Snorkel parka

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[edit] Origins

The name of this jacket is somewhat misleading, the "Snorkel Parka" has little to do with any form of deep sea diving, rather its main aim is to keep the wearer warm and dry during the harsh winter months. The original Snorkel Parka (N3B parka) was originally developed in the USA during the early 1950's for military use. Originally made with a DuPont flight silk nylon outer and lining it was padded with a wool blanket type material until the mid 70's when the padding was changed to polyester wadding making the jacket both lighter and warmer. It gained the common name of "Snorkel Parka" because the hood can be zipped right up leaving only a small tunnel (or snorkel) for the wearer to look out of. This is particularly effective in very cold, windy weather although it has the added liability of seriously limiting the field of vision.

The nylon snorkel parka with blue outer and orange lining became almost standard school wear in the late 70's to mid 80's

[edit] Height of Popularity

The snorkel parka attained its popularity high point in the late 70's to mid 80's when its cheap and hard wearing properties made it the jacket of choice for school kids. It became so popular that at many schools (in the UK) almost every boy had one. Whilst the original N3B parka lining was un-quilted and the same colour as the outer shell, the school type parkas usually has quilted orange lining. The measure of a school parka quickly became how grubby the orange lining got through natural wear without washing and many schoolboy parkas ended their days with the lining more black than orange.

Brands such as Lord Anthony, Campri, Keynote and Brutus made their names selling snorkel parkas.

[edit] Out of fashion

In the late 1980's the snorkel parka became unpopular and was associated with geeks and nerds, helping to create the UK term 'anorak' for such people. As such it became highly unfashionable and for a time wearers became the subject of ridicule.

[edit] Back into fashion

In Europe the snorkel parka began to gain popularity again in the late 1990s and early 2000s, being worn by the likes of Liam Gallagher and David Beckham. Around 2004, the traditional association with "Anoraks" had faded and the Snorkel Parka became a main-stream fashion jacket once more becoming particularly popular in the indie scene and with now middle-aged people recapturing memories of their school snorkel parkas. It is also once again popular as a school jacket, though at nothing like the same level of popularity as it achieved in the 1970s and 80s.

Most modern parkas more closely resemble the original 1950's design and have lost the orange quilted lining of the 70's school parkas, however the old school style are now considered highly desirable selling for high prices in vintage clothing shops.

[edit] Hip Hop

Snorkel jackets are very popular within Hip Hop culture being worn by both men and women.