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Lotus x Norton & Sons: Exclusive driving jacket

Two British icons of their respective industries have combined their technical skills to produce an all-new handcrafted driving jacket for enthusiasts. But there is a catch…

Oct 28, 2021

The new handcrafted jacket, called ‘For the Drivers’, will be available exclusively to owners of the forthcoming Lotus Evija hypercar.

Lotus and Norton & Sons say the jacket’s timeless design draws upon both brands’ core values of light-weighting, sporting durability, and performance-orientated design.

 

Bringing together the very best in British craftsmanship, Lotus has collaborated with globally renowned Savile Row tailor Norton & Sons to create a unique lightweight luxury driving jacket.

The new design – named ‘For the Drivers’ is arguably the world’s most exclusive driving jacket, as it is only available to customers of the Lotus Evija, the world’s first British all-electric hypercar, who will be required to spend in the region of £2 million to have the chance to receive the garment.

The jacket’s classic design draws on the core values and DNA inherent in every product that both Lotus and Norton & Sons create – performance-oriented, lightweight contemporary design, advanced technical materials, and sporting durability.

Norton & Sons was founded exactly 200 years ago in 1821, and in the 1860s moved to its current address at 16 Savile Row, in the heart of London’s Mayfair district. As part of the Evija purchase experience, every Lotus Evija customer – male and female – will be offered a personal appointment at the shop, where they will experience the unique luxury of the Norton & Sons bespoke service.

With outstanding attention to detail, they will be measured and fitted and a unique pattern for their driving jacket will be drafted by hand by Norton & Sons’ master cutter. Each jacket will be individually hand-cut and hand-sewn, with the resulting garment being as unique as each Lotus Evija. It is the ultimate driving jacket to complement the ultimate road car.

The jacket’s unique design was created jointly by Norton & Sons Design Director, Patrick Grant, and Lotus Design Director, Russell Carr. Together they drew inspiration from the Lotus Evija hypercar and the car company’s successful racing heritage.

The jacket is made from a superfine lightweight water-resistant merino wool/nylon technical textile manufactured in Italy by Loro Piana and features state-of-the-art Cobrax and Riri hardware. The overall shape echoes that of Team Lotus pitlane jackets of the early 1970s, seen at the racetracks of the world and worn by Lotus founder Colin Chapman and motorsport heroes of the era including Emerson Fittipaldi and Mario Andretti.

The shape of the front pocket outlined with twin red stitching is drawn from the striking design of the Lotus Evija’s ‘ribbon’ tail light. Detailing on the nape of the neck, both inside and outside the jacket, repeats that motif and features a golden number 16 – the Savile Row address of the Norton & Sons’ shop. Other tributes to Lotus heritage include three underarm ventilation eyelets inspired by the Lotus Elan 1600 triple taillight design.

The technical eyelet knit lining is breathable, perforated to reduce weight and includes a pocket perfectly sized to take the Lotus Evija key. There is also a unique label celebrating the collaboration; it features the Norton & Sons wordmark, the Lotus roundel and strapline ‘For The Drivers’, and a new silhouette of the Lotus Evija hypercar penned by Anthony Bushell, the car’s lead exterior designer.

“We wanted to work with Patrick Grant and the Norton & Sons team to create the ultimate driving jacket for Lotus Evija owners,” says Russell Carr. “I’m delighted with the result, which exemplifies everything Lotus and the Evija stand for – premium British craftsmanship and quality, exceptional performance and a timeless design.”

An exclusive short film about the ‘For the Drivers’ project is available to view on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iCe3BUhEZJY