New Corduroy Collection Just Dropped! Fabric That's Been Cool Since the 1700s
The Ridged Road to Royalty: A Brief History of Corduroy
Look, we'll be the first to admit that corduroy gets a bad rap. Sure, it's had its awkward phases (hello, 1970s elementary school teacher vibes), but this ridged wonder has been solving problems and looking good doing it for centuries.
Meet Your Textile Overachiever
Here's the thing about corduroy – it's basically the overachiever of textiles, and it's been that way since the 1700s. The name comes from the French "corde du roi" (cord of the king), because apparently even French royalty knew a good thing when they felt it. Though the actual etymology is probably more mundane – we just prefer the royal story because it sounds better.
Originally woven in Manchester, England, corduroy was the working person's fabric of choice. Those raised ridges – called "wales" – aren't just for show. They create air pockets for insulation, and the dense weave means this stuff can handle whatever you throw at it.
The genius of corduroy? It's rugged yet refined, casual yet sophisticated. It's that friend who can hang drywall in the morning and grab drinks downtown that night without missing a beat.
Our New Corduroy Collection That Proves Our Point
Which brings us to why we're slightly obsessed with the stuff. Our new Women's Corduroy Collection has got overalls that make manual labor look chic, jackets with sherpa collars for boardroom to bonfire transitions, and jumpers that prove functional doesn't mean frumpy. And our Men's Corduroy Shirt Jacket – available in four colorways because we couldn't pick just one – sells out every season. And honestly? We should see it coming by now.
"I love my shirt jackets (grey and navy)...they can be worn as a light jacket or heavy shirt; they are great!"
--- Andrew, L.
Whether you're hiking a trail or navigating a client meeting, cord adapts. It breathes, insulates, and somehow always looks intentional. So, next time someone gives you grief about your corduroy, remind them they're dissing fabric royalty – literally.
Our corduroy collections aren't the only thing that's new at purnellgear.com. We just received a fresh crop of fall styles for both men and women. Shop now and as always, get free standard shipping on all orders!
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SECOND THOUGHT
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Corduroy gets its texture from raised ridges called "wales" – and before you ask, yes, that's the same spelling as the country. You can spot actual whales off the Welsh coast (blue whales, fin whales, humpbacks), which means you could theoretically whale watch in Wales while wearing wide-wale corduroy. It's a tongue twister that would make even the most seasoned sailor stumble, but we're pretty sure no one's actually tested this theory. Yet.
