Silk, Ventile organic cotton, and HD wool insulation are not common ingredients in bomber jackets. But the new Century Jacket by LIVSN combines them in a way that is both luxurious and rugged.
As one of its first fans, I’m still singing the praises of Bentonville-based LIVSN. Three years after I first fell in love with LIVSN Stretch Canvas Pants, my original pair is still going strong. But now, I’m writing about a new product from this small company that stands out from the masses with thoughtful design and unique materials.
Meet the LIVSN Century Jacket, a bomber jacket the brand hopes will last (with care and maintenance) for a hundred years.
In short: The LIVSN Century Jacket elevates the stylish bomber jacket with premium materials that the brand claims should last for generations. And while it’s impossible to know if it’ll actually last a century, a year of testing made it clear that this jacket will keep the wearer warm and stylish for a very long time. The only downside I could find is the price. This jacket is a hefty investment.
LIVSN Century Jacket
- Ventile Cotton Shell:
- HD Wool insulation:
- Silk liner:
- Articulated shoulders, elbows:
- Two chest pockets:
- Two handwarmer pockets:
- Two inside pockets:
- YKK zippers:
Pros
- Tough, should patina with age
- Stylish
Cons
- Expensive
LIVSN Century Jacket Review
My first impression of the LIVSN Century Jacket was a surprise. Here, an outdoor brand had chosen a luxurious natural silk liner in a subtle shade of pink! I pulled the jacket on for the first time and reveled in the soft, slick nature of the liner.
“OK,” I thought, “this is a very nice jacket.”
That impression lasted through the entire year that I wore the jacket right up until the day that I packed it back in its box to return to LIVSN. And on that day, what really struck me was that, after dozens of days of cold weather dog walks, morning jaunts to work, and drives into and out of the mountains, the jacket still looked brand new.
The durability of this jacket impressed me. To be clear, it’s not exactly a technical piece. But for lifestyle clothing meant to be worn hard, it should last as the brand intends.
That’s due in part to the remarkable Ventile fabric shell. This cotton weave, introduced during WWII to keep pilots warm and dry, is simply tough. It feels almost like Dyneema fabric, although it’s made from organic cotton with extra-long staple cotton.
Inside, HD Wool insulation provides warmth even when wet. I found this jacket nicely warm for everyday wear during Colorado’s winter. It’s not a furnace by any means and works great in cool weather. And it can handle cold weather down into the teens with proper layering.
Finally, the silk liner. While not commonly used in 2023 due to the advance of synthetics, silk was among the first super fabrics, with antimicrobial and quick-drying attributes. And it is remarkably luxurious when used as a liner in a bomber jacket.
The jacket has two zippered hand pockets, each large enough to hold my dog’s tennis ball or my hands. It also has a small zippered chest pocket and two interior pockets. All zippers are metal YKK zippers that are both high quality and stylish.
The Century Jacket is available in Olive Green and Black Navy and in size XS-XXL at a retail price of $599 with up to 40% off during the Kickstarter campaign. Explore all the details of the new Century Jacket on Kickstarter.
