothing.
1912 British explorer Captain Robert Falcon-Scott reached the South Pole wearing Burberry clothing and equipped with Burberry tents.
Thomas Burberry designed and patented the Tielocken coat, its predecessor being the now-famous Trench coat. It proved popular with officers during WWI. The coat closed with a strap and buckle fastening and featured a single button at the collar.
1914-1918 During WWI Burberry provided apparel and equipment.