Beige Jacket - Poszetka x IWP

A design from the archives of the Polish Institute of Industrial Design (IWP)

“Men’s Jacket” a garment that is part sportcoat, part overshirt, designed at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s at the Institute. We’re not entirely sure whether it was originally conceived as workwear for factory directors or simply as an informal, everyday option, but what we do know is that it certainly deserved a modern revival!

The search for more casual alternatives to the sportcoat has clearly been around for a long time — it’s not just last few years that designers experimented with them — which is why this design intrigued us so much. Its standout detail is a single flap pocket placed on the left side; while its original purpose is unknown, it’s perfectly suited for safely carrying a wallet or phone. The cut, captured in the project’s archival photography, required virtually no changes. We recreated it faithfully based on the documentation, using a Polish fabric made by Kombinat Konopny: a blend of locally grown hemp and Greek cotton, with a matte texture.

Today, it’s a piece you can wear with tailored trousers and a tie — the classic way, like the model in the archival photo — or pair with light knitwear and jeans for a more relaxed look.