The Iconic Baracuta G9 Jacket
The classic Baracuta G9 Harrington jacket has left an indelible mark on menswear, adorned by Hollywood Icons and embraced by various subcultures like Mods, Skinheads, and Jamaican Rude Boys. After over 85 years, the Harrington jacket remains a staple in every man’s wardrobe.
Baracuta originates in Manchester, a city renowned for its rainy climate and thriving textile industry, providing the perfect setting for Baracuta to produce its raincoats. In 1938, Baracuta introduced the G9 jacket, a short, waterproof zip-up initially intended for the golf course. The name G9 is a nod to the jacket’s golfing origins, with the ‘G’ representing golf and ‘9’ symbolizing the number of holes on the course.
By 1950, the jackets gained global acclaim as Hollywood film stars and Civil Rights Activists adopted the G9 jacket. Elvis Presley can be seen wearing the G9 jacket in the 1958 movie ‘King Creole’, and Frank Sinatra wore it in the 1966 movie ‘Assault on a Queen’.
Frank Sinatra was a champion of civil rights. He performed and became friends with artists like Sammy Davis jnr, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie. Sinatra refused to play in whites-only clubs or stay in segregated hotels, insisting on providing equal pay and treatment for all of his musicians.
Sammy Davis j r used his fame and fortune to fight the evils of racism. He joined in many of the marches for freedom walking with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the other warriors of justice. The G9’s Hollywood appearances elevated the jacket from being a sportswear garment to a sought-after fashion statement.
Beyond the glitz of Hollywood, the Baracuta G9 Harrington jacket has been embraced by various subcultures over the decades. Mods, Skinheads, and Ska enthusiasts all sported the iconic jacket. The versatile design of the G9 appeals to every man regardless of their style, leading to its widespread adoption across contrasting subcultures.
