Schöffel at Brocklehursts: 200 years of country heritage
A complete guide to the brand that has quietly become a fixture of the British countryside, from its German origins to the pieces worth owning.
On a Saturday morning stroll down the high street of an English market town, you’ll witness a quietly confident layer being pulled over shoulders time and time again. The Schöffel gilet, and the wider Schöffel Country Collection, has become one of Britain’s most identifiable marks within rural culture. It’s worn by both those who farm and those who keep game, by parents cheering from the sidelines of their child's sports match and by those hunting in the field, to the extent that the gilet has been given affectionately colloquial names like the "Cotswold Life Jacket".
The increase in popularity of Schöffel can be linked to the greater mood at large. The fashion industry refers to this trend as 'quiet luxury': clothing with an understated approach that conveys value through the quality of its fabric, construction and durability rather than branding. Country clothing has embodied these characteristics for decades, and Schöffel is no exception. These are functional garments designed for the elements and working conditions; however, they also appear perfectly at ease in either a country pub garden or a busy city pavement.
This guide outlines all aspects of the brand including where it originated from, the qualities of the materials and construction, the products it is most commonly associated with, guidance on selecting a colour, and finally how to properly maintain an item so it continues to be used for many years.
The Schöffel story: from 1804 to the British countryside
The British chapter commenced in 1993 when Schöffel Country Ltd took German technology of water-repellent fabrics and translated this technology into garments specifically designed for the British countryside and field sports.
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What makes Schöffel different
Schöffel's superior technology underpins much of their country clothing. Not all of it is waterproof, however, where Schöffel does have good water resistance (whether through rain or snow), it is increasingly due to Dermizax, a fabric developed by the Japanese textile specialist Toray. Rather than relying on the porous membrane found in older waterproof technologies, Dermizax uses a non-porous, hydrophilic construction that keeps water out while still allowing moisture vapour to escape. This gives the fabric a natural stretch that older technical fabrics couldn't offer, along with a quieter, lighter feel in the field. Because of the way they make them, you don't buy just one Schöffel jacket; your decision depends upon how heavy a jacket you need and how long you plan to carry it when it rains.
The fleece, however, has another story. Schöffel partners with Italy-based Pontetorto, which exclusively develops fabric specifically for Schöffel. As such, the fleece jackets/gilets offer a unique, dense, soft, yet quick-drying feel. When Schöffel creates areas of high-wear points (such as shoulder seams, cuff seams, etc.) they typically place a protective layer of Cordura. Cordura is highly regarded for its exceptional durability and abrasion resistance. Their tweeds are also produced using British-made yarns (lambswool) by Lovat Mill based in Scotland's Borders area. After being woven, the tweeds receive a Teflon treatment which gives a classic tweed a very modern quality: completely resistant to both moisture and stains.
There are many ways Schöffel's products differ, but two primary factors stand out. The first is that everything is put through an extremely intense testing process to ensure each product withstands normal usage. The second factor is that nearly half of the entire product line is machine washable. You may pay extra for the high-quality materials used in these products, but knowing they are machine washable means you'll reach for your new Schöffel products every day instead of keeping them stored away.
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The iconic pieces
The gilet. If there is one item that represents the entire Schöffel brand, it has got to be their fleece gilet. Whether you’re wearing it on top of an autumn check shirt or beneath your winter coat, this layer works harder than most items in your country wardrobe. While we don’t know how many different types of fleece gilets are out there, we do know that Schöffel's Oakham fleece gilet & Lyndon fleece gilet (slightly fitted) are by far the two most popular ones. Each is made using exclusive Pontetorto fleece and comes in a wide variety of country-inspired colours. As such, they have become almost a standard-issue garment throughout farms and shoots alike, whether worn over a suit or beneath a wax jacket.
The shooting coat. Here is where Schöffel shows off their technical prowess. Their Ptarmigan Extreme shooting coat is the modern interpretation of the line that originally made Schöffel famous, now made with Dermizax for a lighter, more breathable waterproof finish. It is a fully waterproof shooting coat designed for extended periods spent in harsh weather. Should you need something less extreme or warmer, then coats such as the Snipe exist, as well as softer clay and field jackets. If possible, we recommend browsing the complete men's shooting clothing and women's shooting coats collections prior to making your final selection. We also have a very handy guide to assist in determining what type of clothing to wear while shooting.
