Exploring the Phenomenon of Schöffel Fleece: What Makes it so Popular?

A Schöffel fleece is the ultimate country wardrobe staple. Attend any type of country event, from a weekend shoot to an agricultural show, and you will no doubt see plenty of people wearing their Schöffel. Recognisable from its brown trim and vast range of rich country colours, the Oakham Fleece Gilet is a particularly iconic style amidst Schöffel’s range of fleeces and, even though it lies at the more expensive end of the market, it’s always in demand and a perennial best seller. But what makes Schöffel fleece quintessential country attire and the Oakham Fleece Gilet in particular, so popular? We’ll explore the brand’s heritage, values and technical innovations that have combined to create one of the most well-loved fleeces on the market.

History and Expertise

Founded in Germany in 1804, Schöffel originally began producing socks and stockings before progressing to trousers, or ‘lederhosen’. In the late 1960s the brand recognised the new trend and popularity of recreational hiking and shifted the business towards technical sportswear. Schöffel quickly became the market leader in trousers, anoraks, and hiking clothing. The pioneering partnership with Gore-Tex in the 80s helped the Schöffel business become a brand with an unrivalled position in technical clothing and, in the following decades, Schöffel became a leading manufacturer of skiing and outdoor clothing.

“Traditional and modern are no contradiction for Schöffel - they are the root to success.” - Schöffel

Schöffel remains a family-run business today, with the 7^th generation now at the helm. Their history as a business has been defined by continual development and innovation, combined with tradition and genuine passion and knowledge about the outdoors. At their core, Schöffel has concentrated on producing clothing with the highest degree of freedom of movement, functionality, and protection in any kind of weather.

From their German origins, Schöffel has become one of the leading premium field sports brands in the UK. In the 1990s, the Schöffel family teamed up with Bradshaw Taylor, experts in British outdoor and country clothing, to develop a range of clothing tailored to the needs of the British field sports market and Schöffel Country was formed. The combination of the Schöffel family’s expertise and passion for manufacturing premium quality products and Bradshaw Taylor’s understanding of country pursuits resulted in the development of clothing that is both technically excellent whilst embodying traditional countryside heritage and aesthetics. The aim of Schöffel Country has been to make their customer’s time in the countryside even better and it is this combination of technical German expertise and British countryside values that has produced the infamous Schöffel fleeces that are so loved today.

Technical Innovation and Design

An innovative ethos is at the very heart of Schöffel’s designs and throughout their history they have focused on developing and selecting the finest technical fabrics to produce highly functional clothing for the outdoors. Their popular fleeces are certainly no exception.

“We produce the most technical, well-designed and reliable gear for all conditions; clothing that will enhance your experience in the countryside.” - Schöffel

Crafted from premium fleece manufactured in Italy by Pontetorto, Schöffel’s range of fleeces use Technostretch technology. Pontetorto are a family run mill who have been making fabrics since 1952 and Technostretch is their line of highly technical fleece. The fabric features a durable and abrasion resistant smooth outer face and a fleece pile inner that traps heat to provide superior thermal insulation. The elastomeric fibre between the face and reverse gives maximum comfort, movement, and performance. It creates a smooth fitting garment with some stretch, whilst also being remarkably lightweight. Made from 100% polyester, the fleece is also ideal in regulating body temperature by wicking away moisture so you stay dry and comfortable. These technical properties make the fleece much warmer than many heavier, more bulky fabrics, and are why Schöffel’s fleeces are so easy and comfortable to wear.

Schöffel’s garments combine this passion for technical innovation with thoughtful design that has practicality, durability, and longevity at the core. The fleece range demonstrates this with the premium quality of its finer details. Schöffel’s fleece jackets, such as the Cottesmore Fleece Jacket, gilets, including the Oakham Gilet and women's Lyndon Gilet, and quarter zip pullovers, such as the Berkley, have an instantly recognisable brown trim that is made from Alcantara. This is a notably durable microfibre material with a luxurious, soft suede-like feel that creates a neat and smart finish. As you may expect, the fastenings and pulls on the fleeces are also of first-rate quality and the use of the ever-reliable and durable YKK zips with branded pulls assures that fastening is always easy. The practical design also features a useful drawcord hem which can be tightened to keep the chill out and essential storage pockets to keep your valuables safe.

Sustainable Values

Whilst continuing to target new innovations, Schöffel are also committed to sustainability, and recognise two important factors in the production process: transparency and responsibility. Some of the sustainability measures Schöffel have in place are:

• Membership of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) since 2011 with a commitment to guaranteeing fair production conditions at its partners
• Membership of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA). This European outdoor industry initiative is committed to protecting and preserving endangered areas, animals, and plants
• Supporting the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles to improve labour conditions in textile production
• The Schöffel collections are free from PFC or PFCEC-free
• Use of innovative materials including the ecological alternative Lyocell, and S.Cafe and Airmem technologies which use coffee grounds in the production of technical fabrics.

“Sustainability and social commitment are firmly anchored in Schöffel's philosophy and are implemented as a continuous process. This means that it is not the achievements that come first, but the efforts to constantly improve.” - Schöffel

What Makes the Schöffel Oakham Fleece Gilet So Popular?

The combination of German technical innovation, responsible brand values and British countryside design has been brought together in Schöffel’s range of fleeces. The core principle of creating clothing that will enhance time spent in the outdoors is clearly embodied in one of their most famous styles, the Oakham Fleece Gilet. The gilet has become somewhat of a uniform in the countryside and is widely regarded as a staple piece amongst all ages for good reason: it’s one of the warmest and most lightweight gilets out there. It is perfect for layering over a shirt or under a jacket for that extra warmth, without added bulk. The technical yet super soft fleece fabric and well considered design gives the wearer excellent freedom of movement, whilst the luxurious trim creates a smart, neat finish, elevating it beyond any regular, run-of-the-mill gilet.

These features combined make it perfect for a whole multitude of different activities, be it shooting, working outside, gardening, walking, riding, exercising the dog or simply sitting outside the pub having a beer! And, of course, it’s machine washable and quick drying meaning you never have to wait long for it to be clean and ready to wear again. Available in a wide range of colours to choose from, it’s certainly a go to piece for every occasion.