An Willis&Geiger Australian Bush Jacket, estimated from the 1980s.
Made in the United States.
Willis&Geiger was founded in 1902 by Arctic explorer Ben Willis as a serious outdoor brand.
When safari travel became fashionable among America's upper classes in the 1930s, the company was among the first to produce safari clothing.
The brand handled OEM production for Abercrombie&Fitch, then a prestigious hunting shop catering to the wealthy, and also manufactured pilot jackets for the U.S. military, testament to their production standards.
When Abercrombie&Fitch declared bankruptcy in 1977, Willis&Geiger was the largest creditor and subsequently ceased operations. The brand was revived independently by former employee Bart Avgedon.
In 1994, Willis&Geiger was sold to Lands'End. Following disagreements between Avgedon and Lands'End management, the brand was discontinued by 1999.
The piece presented here is an original Australian Bush Jacket from that era, recently regaining attention following its reissue by domestic select shops.
The most distinctive detail of this model is undoubtedly the integrated waist belt attached to the jacket itself.
Further refined by back pleats and side vents, the jacket excels in both design and function.
The colour is Geiger's signature Tan.
Constructed from relatively lightweight cotton twill, it can be worn with the ease of a shirt jacket.
The burgundy label at the collar is a detail seen on pieces before the company was sold to Lands'End.
Later examples bear blue labels with eagle insignia, making the burgundy label a feature exclusive to pieces from the 1980s and earlier.
As a bush jacket that pairs well with denim, chinos, and slacks alike, it proves versatile across casual and refined styling alike, speaking to its inherent adaptability.
The two-way construction—allowing the belt to be cinched for silhouette variation—invites you to adjust its character according to your inclination on any given day.
Size marked as 38, which corresponds to approximately M to L in Japanese sizing.
Based on actual measurements, this represents a golden size for Japanese proportions, accommodating a wide range of builds.
In the market, true golden sizes for Japanese frames remain scarce, making this particular size exceptionally difficult to source among Geiger pieces. Many seek it.
While evidence of wear and soiling are present,no significant damage that would compromise wearability is observed, and the piece remains ready for continued use.
Willis&Geiger no longer exists in its original form.
While select shop collaborations occasionally surface domestically, for those devoted to vintage, acquiring an original from that era remains the true pursuit.
A foundational Geiger model that works equally well refined or casual, this represents the sort of piece those in search should not overlook.