Tweed. For those who prefer tradition with a bit of modern-day protection against the elements, Schöffel's tweed garments provide traditional, British-milled tweed, used to make jackets & coats for the field and smart country occasions, utilising the same level of water-resistance as their technical clothing range.
Knitwear and layering. Surrounding each of the hero pieces mentioned above is Schöffel's quietly impressive layering system. Heritage knits such as the Exeter heritage quarter zip are accompanied by other mid-layer warmth providing items like the Cottesmore fleece jacket. Browse through our extensive men's knitwear and women's knitwear collections for additional jumper/zip-neck combinations to complete the outfit.
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Choosing your colour
Schöffel's colour palette is inspired by the British countryside. Part of the enjoyment of shopping Schöffel is making good decisions about which colours best reflect your needs. Many of the colour names refer directly to the countryside, and many of the colours blend easily with natural settings like fields, hedges, rocky outcrops and dry stone walls.
There are a number of colours that appear throughout the seasons. These include muted, deep greens as well as traditional navy blue. These colours are the foundation of the colour palette as they work with most people and most environments. For hunting environments, the philosophy is to remain unobtrusive. Earth-toned greens, browns, etc., will blend into the surrounding landscape rather than standing out. This is exactly what is needed on a shooting day.
Schöffel adds seasonal colours to its offerings annually. These may include softer heather or berry/rust tones for autumn and lighter spring shades. These allow customers who have previously purchased staple items to add some visual interest while remaining true to the rural theme.
If you plan to wear the gilet primarily for hunting and/or working on the farm, consider purchasing an earthy green or brown. If you plan to use the gilet to complement tailored clothing and/or when travelling in a city, consider purchasing it in navy or charcoal. If you have already purchased all the necessary staples, consider adding one of the seasonal colours to your wardrobe.
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Caring for your Schöffel items
Schöffel is designed to be used. Looking after it isn’t as difficult as the cost would have you believe.
Firstly, a lot of clothing from Schöffel can be washed in a washing machine (cool hand wash) using a mild liquid detergent. This is an integral part of their warranty to ensure the longevity of their clothing.
Do not add fabric softener to your washing cycle as this may block the fibres and reduce the garment's ability to retain heat/wick away moisture. Also, do not hang your garments over a radiator to dry; instead, allow them to air dry.
Cotton and knitted items should also follow the same gentle approach when washing.
Waterproof coats require a slightly different level of thought. While the GORE-TEX membrane provides the ultimate in water resistance, the outer layer has been treated with a DWR (durable water repellent), allowing rain to simply run off without penetrating the jacket. However, this treatment does wear off over time and can be damaged by dirt. Once you see your waterproof coat begin to lose some of its water repellency, clean it with a specialised cleaning agent for waterproof jackets, then apply a special re-waterproofing spray to restore the coating. If allowed by your care label, drying the garment on a low-temperature setting or gently ironing through a towel will help restore the treatment.
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Schöffel at Brocklehursts
Schöffel at Brocklehursts is one of those brands we are very proud to sell. We take the time to carefully select the products from this range to ensure they have a working purpose and quality build. The gilets and fleeces on offer need to complement your work clothes; shooting coats should withstand the demands of being out in the field all day; and the shirts, knitwear & accessories which complement your overall style.
Buying good-quality country clothing items isn't just about the label. It's about selecting the appropriate weight of a coat for how you intend to use it; ensuring the correct fit and colour for what you want to achieve; and understanding how to maintain your purchase so that it will still be usable when it's needed. This is exactly why speaking to someone familiar with Schöffel will help, and we’re always happy to pass on this type of information.
Please view our current stock of menswear & womenswear Schöffel collections together with our matching Schöffel accessories. If you're looking to add a gilet to your wardrobe or purchase a proper shooting coat, then you'll find the items within these ranges have been designed to stand the test of time, much like the brand itself.
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