The Karakoram Jacket is one of the most iconic mountaineering jackets of all time. There’s very little else to say on the matter tbqhwy but we’ll try and give you a little historical background to reinforce that bold claim.
First designed by outdoor expedition expert Eddie Bauer for his own eponymous brand, it’s a testament to its timeless, functional design that this jacket has barely changed in its 71 years in existence.
Long before synthetic fabrics, this down-filled, pioneering piece was debuted by Charles Houston, an accomplished climber whose early forays in the Himalayas helped map routes for subsequent ascents, including that of Sir Edmund Hillary for the first ascent of Everest.
In 1953, he found himself back on K2 with the Third American Karakoram Expedition, ready for another shot at the summit. But as they neared the top, trouble hit: team member Art Gilkey fell seriously ill, likely suffering with blood clots in his legs due to the altitude. The plan shifted immediately from ascent to rescue, as the group scrambled to get Gilkey down the mountain.
Then came the chaos.
A slip set off a chain reaction, tangling ropes and sending nearly the entire team sliding helplessly down K2’s unforgiving slopes. Just when it seemed all six climbers would be swept away, Pete Schoening pulled off the impossible. With nothing but sheer instinct and an ice axe, he stopped the fall cold, anchoring the team to the mountain and etching “The Belay” into the annals of mountaineering legend. The weight of the entire group – now bruised and battered – was borne by the single ice axe and they all eventually made it to safety. Sadly Art Gilkey was not so lucky.
This timeless tale remains relevant in the case of the Kara Koram jacket because it was on this expedition the jacket was put to the test. At the time it was widely acknowledged to be the most effective piece of cold-weather clothing available.
Since those legendary early years of ambitious mountaineering, gear, clothing and knowledge have all improved beyond measure. While the Karakoram’s story can’t be surpassed, its life at high altitude is probably over. For a jacket built for protection and endurance, it should therefore be no surprise to see it enjoying something of a second stab at life via the eye of appreciative designers looking to pay homage to its lineage.
Several have used it to inspire their work, but few have done the job quite as well as Frizmworks. The Korean brand brings a strong appreciation of detail and design to their take on this climbing classic, casting it as a heritage piece to be worn in the more relaxed surroundings of the city. Such a faithful nod would normally command a fee out of reach for most, and while the £400+ price tag is still a purchase you’ll have to consider carefully, it’s not bad for a piece of mountaineering folklore that’ll effortlessly keep you warm while looking cool.
Take a closer look at it, available in three colours over at Seven Store.
