M51 Fishtail Parka Jacket Military Green Workwear Mid-Length U.S. Military Issue Unisex PARKA

During World War II, the U.S. Army established weather monitoring stations in the Arctic, engaging in combat with Japanese forces in Alaska, located within the Arctic Circle, under extremely harsh weather conditions. Inspired by the daily attire of soldiers at these Arctic bases, the M48 PARKA was developed and designed in 1948, marking the first use of a fishtail hem. However, the M48's design was too complex for mass production. In 1951, the U.S. Army issued new M51 uniforms, which were further divided into the four-pocket "M51 FIELD JACKET," "M51 TROUSERS," and our featured item, the "M51 PARKA." Early issued "M51 PARKA" were made from pure cotton twill fabric and featured an inner insulated liner for excellent warmth. Its most distinctive characteristics were its oversized fit and the fishtail design at the back. The fishtail design refers to a split at the back hem of the jacket, longer than the front, resembling a fish's tail, hence the name "fishtail coat." The fishtail design was not merely for aesthetics at the time. In areas with deep snow, the split could be tied to the legs with drawstrings, conserving body heat while allowing for freedom of movement. Soldiers could sit on the snow, button up the coat to block snow intrusion, and only the lower hem of the coat would get wet, keeping their fitted trousers dry and minimizing the impact of the cold. This was a unique and highly functional design. RED TORNADO's proprietary pure cotton sateen fabric is densely woven with a high grammage of 317G, offering a degree of wind and water resistance. It features a thickened cowhide leather patch and pure cotton drawstrings, utilizing substantial materials. The production process for this item is intricate, resulting in high manufacturing waste. Nevertheless, our team remains committed to traditional craftsmanship, ensuring impeccable details. We hope you love it. *This reproduction of the original military version has a very loose fit. The sizing has been slightly adjusted but remains oversized. Customers who prefer a closer fit may consider sizing down. /Product Information/ - M51 - 100% Cotton - Military Green - Pure Cotton Sateen Fabric 317G - Unsanforized - Pure Cotton Drawstring - Windproof & Waterproof - Thickened Cowhide Leather Patch - Custom MOIRE Vintage Zipper - Fully Bound Seam Construction - Handmade Single Piece Production /Care Instructions/ - Gentle hand wash, wash separately, recommend using a neutral detergent. - Do not use detergents containing bleach. /Sizing Advice/ - Product dimensions are measured flat. Manual measurements may have slight discrepancies with actual product dimensions due to fabric elasticity, washing treatments, and measurement starting/ending points. The acceptable error range is ±2cm. - For any questions regarding size selection, please message us for a recommended size.