        
We're thrilled to present the Caine sportcoat, our premier half-canvassed blazer. Made for Michael Kuhle of Epaulet by Southwick in Massachusetts, the Caine imparts classic style, a handsome natural shoulder, quality workmanship, and understated elegance. This "Anglo-American" piece represents our favorite elements of both British and American tailoring.
The Caine’s basic features include 3-roll-2 styling (where the top button sits as ornament and rolls away for the second button to be fastened), double rear vents, slim notch lapels, royal purple 3/8 lining, flap ticket pocket, purple felt undercollar, and Southwick’s superb half-canvassed construction.
Every man needs a navy blazer in his wardrobe. We designed the Caine to be a versatile, modern take on that classic staple. The fit is slim and superb. The gorgeous Italian hopsack wool is soft, breathable, textured, and long wearing. It's a darker tone of navy which gives it a bit of attitude. We tweaked the details with some British touches (double vents, ticket pocket) to give the jacket a mod vibe. And the 3/8 liner makes it a true year-round piece. It's breathable in warm weather and easy to layer in the cold weather. It packs well, travels brilliantly, and matches nearly everything. If you own a dozen navy blazers, or you've never owned one in your life, we believe that this will be one of your most beloved and frequently worn items.
"Southwick for Michael Kuhle" is an exclusive capsule collection for Epaulet. Designed by Michael Kuhle, these jackets are a perfect match with our collection and philosophy. Each piece is hand-crafted in the United States in gorgeous European fabrics. The fit corresponds with our in-house shirting line, matching our signature "slim but not skinny" silhouette; like our other Epaulet pieces, these jackets offer superb quality, classic style, and long-lasting durability at a very fair price. We're confident that you'll be as delighted with these pieces as we are.
100% Italian Wool Hopsack
Hopsack is a wonderfully unique fabric, with certain qualities which make it an ideal material for a sportcoat. Foremost is its weave; like oxford cloth, hopsack is a “basket weave,” in which two or more yarns in both the warp and weft are wovenside by side. Such a weave gives the fabric a relatively “open” texture, which resists wrinkling, defies stains, and packs well. It also allows the jacket to breathe, which is especially important in the summer months. Hopsack's subtly visible structure differentiates it from the traditional navy blazer, as well as enhances its versatility; you can dress it up or down, pair it with super fine wools, chinos, corduroys, denim or heavier pants such as tweed
or moleskin.
3/8 Liner
The Caine sportcoat is lined in the sleeves and top of the back only. This was chosen for three practical reasons. First, by leaving the body unlined, the jacket is comfortable to wear in warmer weather. Second, when the piece is folded, there is no liner to crease against the body fabric, which helps to avoid wrinkling when it's packed. And third, maintaining a liner in the sleeves means that it slips on and off easily - as unlined sleeves tend to catch on your shirt.
Half-Canvassed Construction
Traditionally, men’s suits were constructed with a layer of horsehair canvas underneath a wool fabric shell. The canvas holds the shape of the suit and keeps it from sagging or deforming, serving as a foundation. The canvas is cut to the jacket’s shape, and then the wool is stitched or glued to the canvas. In a half-canvassed jacket, the key areas, i.e. the lapels, shoulders and chest are hand-stitched, which allows them to move and shape around your body. This gives the jacket a proper drape and lapel roll as you walk, sit, and even dance. Or, as Southwick themselves so eloquently put it: “your clothing should look like you, not us.” Proper half-canvassing also insures that your jacket maintains its shape and sharp lapels through repeated wear and cleaning.
Canvassing is a labor intensive and expensive process. Half-canvas construction ensures that all the critical parts of the jacket are solidly built and ensures a proper fit and drape.
Measurements & Sizing
Note: All measurements are shown in inches. "Chest" is measured from one armpit seam to the other. "Sleeves" is measured from the shoulder seam to the end of the cuff. "Shoulder" is measured from one shoulder seam to the other. "Length" is measured from the base of the rear collar to the bottom of the garment.
Sizing on the Caine and Weller Sportcoats are true to size and generally consistent with our in-house Epaulet shirts. The size chart below illustrates how they match up. This is an approximation, as tailored clothing can't be cut identically to shirting. Generally, most customers who wear an Epaulet medium will get a solid fit in a 38 jacket. However, if your Epaulet shirt fits you very slim, or you have broad shoulders for your build, then we recommend ordering the next size up. The fit in the shoulders is crucial - the chest and body can easily be taken in if need be.
Please note that each jacket has approximately 1 inch of seam allowance in the sleeves that can be let out, and 1 inch of seam allowance in the chest and body. Many customers will find this to have a great fit "off the rack." However, it's common for a proper sportcoat to require a little bit of tailoring to fit exactly right. This is a solid item and you'll find that quality tailoring is worth the investment.
Pictured Fit
Model (6'1", 180lb) wears size 40. This garment fits true to size.
A bit of Southwick History
Mention the name “Southwick” and traditionalists nod in recognition: “authentic American style”, “natural shoulder comfort”, quality and fine fabrics”. Since 1929 Southwick has been dressing discerning customers who appreciate Southwick’s trademark of understated elegance and quality workmanship.
Nicholas and Vito Grieco immigrated to this country from a remote Italian village in the early 1900’s. Hard working and ambitious, they ran a suit-pressing business in Brooklyn, then a successful tailor shop in New York until the outbreak of World War I forced them to close.
Undaunted, they opened a suit business in Massachusetts where they honed their skills as master tailors and experimented with mass production techniques. When that business folded, they worked for another manufacturer until their entrepreneurial zeal propelled them to found Grieco Bros. in Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1929.
Their custom made suits embodied a fundamentally British attitude toward clothing; the natural shoulder philosophy. This was somewhat iconoclastic for the times, as fashion dictated a more exaggerated look; heavy padding at the shoulder, more severe tapering at the waist, deep pleats. While this '20's look becomes trendy from time to time, the natural shoulder style; with its simpler, cleaner lines has become a time-honored classic. Customers turn to Southwick not just because the look is right, but also because the craftsmanship provides enduring value.
Care
To keep your sportcoat looking its best, we recommend the following steps:
• Regular brushing keeps dust and grit from accumulating in the fabric.
• A sportcoat should not be worn every day. After wearing, empty the pockets, hang on a wooden hanger, and let air dry.
• The steam from a shower will help restore the natural moisture of fine woolens and remove wrinkles.
• If you get caught in the elements, and your garment becomes wet, allow it to dry naturally at room temperature.
• Do not dry-clean unless it is dirty, and always use a reputable dry-cleaner.
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