Buzz Rickson’s William Gibson M-51 Parka Black
The collaboration between Buzz and William Gibson was established in 2004 after Gibson attributed a black MA-1 to Buzz Rickson’s, worn by the main character in his novel ‘Pattern Recognition”. The jacket didn’t exist, but such demand for the jacket spurred Buzz Rickson’s to reach out and create a collection inspired by the fictional all-black MA-1.
The M-1951 Parka or Fishtail Parka was introduced to the US Army during the Korean War in the early 1950’s. Initially developed as a two-part garment with a heavyweight liner that was fully removable, allowing the parka outer shell to be worn on its own.
The M51 has gained a reputation as the main symbol of counter cool culture and was popularised in England by the Mods to protect their expensive wool suits. The excess of these jackets in Europe during the Cold War in the 60’s & 70’s meant they were cheap to buy and became a staple for many people who shopped in thrift and surplus stores.
The Buzz Rickson’s x William Gibson M-51 Parka is cut from a heavy-duty cotton sateen in Japan, coming in a black colour-way as opposed to the traditional olive drab they are so commonly associated with. A zip front using a Crown Aluminum Spring Automatic Lock has been paired with two slash pockets w/ snap button closure. These snap buttons are used to meet the U. S. Government Department of Defence Specs while the other buttons used are Mil-Spec urea buttons.
This Black M-51 Parka is reproduced true to the original parka in everything but the colour that has been changed to Black while the stamp on the hood has been applied by hand.
- 100% heavy duty cotton sateen
- M-1951 parka
- Black colour-way
- Zip front using Crown Aluminum Spring
- Two slash pockets w/snap button closure
- U.S. Government Department of Defence Spec Snap Buttons
- Mil Spec urea buttons
- Buzz Rickson’s Clothes Stamp
- Stamp on hood applied by hand
- Relaxed fit
- Made in Japan
