The Bakers Jacket has been a Number Six favourite since day 1. It’s arguably the most iconic silhouette from the Universal Works archives, and it’s seen a reputable reinvention season after season using a huge range of fabrics across the years. To celebrate the Bakers Jacket’s tenth year going strong, we’re looking into how a simple design came to pave the way for modern workwear across the British menswear landscape.

“A reputation for producing the good stuff”

Established in 2008 by David Keyte, the Universal Works name is now automatically associated with some of the world’s finest garments. It’s never over-designed, always well-considered, and taken from an authentic background in original workwear. David Keyte started his own designs following a long history working for others, and having developed a heavy interest in producing garments he would want to wear himself, and hoped others would want to wear, too. Uninterested in high fashion, Universal Works quickly gained a reputation for producing the good stuff: simple, weekend garments that would fit easily into any lifestyle.

Growing up, David Keyte was surrounded by people who enjoyed dressing well, including his dad and uncles. His dad worked as a baker, it was a job he worked hard at with an exceptional skill level behind him. Each day he wore a standard US-style Chore Jacket, that had worn and faded heavily over time. It was from this jacket that David Keyte took his standard block design in 2008, added a few considered alterations, and made a final nod to his dad’s working legacy by naming it the Bakers Jacket. In his own words, the Bakers Jacket became a ‘hard-working simple jacket, much like my Dad was a hard-working simple guy, what you saw was what you got’.

“Functional clothing that’s built to last”

The Universal Works Bakers Jacket isn’t heritage, it’s a prime example of a top-notch everyday staple. Just like the bread that British bakers produce each and every day, the Bakers Jacket serves a purpose to always provide function and form. The curved sleeves, taken from the original work jacket, provide a more user-friendly, wearable fit. The pocket placement is also key. A Bakers Jacket will always have an internal ghost pocket at the right chest, a single patch pocket at the left chest, and 3 pockets at the hips in a trademark trio.

This season we’ve brought in the Bakers Jacket in Broadcloth Cotton Navy , and Summer Denim Indigo . The Broadcloth Cotton is a lightweight, versatile interpretation of the silhouette that’s bang on for the upcoming warmer months. It’s heavily indigo dyed, so it will wear and fade uniquely to you over time, part of the Universal Works mindset: functional clothing that’s built to last.

“Ideal for year-round layering”

The heavy workwear influence is continuing across the Universal Works SS18 season, with a reinvented Bakers Jacket that includes partially elasticated cuffs, and pockets with flap closures. Known as the Labour Jacket, it’s cut to provide more wearability and functionality on a daily basis. Available with us in a washed, tonal Natural Twill Ecru . The Chore Overshirts (available in Olive , and Navy ) stem from Universal Works’ extensive, well-researched workwear archives too. Featuring a partially concealed placket and crafted from a mid-weight cotton twill, the Chore Overshirt is ideal for year-round layering.

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