WOOL VARSITY JACKET / BULLDOGS

Brand

Joe McCoy
Style

MJ25115
Material

Oil Cut Wool Fabric
Color

030 BLACK

Variant

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Bulldogs
Shamrocks

SPECIFICATION

The WOOL VARSITY JACKET / BULLDOGS has been carefully crafted based on archive pieces from the 1960s. Between 1964 and 1966, the Martinsburg High School Bulldogs were active competitors in West Virginia’s AAA football division but did not reach the state semifinals or championship games during that period. While they were a solid team regionally, the Bulldogs had not yet emerged as a dominant force in state football. Their rise to prominence came in later decades, eventually becoming one of West Virginia’s powerhouse programs with multiple state titles starting in the 2000s.

The Varsity Jacket, as worn by the ‘Lettermen’ who were awarded cloth initials by their college for exceptional sporting achievement, is an emblematic garment deeply intertwined with American collegiate culture. A symbol of achievement, identity, and tradition, the jackets themselves were often bestowed upon athletes as a mark of distinction and are characterized by their unique construction -featuring leather sleeves on a wool body - distinctive from the full-wool style more often referred to as Letterman Jackets. They were heavily customized with a combination of tactile chenille patches and intricate embroidery, often featuring the institution's achievements, mascot, or slogan, alongside more personal references that add a layer of visual and textural complexity.

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For this version, the body is made of Melton wool fabric developed in-house, which has been treated to reduce the oil content - giving it a vintage texture and making it less prone to attracting dirt and easier to maintain. The jacket is backed with a quilted nylon lining. The sleeves, which are normally made of cowhide, are constructed from vegetable-tanned horsehide.

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The jacket features a tonal snap button closure and slanted pockets with contrasting leather trim. Wool ribbing finishes the cuffs, hem, and collar. It features multiple custom chenille patches, each made from chenille towel yarn by one of the few remaining craftsmen skilled in this traditional method. A felt “MARTINSBURG” print application completes the design at the back.

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