According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), gabardine is a concept that arises from the combination of two terms: gabán (a coat) and tabardina (which derives from tabardo : a type of coat).
The first meaning of gabardine refers to a fabric that is characterized by its resistance and impermeability . By extension, a garment that is made from said material is called a trench coat.
The gabardine fabric can be made with synthetic fibers , wool or cotton , presenting one side with diagonal stripes and the other smooth. It is a fabric of good consistency, ideal for withstanding inclement weather and contact with agents capable of causing damage to the skin .
We must go back to the 1880s to study the invention of gabardine fabric , which was led by Thomas Burberry , a native of Great Britain. Already in 1861, the troops of the Italian soldier Giuseppe Garibaldi wore clothes similar to those we know today by this name, and from there the term garibaldina is derived, which we often find as a synonym for gabardine .
A few decades later, in the context of the First World War, English troops also took advantage of this item of clothing to face inclement weather . It is curious the path that the trench coat has taken throughout history, since during the 1930s, Hollywood stars turned it into a fashion item through its use to represent certain men outside the law. . Over time, the trench coat also began to form part of women's wardrobe and its popularity transcended borders to reach many parts of the world.
As a coat , the trench coat is an open piece that can be closed with buttons. It generally has large flaps and covers the entire torso and upper legs of the wearer.
Also called pilot in some regions, the trench coat currently comes in multiple designs and colors . In some cases, a lining is added to make it warmer and can be used when it is very cold: otherwise, it is usually used when the temperatures are not extreme in order to protect itself from the rain.
Despite all the changes in style and design that the trench coat has gone through since its first forms in the mid-19th century, it has not lost its waterproofness. This property is very positive for designers, since it assures them that bad weather will not prevent people from wearing their trench coat, quite the opposite.
While initially the trench coat was made with restrictions that limited its length, its materials and its color, today designers enjoy greater flexibility when creating their models; The binary palette of "gray and brown" has gone far, giving way to any combination that arises from the inspiration of the artists who year after year lead the world of fashion through new trends .
This versatility, which can also be seen in the transition from the trench coat to having a lining to protect the subject from the cold as well as the rain, shows us that fashion knows no limits. Although many people consider it irrelevant and superficial, others closely follow its "mandates" to show off the current colors and shapes every year.
In the field of gastronomy , on the other hand, gabardine is called a batter that is usually made by mixing egg and breadcrumbs or flour. Prawns in gabardine, for example, are a very popular recipe in various countries.