Aquascutum launches the Bogart Trench

Heritage fashion brand Aquascutum is partnering with the Bogart Estate to launch a Humphrey Bogart inspired trench coat, after signing a 5-year agreement.

The trench coat, named after the actor, has been inspired by The Kingsway, the style Humphrey Bogart wore. This May will see a small number of Bogart trench coats launch in the Aquascutum London stores, and then the coat will be available globally in Aquascutum stores and concessions by August 2016.

Commenting on the design, Aquascutum head of menswear design, Thomas Harvey, said: “When we started speaking to Humphrey Bogart’s son, Stephen, about collaborating with the Humphrey Bogart Estate on developing a new trench coat style, I was already thinking about reintroducing a classic, bigger coat into the collection. Many of our customers were coming into our stores and bemoaning the fact that so many brands were now offering the trench as a skinny, tight-fitting fashion item instead of a protective wrap-around.

“I dug out the patterns for The Kingsway, which was the style Humphrey Bogart wore, and based the new model on this. The placement of the pockets is the same, as is their size, the sleeves go back to a raglan style, the belt position remains unchanged, and, perhaps most importantly, it’s a big old long coat – around 120cm. It even features a newspaper pocket on the lining of the coat.”

Aquascutum partners with the Bogart Estate on new trench coat

The Bogart trench coat does have a few updates, for instance, the fabric is now a waterproof cotton blend that takes advantage of advances in fabric technology, so will be longer-lasting, and the shape has been adapted to “reflect the fact that people’s frames are a little larger” now. It also features a special Humphrey Bogart label inside. But in terms of the overall design, the double breasted The Bogart trench coat is “very similar” to the original Kingsway.

Stephen Humphrey Bogart, Humphrey Bogart’s son, added: “My main mission at the Humphrey Bogart Estate is to honour and protect my father’s legacy. This requires that any partnership we enter into is authentic. In that key sense, it doesn’t get any better than our new partnership with Aquascutum.

“My father was a loyal Aquascutum customer – perhaps the most iconic trench-coat-wearer in history. I think he’d be honoured that Aquascutum wants to partner with us to launch The Bogart Trench Coat.”

To launch the collaboration, Aquascutum has also released a short film shot by Simon Waldock, showcasing a man discovering the features of the new trench coat.

The Bogart Trench Coat will retail at 850 pounds and is currently avail;able for pre-order online, ahead of it going on sale in selected stores from May 24.

Images: Courtesy of Aquascutum