Waistcoat dilemma's

[Jock Scot]

Alright, I have to ask. What, pray tell, is an "araca" jacket?

[Grizzly]

Alright, I have to ask. What, pray tell, is an "araca" jacket?

Jock it's a grey tweed kilt jacket generally with a single button cuff, but can be Braemar or Argyll cuff too.

[Jock Scot]

Jock it's a grey kilt jacket generally with a single button cuff.

Good lord, is it?

I have to confess that I have never heard the term used before. Is it a new term? A Scottish term? Or, just something that seems to have passed me by for the last seven decades?

Still, never too old to learn. What?

[Grizzly]

I don't know where "araca" comes from but most on line retailers sell them. They only come in grey as far as I know. Which maybe where the term comes from.

[Paul Henry]

I don't know where "araca" comes from but most on line retailers sell them. They only come in grey as far as I know. Which maybe where the term comes from.

I suspect it come from Arrochar Tweed , it's a heavier thornproof tweed usually in a plain weave with a slightly coarser thread

[Cygnus]

I've actually noticed that most of these "Araca" tweed jackets are listed as being made in Eastern Europe, which makes me think the producers wanted a name that was similar to Arrochar but different enough to not be considered "misleading" to customers.

In the end, it's a tweed jacket cut for a kilt, though (probably) not made in the UK.

[Bobby Gordon]

thanks guys, yeah I think you're right, two is the best option, it won't be all that much extra tartan. better to have two purpose made ones than one odd looking one or belly hugging trousers!

Guys, if you want to a Araca jacket check they're pictured in my post in the DIY showcase. Yep, they're a imported jacket, altho the fabric is woven in the UK, they're a good first kilt outfit jacket.

@Tobus, yeah I know what you mean about the jacket, but personally I like shorter jackets anyway, so when and if I eventually get round to making one it'll be kilt jacket length, but if it looks funny I'll just make another one. But I don't think my tailoring skills are good enough to tackle a jacket just yet!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I confess, after many years in the business I have never heard of an "Araca" jacket, either. When I do a google search, the jackets pictured all seem to be fairly standard style kilt jackets, most with Braemar cuffs.

One online shop did have a blog which allows people to leave comments. I noticed with amusement that on their page about their Araca jacket, the first comment left was: "I have searched the internet to find a meaning for this word ARACA. The only definition I found was a spirit made from molasses."

The shop's response: "Unfortunately I can’t give you a definitive answer on this, as I’m slightly unsure myself. My understanding is that it is the term used to describe the particular material used in this jacket. Whether that refers to the weave, the colour or the type of wool used would only be a guess."

A third person replied: "Should it not be spelt Arrocher? That solves the problem AND describes the cloth’s origin."

And the shop responded: "Yes, you are correct. The correct spelling (and hence what caused the confusion) is Arrochar. We picked up ‘Araca’ from a description sheet on the product and at the time the jacket was very new to us and didn’t check the name thoroughly enough!"

Although I have to also echo what Cyngus says above. Most all of these jackets labeled "Araca" seem to be of non-Scottish origin so I would doubt the cloth actually was woven in Arrochar, hence the spelling change. Although there is a town of Araca in Bolivia. Don't know if they weave tweed, though!