Objects Database

Zoot Suit

Accession Number

862.2010.1(a-b)

Object Name

Zoot Suit

Created

05/11/2010

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

05/11/2010

Brief Description

Green nylon over shirt with zippered pocket on chest and zipped neck. Drawstring at hem. Trousers with drawstring waist and ankles.

Materials

parachute silk

Dimensions

top 72(l) x 70(w) cms

Number Of Objects

2

Colour

green

Provenance

The Collins Dictionary describes a Zoot Suit as:"(slang) a man's suit consisting of baggy trousers with very tapered bottoms and a long jacket with wide padded shoulders"
The outfit was popular with Latino American youths in the 1940's when the Zoot Suit Riots took place between American Servicemen in Los Angeles and the 'suit' wearing Latinos some of whom had been convicted of the Sleepy Lagoon Murder in 1942.
Our Zoot Suit has a rather different story having been made by Chinese tailors in Singapore in 1969 from ex-army parachutes. Mick Tighe was a young Royal Marine Commando based out there at the time and had this one made, like just about every other marine at the time. They were used mainly for sleeping in, like a pair of pyjamas, as the 'silk' from which they are made felt cool in those tropical climates. Not sure why the marines, or the Chinese makers, named them after the American version. The bottoms are a bit'zoot suit-ish' but the top isn't. A nice bit of history whatever.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

05/11/2010

Condition

broken zips

Condition Check Date

05/11/2010

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

05/11/2010

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