History of The Parka

During WWII, the US army was inspired by the ‘Amauti. Therefore, they decided to use the design to make jackets for their soldiers. The designers adapted the design of The Parka to the soldier’s needs. This version of The Parka looks more like The Parka we know nowadays. The cold resistant coats were perfect for pilots and soldiers stationed in cold areas. They used the big pockets to store their ammunition, food and medical supplies. The oversized shape fitted perfectly over the voluminous soldier uniforms. The Parka developed into various shapes throughout the war as demands evolved continuously. After the original B-9 Parka, designed by Eddie Bauer, the N3-B Parka made an appearance on the fields. The so-called Snorkel Parka had a zipper all the way up and covered almost the whole soldier’s face. Even though it kept the soldiers from becoming an enormous ice crystal, The Parka was not quite suitable for the war. The hood restricted their hearing and line of vision, which made them an easier target for attack.

During the Korean War the famous fishtail Parka was invented. They named the coat after the back of the parka, which looked like a fish tail. They invented a split rear, so the soldier could tie both ends around his legs to keep him warm in the cold Korean climate. Even though we don’t need to tie our jackets around our legs anymore, the fishtail still is one of the most famous features of The Parka.