Cavalry coats were made of wool because no other fabric available to historical armies could do all four jobs at once: hold a structured military shape, keep a rider warm in the open, shrug off rain and wind, and survive years of hard field use. That is also why we still make every coat in wool today, and why a wool reproduction looks right where a polyester costume never quite does.
The four jobs wool does
WHY EVERY HISTORICAL ARMY DRESSED ITS CAVALRY IN WOOL
Wool in the saddle
A cavalryman lived outdoors. He rode through rain, slept beside his horse and stood picket in the cold, and his coat was often his only shelter. Wool insulates even when damp, which cotton and linen do not, and a tightly woven, milled wool sheds light rain on its own. Just as important for an army, wool takes dye deeply and evenly, which is what kept a regiment's reds, blues and greens recognisable after months in the field. The long skirts of a cavalry coat only work because wool has the body to hang and move correctly.
OUR 1700s CAVALRY OFFICER FROCK COAT IN WOOL
Wool vs polyester for a reproduction
WOOL
Correct drape, matte period surface, breathable, warm, accepted at serious reenactment events. Costs more and wants basic care.
POLYESTER
Cheap and wrinkle free, but shiny under light, traps heat, drapes stiffly and reads as a costume on camera and at events. Fine for one Halloween night.
Our position is simple: we make coats in wool because that is what the originals were, and because a wool coat photographed at an event is indistinguishable from period at ten paces. A wool coat also repays basic care for decades; our wool coat care guide covers the routine.
6TH REGIMENT HORSE HUNTERS JACKET · DARK GREEN WOOL
Frequently asked questions
Is wool too hot to wear at events?
Wool breathes, which polyester does not, so a wool coat is usually more comfortable over a full day than a synthetic one of the same weight.
Does a wool coat need dry cleaning?
Rarely. Brushing, airing and spot cleaning handle almost everything; dry clean only when truly needed.
Are all Cavalry Coats garments wool?
Our military coats are wool as standard; some pirate and costume styles are also offered in velvet. Every piece is handmade to order.
Handmade in wool · Custom sizing · Worldwide shipping
