Donkey Jackets

Donkey Jackets

Donkey jackets are a type of workwear jacket that has been popular in the United Kingdom since the early 20th century. Originally worn by laborers and dockworkers, the jacket is made from a heavy woolen material and is designed to be durable and warm. The name donkey jacket is thought to come from the use of donkey hair in the wool blend that was originally used to make the jackets. The donkey jacket became particularly popular in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was adopted by the working-class youth subculture known as skinheads. The jacket was often worn with jeans and boots, and was seen as a symbol of working-class pride and solidarity. In the 1980s, the donkey jacket became associated with the trade union movement, and was often worn by striking workers as a symbol of their protest. Today, donkey jackets are still worn by some workers, particularly those in the construction and manufacturing industries. They are also sometimes worn as a fashion item, particularly by those interested in vintage or retro styles.

workwear, woolen, durability, skinheads, trade unions

— Eric Smith

CITATION : "Eric Smith. 'Donkey Jackets.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=407150 (Accessed on April 29, 2025)"