Park Avenue’s latest offering zero gravity and shower clean jackets

The Zero Gravity, Park Avenue’s latest offering, is an innovation that aims to cater to men who are always on the move. As the name suggests, the Zero Gravity is a lightweight jacket that doesn’t feel too ponderous on the shoulders also five jackets can be easily packed in a suitcase. According to Hetal Kotak, Park Avenue’s brand director, the Zero Gravity Jacket tries to comply with all the essentialities of men – save time, money and space, and provide comfort and care at the same time.

The Zero Gravity is made of wool fabric that is wrinkle-resistant. Park Avenue is one of several brands that are now promoting the “cool wool” mantra, desperately trying to dispel the myth that wool cannot keep you cool. The wool is such it does provide warmth, but doesn’t make one sweat at the same time. Also, the Zero Gravity is 30-40 percent lighter than a normal jacket.

In spite of what the maker claims to be a wrinkle-resistant fabric, the jacket does crumple after a while, giving it a somewhat ungainly look. And, since it is cotton – not linen – it doesn’t look quite exquisite even in its crushed state. Also, for it to be ready to wear while you’re travelling, the ironing has to be impeccable before it is packed into the suitcase.

While it does look chic, the Zero Gravity is primarily a formal jacket. It will find its place in any boardroom meeting, but it might not be so easy to pair it with a pair of chinos or jeans. It will look just right at a formal dinner, not so at a friend’s birthday. But for those who wish to appear prim even in the sultry summer, the Zero Gravity can prove to be a reliable companion. Also, you might not have to pay for extra luggage while boarding a flight the next time. The range for the “floating” jacket starts from Rs 10,000.

For somebody who has made an annoying habit of spilling food on his clothes, Park Avenue’s second offering in its travel-friendly series, the Shower Clean Jacket. The Shower Clean is an easy maintenance jacket that can withstand day-to-day stains. It is a water and soil-resistant jacket that can handle simple stains. The jacket enables to wash off stains simply by daubing some water on it. Minor stains such as those of oil and food can be immediately removed. The jacket’s inner fabric also helps eliminate odour and bacteria, said Kotak. Much like the Zero Gravity, the Shower Clean is crafted with a wool-rich fabric that requires little ironing.

The Shower Clean, though almost as light as the Zero Gravity, doesn’t quite provide the protection from the muggy monsoon weather that you would like. It does start to feel heavy after a while. Park Avenue, along with the jacket, has also come out with the Shower Clean Trousers. Available in blue, black and grey shades (I would have preferred a few more lively colours), the cost of saving yourself a visit to the dry cleaners starts at Rs 7,000/-.