Duffle Coat

Duffle Coat - A coat made from duffel, a coarse, thick, woollen material. The name derives from Duffel, a town in the province of Antwerp in Belgium where the material originates. Duffle coats are a traditional British garment, dating from 1890 when John Partridge, a manufacturer of outdoor clothing, started to market coats made from duffel fabric. The wooden toggle-fastenings were made to be easily fastened and unfastened while wearing gloves in cold weather at sea. Paddington Bear is always pictured wearing one.