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Gambison

Welcome to category “Gambison”! A great choice of medieval padded armor is presented here. We offer different models of custom made aketon and gambeson armor, made of natural fabrics of various color, for historical periods from the VI to the XVII centuries. Find your best padded gambeson here!

About Gambison

Gambeson actively used in medieval epoch Europe in XIV century. It came from an aketon, a suit jacket or a gambison (from the English Gambeson). Knights used medieval gambeson as an indispensable element of armor plate (under drawer) or as an independent armor.

Traditionally, parts of knights armor were attached to the gambeson sleeves by linen or silk cords. In different times, this kind of armor called as a "fighting jacket". Such armor outfit was an integral part of the knight's kit. Gambeson was as an underwear of a breastplate or chain mail.

As an independent armor Gambeson was made of thick materials (presumably, the material for it was leather). Sometimes leather gambeson had from 18 to 30 protective layers.

Let’s try to understand what it is:

  1. Gambeson in a broad sense is a padded jack, worn under or over an armour, or in a narrower context - quilted or printed fabric or leather long jacket, worn under the armour. It was also used as a separate kind of armour.

  2. Aketon - (the term "aketon" comes from borrowing from the Arabic language al-qutn "cotton") is a cotton or linen jacket, worn under the armour, composed of several layers of thick cloth or leather, quilted together. It can be both short-sleeved, and even without them. Sometimes leather cords were sewn to the sleeves of aketon to fix the armour.

  3. Doublet is a leather or fabric short jacket, worn under the plate armour. Unlike gambeson (in a narrow context) and aketon, doublet looked more like civilian clothes.

  4. Pourpoint is a fabric short quilted jacket with a slim fit waist and puffed-up chest.

  5. Jacques (jack) is multi-layer fabric short jacket, used as separate infantry armour. Sometimes it was worn over the mail armour.

     Types of gambesons

For tailoring of the gambeson we use only natural materials. This provides not only sufficient level of protection, but also appropriate level of comfort.

Gambeson cut options and used materials will satisfy all over customers:

  • supporters of historical authority - reenactments
  • participants of SCA events
  • Larp - "Live Action Role-Playing" participants

The proposed site models take into account the various specifics of our gambesons. At the wish of the customer gambeson can be machine or hand sewing.

As a set for gambeson warp we offer different materials (colors available): linen, silk, cotton, wool, velvet, leather, pattern fabric/brocade.

linen linen for gambeson
silk silk for gambeson
cotton cotton for gambeson
wool woolen for gambeson
velvet velvet for gambeson
leather leather for gambeson

brocade 

Steel Mastery offer your beautiful brocade and jacqaurd of various colors and patterns. Choose a favourite one for your medieval outfit in this article

For the lining we use:

  • cotton
  • silk 
  • linen 

We can produce different types of them: short, long, sleeveless, short sleeved, closed-front. 

short Gambeson, short gambeson, black gambeson
long Gambeson, long gambeson, jousting gambeson
sleeveless Gambeson, sleevless gambeson
short sleeved Gambeson, short-sleeved gambeson
closed-front Gambeson, closed-front gambeson

Gambeson options: you can choose one or make your own design.

  

If you have any questions and additional wishes, please contact us via email [email protected] and we will be happy to provide any advice and assistance. 

For tailoring of the submitted models of medieval outfits we use only natural materials. This provides not only sufficient level of protection, but also appropriate level of comfort.

Gambison cut options and used materials will satisfy all over customers:

  • supporters of historical authority - reenactments

  • participants of SCA events

  • Larp - "Live Action Role-Playing" participants

The proposed site models take into account the various specifics of our gambisons. At the wish of the customer it can be machine or hand sewing.

As a set for gambison warp we offer different materials:

  • linen

  • silk

  • cotton

  • wool

  • velvet

  • leather

  • suede

For the lining we use:

  • cotton

  • silk 

  • linen 

We can produce different types of them:

  • short

  • long

  • sleeveless

  • short sleeved

  • closed-front

Gambison options:

  • Combination of two or four colored gambison is possible. 

  • If you wish historical (mottos, names of city or area) and free nature inscriptions can be embroidered on it. 

  • The sleeve of the gambison can be completely sewn or with a hole under the armpit for better mobility. 

  • Padding can be done vertically, anatomically or rhomb-shaped. 

  • The bottom edge can be decorated with festoons with configuration selected by the customer. 

  • In case if the gambison must be fastened we offer a choice of buttons (metal, cast bronze with ornaments, buttons covered with cloth) or leather lacing. 

  • For the plate items fastening to the gambison we recommend to use additional leather straps on the sleeves. 

  • It is possible to select the number of layers of padding (from 2 to 6) to create the padded armour of desired thickness. 

Only few simple actions are required to buy the wished gambison armour, aketon or doublet:

1.       Open the page of needed model;

2.       Choose outer and inner fabric for you padded under armour and its colour;

3.       Choose type of sleeve attachment;

4.       Select your size;

5.       Choose type of fastening;

6.       Add leather fastenings for plate arms, if required;

7.       Choose decoration;

8.       Select quantity of layers of padding, depending on your main armour.

If you wish to order such item, please choose first colour in options, and send us the second colour (and layout of colours) to [email protected]

Every model is hand-made according to the medieval patterns and customer’s individual measurements and regards.

Once you choose all options, add product to cart and make a payment. Then our manager will contact you with measurement request and specification of order’s details.

If you ran into any difficulties with choosing or you did not find required padded jack in this category, we can make it individually for you. Just send us picture with detailed description to [email protected], so we could quote you and discuss details of order.

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Review about items

HEMA style gambeson with diamond stitching
Jonathan Torta
HEMA style gambeson with diamond stitching
HG-24-1

Great Quality, inside and out. Looks great and fits well. Laced sleeves work well for movement. Friendly service.

PORTFOLIO GAMBESONS
Dale
PORTFOLIO GAMBESONS
GP-01

I ordered a custom designed gambeson of my own arms - fantastic quality and the design from the pictures I sent was excellent. Communication on the progress of the gambeson was also good. I will certainly do business with this company again.

Ordinary Gambeson
Sven
Ordinary Gambeson
CG-02

we got the gambeson today and absolutely love it! It fits perfectly and looks great, just as we imagined. It won‘t be our last order from you!

HEMA style gambeson
Alain
HEMA style gambeson
HG-24

Fantastically made and comfortable I adore how mine looks and feels to wear The only adjustment I would make would next time would be to buy laced on sleeves for more maneuverability