Vintage Customised French Chore Jacket with Sashiko and Kimono Patch – Adolphe Lafont









Vintage Customised French Chore Jacket with Sashiko and Kimono Patch – Adolphe Lafont
A one-of-a-kind French bleu de travail chore jacket, originally made by Adolphe Lafont, and later hand-customised with visible mending and sashiko stitching. This piece carries its workwear history proudly, blending authentic French tradition with Japanese textile craft.
The faded cotton canvas shows tonal wear, ranging from deep indigo to pale washed blue. Fraying is visible at the cuffs, collar, and pockets, with original darning on the sleeve, small stains, and oil marks from its working past. These details only add to its patina and authenticity.
Customisation includes an antique kimono patch with sashiko stitching hand-applied to the chest, further stitching at the pocket and hem, and layered reinforcement on the lower pocket. All but one button are original, and the interior retains the Adolphe Lafont label with an inside pocket.
This jacket has been customised exclusively for Pomme de Jour by textile artist Woo Ahearne, who uses fragments of antique kimono cloth to create soulful garments that celebrate repair, reuse, and the poetry of visible mending.
Dimensions and details
Shoulders: 18 in
Chest (pit to pit): 42 in
Length: 28 in
Sleeve length: 21 in
Maker: Adolphe Lafont, France
Material: cotton canvas with sashiko stitching and antique kimono patch
Era: mid 20th century, customised 21st century
Condition: worn and faded with frays, stains, and repairs; customised with sashiko and patchwork
Use & Display
Wear as a unique statement garment or keep as part of a collection of customised workwear. Wash cold and hang dry to preserve colour and stitching.
Collector’s Bolt – Woo Ahearne
This French chore jacket, originally made by Adolphe Lafont, has been customised exclusively for Pomme de Jour by textile artist Woo Ahearne. Using fragments of antique kimono cloth and sashiko hand-stitching, Woo has transformed this jacket into a one-of-a-kind piece that honours both its working past and its renewed life.
Her practice celebrates the beauty of visible mending, each patch and line of stitching carrying both necessity and intention. The result is a garment that retains its authenticity while becoming something wholly unique: a wearable piece of textile art, layered with history, repair, and soul.
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