You’re missing out big time even if you own a brutally fast sports car or have experienced the feeling of topping out your car on the race track or the Nurburgring. It is the haute couture or the special racing apparel which makes all the difference. Not only does it better fit your surroundings, but also gives you the intense feeling of being a race car driver. Over the years, several local and international brands have curated racing jackets from Fabian to those catering to the rarefied community. However, if there’s one jacket which promises unmatched exclusivity, it’s this one from Norton & Sons made in collaboration with Lotus.
Receiving a solid dose of inspiration from the Lotus Evija, the brand’s first and most ferocious electric hypercar, the jacket is one which will be as rare as the car itself. Lotus’ pairing up with Norton & Sons has been with the objective of designing and fabricating a unique featherweight opulent driving jacket.
The only condition to satisfy to acquire this highly desirable jacket is that you must be having a Lotus Evija resting in your garage. This means a disbursement of 2-million GBP will provide you with an opportunity to get dressed up with this jacket.
What makes it so special is that it combines traits of being bantamweight, modern, flanking a bold and striking appearance, using high-tech materials and pins performance at the epicentre so that those who gourmand ultimate thrill at the race track, aren’t left hunting for more.
The two-century old company invites every customer for a personal appointment with the wonderful craftsmen at their shop to tweak the jacket according to their requirements. Providing a level of precision which cannot be faltered, every jacket will be made to the most accurate measurement and be embroidered with a pattern being hand-cut and hand-sewn. The endeavour is to make each garment as snazzy and rich as the Evija.
What makes it so revered is the fact that the materials include water-resistant merino wool technical textile manufactured in Italy by Loro Piana and features an exemplary quality of Cobrax and Riri hardware.
The front pocket highlighted on the periphery with twin-red stitching takes impetus from the Evija’s wedge-shaped taillight apparently forming a ‘ribbon’ shape. Near the nape of the neck, a golden number 16 which is the address of the Norton & Sons shop is present. Paying homage to Lotus’ legacy are three underarm ventilation eyelets inspired by the Lotus Elan 1600 triple tail light design.
A cool tagline ‘For The Drivers’ is carved on a label along with the Norton & Sons wordmark and the Lotus roundel. It also includes a pocket apt to house in the Evija’s key.
Patrick Grant, recognised for his outstanding contribution as a judge on the blockbuster BBC TV show, ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’ said, “When I was a kid, Lotus was the sports car everybody wanted. It was what James Bond drove and was the dominant team in Formula 1. To get the chance to explore the extraordinary Lotus racing archive, and to design a piece of clothing that takes its inspiration from such iconic 1960s and 1970s designs, was both a challenge and a thrill.”
Russell Carr commented, “We wanted to work with Patrick and the Norton & Sons team to create the ultimate driving jacket for Lotus Evija owners. I’m delighted with the result, which exemplifies everything Lotus and the Evija stand for – premium British craftsmanship and quality, exceptional performance and a timeless design.”
