Objects Database

Ed Sup Climbing Pants

Accession Number

1285.2015.1

Object Name

Ed Sup Climbing Pants

Created

01/12/2015

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

01/12/2015

Brief Description

Pair of Ed Sup climbing Pants with elasticated waist

Materials

cotton, polyamide

Dimensions

105(l) x 41(W) cms

Number Of Objects

1 pair

Inscription Description

"ED SUP" on inside label

Colour

green, blue

Object Production Place

France

Provenance

Ed Sup is short for Extrement Difficile - Superior, meaning Extremely Difficult - Superior and refers to a French grade of rock climbing or mountaineering at the very top end of the scale. The logic for calling a range of outdoor clothing, Ed Sup, we suppose, is to lure the buyer into thinking that he or she could go out and climb such grades once the purchase was complete!
That's pretty much what happened in 1979/80 when founder of our collection, Mick Tighe, went along to a shop in Chamonix, France and bought this pair of trousers. He was a young mountain guide back then and could actually climb Ed Sup. However, he quickly found out that this particular pair of trousers were not much use on the Chamonix Aguilles, being too lightweight, very unstretchy and with no insulation properties whatsoever. The trousers were subsequently consigned to social events and posing in the High Street and ultimately the 'bottom drawer' from where they have been extracted and placed in the collection.

Acquisition Method

Donated by Mick Tighe

Acquisition Date

01/12/2015

Condition Check Date

01/12/2015

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

01/12/2015

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