Imagine a stormy sea, a leaden sky merging with the waves, and a ship cutting through the ocean. This is where the Caban originates, a garment born not from fashion, but from necessity, the child of maritime adventures and the rigor of naval uniforms. This coat, robust and warm, was the steadfast companion of French and Breton sailors, capable of withstanding fierce winds and relentless rain as the men steered the ships and worked ropes and sails beneath threatening skies.
The term "Caban" derives from the Arabic qaba, which referred to a heavy cloak, but it was French artisans and tailors who shaped and perfected the garment for fleet use. Since the nineteenth century, the Caban became a symbol of French sailors, characterized by clean lines and a double-breasted structure, fastened with gold or metallic buttons, often engraved with anchors or other nautical symbols. The thick wool, tightly woven and water-resistant, wrapped those who went to sea like armor, and its short, boxy cut allowed for ease of movement on the decks.
Over the years, the Caban left the sea to find a home in cities. Loved for its understated elegance and practical structure, it entered civilian wardrobes, worn by prominent figures in art and literature, from cinema to music, until it became a style icon. In the 1960s, its structured and versatile silhouette also conquered the fashion world, becoming one of the iconic pieces of both rebellion and masculine elegance.
Today, wearing a Caban is like wrapping oneself in a piece of history, feeling the allure of maritime tales and the bravery of sailors from long ago.
