I recently received a sample coat from the new performance outerwear brand called Salence. They have a new line of outerwear that blends high spec, technical performance outerwear with the wearability and usability of daily streetwear.
The coat I received is the Gantry model in peppercorn and retails for $595. Overall, I think this hooded raincoat is a very appealing blend of form and function. On the functional side, the Gantry is made of a lightweight, breathable technical fabric (polyester twill) and conceived as a cross between a trench coat and parka. The construction is made to a high standard and the quality is reflected in features such as taped seams all along the interior as well as waterproofed buttons and sealed zippers to prevent intrusion of moisture.
There are other nice touches like a inner cuff with thumb loops to provide warmth and additional protection against the elements and pockets for the multiple gadgets we tend to carry around these days.
Sealed zippers
Taped interior seams
In terms of the form, the Gantry strikes a nice balance. On the one hand, the sleeves and body of the coat are cut reasonably full to accommodate a range of men's shapes within a certain weight and height. On the other hand, the coat's raglan sleeve has a more fitted and smaller armhole than is typically seen on raglan sleeves in RTW garments. The result is a cut that is versatile enough for a range of builds from the slim to the robust. For example, most guys should be able to layer a sweater underneath the coat if the temperature drops a bit.
You can easily wear this on a casual day hike on a misty day in the Pacific Northwest or don it on a rainy day tromping through Wicker Park in Chicago, Shoreditch in London or the Binnenalster in Hamburg. I find the versatility quite appealing, enough so that I've decided to buy the review sample!
