The New Baracuta : Guide to Baracuta Jackets

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The Baracuta G9: New and Improved for 2013

You can't have failed to notice the new Baracuta G9 and G4. The original Harrington Jacket - much copied, but never bettered, is now better than ever. With improved fabrics, fits and styles, you've never owned a better Harrington Jacket. Baracuta have made a new short film celebrating the Baracuta Harrington and why it is so special. View it above!

The Baracuta G9 Original                                                      The Baracuta G9 Garment Dyed

The Baracuta G9 Original

Here's your favourite Harrington Jacket like you've never seen it before!

The Baracuta G9 Original retains all the aspects that make it the authentic G9 Harrington - the ribbed, double button collar, the 2 button down pockets, the inside button pocket, raglan sleeves, elasticated waist and cuffs, iconic 5-point 'Umbrella' vent to reverse and of course, the famous Fraser Tartan lining. But add to this an improved fit - the G9 is now slimmer and more fitted than the old style G9, giving a much more flattering shape - and better fabrics - the G9 Original is a Poly-cotton shell with a 'Coolmax' lining. The unique 'Coolmax' lining keeps moisture away from the skin, keeping the wearer cool and comfortable. Also, all the Baracuta G9 Original Jackets are now exclusively Made In England. This is really the Mod connoisseur's Harrington Jacket. A really special Jacket for the discerning Mod, when only the best will do, buy the Baracuta.

View all the Baracuta G9 Original Jackets here.

The Baracuta G9 Garment Dyed

Also new to the range is the Baracuta G9 Garment Dyed Jacket. This is a G9 with some subtle differences. Firstly, it has a 100% cotton garment dyed shell. Garment Dyed is the process where a jacket is made and then dyed to the desired colour after production. The G9 Garment Dyed also features a vintage look Union Jack pop to the inside of the collar on the left, a tonal colour version of the tartan lining and the 5-point 'Umbrella' finish to the reverse is sewn down (not vented). The G9 Garment Dyed also features the new slimmer fit, making this jacket a must-have.

View all the Baracuta G9 Garment Dyed Jackets here.

Look out for the new Baracuta G4 Original Jacket making its debut here soon as well!

Baracuta's History: The Original Harrington Jacket.

"The next evening it was a warm, pattering, incessant rain – just rain to waken up the flowers. But in Manchester, where alas! there are no flowers, the rain had only a disheartening and gloomy effect; the streets were wet and dirty, the drippings from the houses were wet and dirty, and the people were wet and dirty."

- 'Mary Barton' by Elizabeth Gaskell

If there is one thing which is constant in Manchester, England - it's the rain. In a city where it rains more often than it doesn't, Rainwear was big business in the early 20th centuary. Brothers, John and Isaac Miller ran the Baracuta factory, making rainwear for brands such as Burberry and Aquascutum. When they branched out into their own brand, Baracuta soon became synonymous with the finest Raincoats. 

By 1937, the Miller Brothers were looking for a new, functional design for a working man, and which would also keep them dry in the rain. They came up with what would eventually become the Baracuta G9. This shorter jacket meant the wearer would have the benefit of a shower proof coat while he was still able to move around, unhampered by a longer raincoat or mac. With the design including collar button fastening, elastic waistband and cuffs and button fasten pockets nearly finished, the Miller Brothers took their idea to Beaufort Castle, Scotland. In the presence of Lord Lovat, the head of the Fraser Clan, the Miller brothers requested that they be granted permission and licence to use the famous red Fraser tartan in the lining for the new Baracuta Jacket. With the agreement in place, the Miller Brother's began manufacturing the Baracuta Jacket in the classic G9 style, as well as other variations including the G4 and G10 Harrington Jackets.

Over the years the Baracuta G9 built up a reputation. In the 1950's Baracuta G9 Jackets were being exported to the US as 'Sports Coats' for the early Mods looking for that Ivy League look. In 1958 Elvis Presley wore the Baracuta G9 in the flim, 'King Creole' propelling the jacket to the forefront of fashion. Other fifties and sixties icons picked the Baracuta G9 as thier jacket of choice - Frank Sinatra, Arnold Palmer, Gregory Peck, and perhaps most famously, The King of Cool - Steve McQueen, who made the Natural coloured Baracuta G9 an integral part of his 'look'.

By the 1960's the G9 jacket was a must have for the Mods. With its intricate attention to detail and refined style, the Baracuta G9 was just the type of jacket to appeal to the Mod movement. It was also in the sixties that John Simons (owner of sixties mod clothing store, 'The Ivy Shop') coined the name 'Harrington' for the Baracuta Jacket, after US TV soap, 'Peyton Place'. One of the shows characters, 'Rodney Harrington', played by Ryan O'Neil, would often wear the Baracuta G9 jacket. The name caught on and has stuck ever since.

It wasn't only Mods who loved the Baracuta G9 Jacket. The Seventies saw punks and Mod revivalists adopt the Baracuta Harrington as their jacket of choice. The Clash played Times Square in 1981 wearing personalised Baracuta G9's (specially made by Baracuta). With the advent of nineties Britpop and Indie, the Baracuta G9 found a new home.... on the backs of countless indie icons. With inspiration drawn from their sixties predecessors, the Baracuta G9 was once again firmly in the spotlight. The list of stars to highlight the Baracuta as a must have item of indie clothing includes Johnny Borrell (Razorlight), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Liam Gallagher (Oasis), Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Pete Doherty, Ollie Murs, Tom Cruise, Daniel Craig, Thierry Henry and many more.

In 2013 the Baracuta was relaunched as a premium Jacket - designed for the Mod connoisseur, for whom only the best will do! New brand owners, WP Lavori have improved the fit  of the jacket, making it a slimmer and more fitted flattering shape, and put the Baracuta G9 in to new and imporoved fabrics. This is an exciting time for the Baracuta range, which is set to grow and expand with new, premium styles. The Baracuta G9 Original retains all it's iconic design aspects - not least the famous Fraser Tartan and 5-point 'Umbrella' reverse vent, while the new G9 Garment Dyed offers a slightly different slant on the classic G9, with Sixties Mod influenced Union Jack pop to the collar, sewn down 5-point reverse and new tonal tartan linings.

Differences between the Baracuta G9, G4 and G10 Jackets:

The classic Baracuta G9 Original features:

Raglan Sleeves sewn radially to the base of the collar. The sleeve cut stretches from under the armpit up to the base of the collar, and while enabling the arms and the body to move freely, it provides great comfort.

The iconic Fraser Tartan lining.

Symmetrical front pockets are closed by flaps and can be fastened by buttons.

The waistband and wristbands are elasticated and in the same colour as the garment.

The short firm collar is closed by two buttons placed side by side, the same colour as the jacket.

The famous 5-point 'Umbrella' shaped vent to the reverse. (Only genuine Baracuta Harringtons can feature the 5-points)

The Baracuta G4 Jacket:

The Baracuta G4 Original Jacket shares the same style aspects as the G9 Original, but substitutes the elasticated waistband and cuff for an open waistband and button cuff.

The Baracuta G10 Jacket:

The G10 jacket is identical to the Baracuta G9 Original, except for where the G9 has the 5-point 'Umbrella' vent to the reverse, the G10 has a flat finish (no vent present).

View all of the Baracuta Collection here.