1960s Reversible Ripon Custom Jacket Size 40

Ripon Athletic, out of Ripon, Wisconsin, built varsity and letterman jackets for schools and clubs across the Midwest for decades, and this 1960s reversible jacket in size 40 is a direct product of that manufacturing run. Navy wool shell, gold satin lining, full snap-button front closure, striped ribbing at the cuffs and waist. The reversible construction is the tell: you flip it and the satin side becomes the outer shell, a feature Ripon built into their premium varsity line during this period for customers who wanted two looks in one garment.

The 1960s varsity jacket market in the United States was dense with regional manufacturers supplying schools, athletic associations, and custom order houses. Ripon held a strong position in that market, particularly through the upper Midwest, and their construction standards in this decade were high. Wool body, satin lining, and chain-stitched lettering or embroidery were all markers of the commercial letterman trade, and Ripon's snap-front reversible design was a distinguishing detail rather than a budget shortcut. By the mid-60s the category was being squeezed from below by cheaper imported goods, so a domestic Ripon piece from this window of production carries real weight as a surviving example of American contract varsity manufacturing before the consolidation hit.

This copy presents cleanly. The navy wool holds its color without significant fade or pilling, and the gold satin reverse shows no major cracking or split seams along the back panel. Size 40 translates to a fitted medium-to-large in today's sizing, though vintage Ripon cuts tend to run through the chest with a shorter body than contemporary outerwear. The ribbed cuffs are the detail to check on any reversible from this period: look at the seam where the cuff ribbing meets the satin sleeve lining for any separation or unraveling, because that junction takes stress every time the jacket is flipped.

OWNER VERIFY: Confirm 1960s production date against the interior label construction, snap hardware markings, and chain-stitch or embroidery type; Ripon's label fonts and snap suppliers shifted across the decade.