Safari jackets are lightweight cotton jackets with exterior front pockets, epaulettes, and a belt, traditionally worn on safaris in Africa. They were popularized for fashion purposes by Ernest Hemingway and have had a resurgence in popularity in the 21st century.
Safari jackets are lightweight jackets that are usually made of cotton or a cotton blend, and are traditionally khaki in color. They are normally identifiable due to a series of exterior front pockets, usually four, and other features, such as epaulettes and a belt. The term safari jacket is often used interchangeably with bush jacket, although bush jackets sometimes lack the belt and epaulettes that are characteristic of safari jackets. While safari jackets were originally produced to be worn on safari in Africa, they have been worn casually for fashion purposes since at least the 1950s with another major resurgence in popularity in the 21st century.
Typically made of poplin or cotton drill, depending on the desired thickness of the jacket, the safari jacket is presumably modeled after British khaki military clothing designed for use in hot climates. Consequently, it bears several stylistic resemblances to the military-style jacket, including the four exterior front pockets, usually with buttons, epaulettes, and a belt, although military jackets are not always belted. While traditional safari jackets are khaki, or sometimes olive or army green, they are flexible in terms of design, with many variations in color, length, number of pockets, and belts. Some varieties even have short sleeves, although this is sometimes where you distinguish between safari jackets and bush jackets.
Created during the 19th century for the hot African climate, safari jackets were worn by British settlers exploring Africa. Jackets became increasingly popular in the early 20th century with British, American and South African adventurers who went on safaris into the African bush, often with the aim of hunting big game. The flexibility of the lightweight material made the jackets easy to pack, while the strength of the poplin or drill made them strong and durable. Also, the light khaki color deflected heat and the pockets made it easy to carry many small items that can come in handy on safari.
Until around the 1950s, safari jackets were not generally worn for casual purposes. The popularity of American novelist Ernest Hemingway, himself a great game hunter who had spent a lot of time in Africa, brought the safari jacket into the world of fashion. Since then, safari jackets have generally been in style, but especially in the early 21st century when many renowned fashion designers made and marketed their own versions of the jacket.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
