WORKERS_Engineer Jacket_6 oz Indigo Hickory

This is it, the ultimate challenge: the engineer jacket. As a maker, it's something I'm always tempted to try my hand at. But it's famously difficult to design, meaning it doesn't sell well.

At first, looking at vintage pieces, I was racking my brain thinking, "There's no way to do this!" Then one day, when I was trying on a coverall with a length of about 65 cm, the front folded up. I saw myself in the mirror and it hit me. This is it!!!!! Until then, I had been too constrained by the "grammar of engineer jackets" – the unusually short length of vintage pieces, and only two or three pockets.

I realized that the most important features of an engineer jacket are the V-shaped front and the collarless design. As long as these are maintained, even if other elements are rearranged, it will still look like a "cool engineer jacket."

The material is 8/6/5 oz, noticeably thinner than the 10 oz range usually used for workwear. I considered wearing it from August, when it would be delivered. If we're going to make it, we might as well do it right! That's WORKERS' bad habit – re-designing the labels. I happened to see a green woven label on a vintage item, and a flasher indicating it could be worn by people from small to large sizes.

I combined these to design a new label. If we're going to make it, we want to go all the way! That's the idea.

The above is an excerpt from the WORKERS catalog.

Spiral comment

It's a familiar item for vintage lovers, but surprisingly difficult to wear in practice.

With an extremely short length and a collarless V-front, it's a jacket that can make you wonder how to coordinate it, despite its coolness.

This WORKERS piece, however, transforms such an engineer jacket into something surprisingly easy to wear.

While retaining the distinctive collarless design and V-opening front, the body length is approximately 65cm. It's not as short as a vintage engineer jacket, nor as long as a typical coverall.

This balance is exquisite.

I tried pairing it with a striped T-shirt in the photo, and it looks quite good.

Since there's no collar, the inner layer is clearly visible, and the styling doesn't become monotonous even with just a T-shirt.

In autumn, I recommend layering it with a chambray or button-down shirt, letting the collar peek out.

Spiral chose two types: 8oz Pure Indigo Denim and 6oz Indigo Hickory.

Both are lighter than the 10oz fabrics typically used for work jackets, making them suitable for layering during seasons when the heat still lingers.

The denim offers a classic workwear look.

The hickory has a strong stripe, but the collarless design gives it a surprisingly clean appearance.

On the chest is a newly created green woven label.

The fact that WORKERS even created new graphics reminiscent of advertisements seen on vintage workwear is very much in their style.

Lightly layer it over a T-shirt, and when it gets cooler, layer it with a shirt or sweatshirt.

It's slightly lighter than a coverall, but more authentically workwear than a shirt jacket.

"How should I wear an engineer jacket?"

For those who have thought this, this is a piece you should definitely try on.

It looks difficult, but it's surprisingly easy to use once you wear it.

It's an engineer jacket with a distinct WORKERS interpretation.

Spiral Note

What is an Engineer Jacket?

An engineer jacket is a type of work jacket worn by railway workers and mechanics in early 20th-century America.

The major difference from a common coverall is its collarless design, opening in a V-shape from the neck to the front.

Vintage versions often have a relatively short body length and a simple construction with workwear-like patch pockets on the chest and waist. WORKERS' archives also feature vintage engineer jackets from brands like HEADLIGHT and PAYDAY.

The WORKERS Engineer Jacket reconstructs these characteristic V-front and collarless elements, while rebalancing the body length and pocket placement to make it easily incorporated into modern daily wear.

Because it's collarless, the appearance around the neck changes significantly depending on the inner layer, such as T-shirts, stripes, shirts, or turtlenecks, which is another attractive feature.