The PARA‑DAIZA Rail Worker Jacket

A Design Story That Spans Decades

The inspiration for this jacket goes back to my Xile days in the mid‑90s. Big John, the UK sales rep for Lee 101, gave me a sample jacket — a replica of an old rail worker’s piece found in a mine in the US. The fit was class: slim like a blazer,front pockets positioned further back, giving a sharp A‑line look. But there was one thing that always bothered me — the collar. Too flappy, too Elvis. That’s where Stone Island came in. A mate, Ben, who worked with us at Xile, loaned me his Stone Island jacket. The collar was perfect — clean, structured, and when buttoned up it looked kinda Japanese mandarin collar; when down, it sat like a blazer. The solution was — merge the best of both worlds.So I sketched some notes and drove over to Lionel — my pattern cutter, 90 years old and still grafting, he’s knows his craft inside out. The first sample came back, we tweaked, refined, and finally arrived at a jacket that felt timeless. Honest design — a true original, born from a blend of what I love. “If you want a new idea, read an old book.” — Ivan Pavlov.

Why Orta Denim?

Fabric is everything. For this piece, we turned to Orta Anadolu, one of the world’s most forward‑thinking denim mills. Based in Turkey, Orta works with some of the best international brands — I know their quality from the Replay and Scotch & Soda jeans they’ve produced over the years. They’ve earned their reputation for sustainability, ethical production, and technical innovation.They use recycled fibres, organic cotton, and water‑saving techniques, while investing in regenerative practices that support both the planet and their people. More importantly, they backed us as a small independent brand — willing to sell us 100 metres of fabric for our first order when most mills wouldn’t consider less than 5,000. That’s rare in this industry. It’s proof that sustainability and collaboration can go hand in hand.The dark indigo herringbone weave gives this denim its unique depth and texture — subtle at first glance but alive in the right light. It’s a fabric with character, built to age beautifully.

Made in the West of Scotland

We’re committed to growing our onshore production, and this jacket is proudly made in a small factory in the west of Scotland. It’s a workshop where skill and passion come together — a tight team of craftspeople who take pride in every stitch. Trust matters. That’s why we’re also moving our best‑selling Pinch Chino production to them. When you find people this good, you build with them. At PARA‑DAIZA, every piece we make reflects our philosophy.
Every detail matters — right down to the buttons. We’ve used Corozo buttons from Courtney & Co, a British company reviving button-making in the UK using traditional techniques and modern technology. Their approach combines heritage craftsmanship with natural, environmentally friendly materials and fully sustainable production. It’s another layer of quality and integrity stitched into the Rail Worker Jacket.

The Rail Worker Jacket isn’t a fashion statement — it’s a piece of honest design. A functional silhouette rooted in workwear history, reimagined through our lens, and built with care.

Limited Edition, Original Fabric

It sits within our Atelier Collection, where we explore heritage fabrics and limited runs. But this silhouette isn’t going anywhere. Each season, we’ll revisit it in new cloths, keeping the spirit alive while letting the fabric lead the story. This first drop is extra special. The Orta herringbone denim we used came from the end of a roll — sustainable, original, and impossible to repeat. It means each jacket is part of a limited run, with no chance of being replicated in this exact fabric again.

The Rail Worker Jacket is priced at £250. Stock arrives next week, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. The silhouette will return in future seasons, but never again in this cloth.

Final Word

Customers in Stockbridge who’ve seen the sample and handled the fabric have already been buzzing about it. It’s the kind of piece you don’t just wear — you live in it.

This is PARA‑DAIZA at its best: Edinburgh‑born, globally influenced, locally made. From the rails of American mines to the mills of Turkey to the workshops of Scotland — the Rail Worker Jacket carries a story stitched into every seam.