Welcome to the latest in our series of Blogs called ‘Vintage Crewroom’, where we showcase some vintage, very loved, very worn (and very washed!) pieces of Crewroom kit.
This month we’re featuring a five-year-old Yeti Fleece Jacket, shared with us by Kate Giles, Crewroom Founder and CEO.
It’s one of the first Yetis off the production line and has been a firm favourite of Kate’s from day one. When we finally managed to prize it off her back (she wears it a lot!), Kate told us:
During a trip to Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, I was struggling to get my body temperature back up after running out in the elements, and I remember thinking that all I wanted at that particular point in time was a warm hug! That was it really, that was the inspiration for The Yeti – a furry beast of a fleece that could inhabit colder climes!
This is honestly one of my favourite Crewroom products. I wanted to create a product that provided warmth without the weight, a perfect layer to throw on after training on colder days.
Kate, a former elite rower, still takes to the water with her veteran TRC crew and wears her Yeti after outings, wears it to work and wears it pretty much everywhere! So, with well over 100 washes (and counting), it’s certainly been put to the test and, we’re proud to say, is still going strong.
The History Behind The Yeti Fleece Jacket
This familiar furry friend has been around since 2017, first launched to market as a button-neck pullover fleece. After customer feedback and further research, it’s undergone a couple of reincarnations, bringing us to the product we see today – a full-zip fleece-style jacket with thoughtful design features, making The Yeti a much-loved and sought-after product.
We’ve always had the staple colours – navy and black – but more recently, and for the ‘collectors’ who want a Yeti in every colour, we’ve had Camo (like Kate’s) and now white!
When we first designed The Yeti all those years ago, our brief was pretty simple: Warmth + Comfort + Performance.
To create the warmth, we wanted something that would provide superior insulation, much like natural shearling from sheep. But, to create a performance quality product for use before and after training, it also needed to be lightweight, machine washable and quick drying.
Importantly, we wanted to make it supremely comfortable and durable. So we put our efforts into developing a high-grade synthetic shearling fleece which would provide warmth without weight and would stand up to the rigours of frequent usage.
We also wanted to incorporate practical and thoughtful design features, so that’s where we added the robust YKK zip, a water-resistant chest pocket (plus side zip pockets) and elasticated cuffs and hem.
The finished result is a top that feels super-snug and is perfectly practical. A fully fit-for-purpose fleece that feels equally at home out in the elements on a windy Moore, as it does down the local pub with friends!
If you’re considering adopting your own, remember – no Yetis were harmed in the making of this fleece!
To see more Crewroom products that have stood the test of time, stay posted for the next in our series of ‘Vintage Crewroom’.
