The anorak is a type of coat created by the Eskimos.
Anorak is a term of Eskimo origin referring to a warm garment that has a hood (a piece that covers the head ). The anorak is characterized by being waterproof : water cannot pass through its fabric.
It is possible to define the anorak as a type of jacket or jacket . Currently it is made with nylon, satin and other fibers depending on the model.
Origin of the anorak
The anorak was created by the Eskimos or Inuit , aboriginal people who live in the Arctic region. Specifically, it is believed that the anorak arose in the Aleutian Islands , an archipelago whose islands extend between the Kamchatka Peninsula (belonging to Russia ) and Alaska ( United States ).
At first the anorak was made from sealskin . Then reindeer skin also began to be used. To contribute to waterproofing, the Eskimos could impregnate the anorak with fish oil .
With this garment, the Eskimos sought to protect themselves from precipitation and low temperatures while they were kayaking or hunting. As time went by, the anorak and other similar coats began to be used by other peoples and cultures, being produced on an industrial level.
The garment today
Today the anorak is a jacket or jacket that is used in many countries . There are anoraks of different materials, designs and styles.
According to its characteristics , the anorak is used as an informal garment or as a dress jacket . Thus, there are anoraks more appropriate for everyday use on the street and others that are used at dinners, galas and evening events.
The anorak has similar characteristics to those of the parka.
Generally speaking, the anorak extends to the knee. It often has a leather covering , whether artificial or natural, to make it warmer and more suitable for very low temperatures .
Differences between the anorak and the parka
The anorak is similar to another waterproof garment : the parka . The term parka comes from the Russian language, although its most distant etymological origin is found in a Samoyed word that can be translated as "fur coat" .
The Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), in its definition of a parka, emphasizes that this coat is padded on the inside. On the anorak, the RAE highlights the presence of a hood. Therefore, at least as far as the dictionary is concerned, the distinctive feature of the anorak is the hood, while the parka is always padded.
In colloquial language , however, differences are usually left aside. That is why it is common for certain garments to be called anorak or parka interchangeably.
a type of diver
It is important to emphasize, on the other hand, that an anorak is also mentioned as a type of jumpsuit or diver that has a hood . Unlike the traditional anorak (that is, the jacket), it does not have a zipper or closure that allows it to be opened and expose the garment used underneath.
In this case, the anorak belongs to informal clothing. It is not common for someone to wear a jumpsuit or anorak jumpsuit on an occasion that requires elegance.