Review: Layer Up with K-Way’s 40YY Azalea Softshell Coat
Birthdays are the best thing in the history of ever. Not only do you get an excuse to eat ALL the cake, but people also shower you with gifts. It doesn’t get better than that. This year marks K-Way’s 40th birthday and to celebrate, the brand is giving K-Way fans a gift in the form of a limited-edition collection packed with re-imagined takes on K-Way favourites.
Available exclusively at Cape Union Mart, the 40 Years Young limited-edition clothing collection gives fans of the brand plenty to get excited about. I popped into my local Cape Union Mart to check out the K-Way 40YY women’s collection and picked up a K-Way 40YY Women’s Azalea Softshell Coat to see how the much-loved coat faired in Cape Town’s rainy winter weather.
K-Way 40YY collection
The special K-Way 40YY collection will be available at Cape Union Mart stores and online for a limited time only and is a celebration of the brand’s proudly South African heritage. Much of K-Way’s garments are manufactured at the K-Way factory in Ottery, Cape Town, making the brand as proudly South African as they come.
To give you an idea of the scale of the factory, the K-Way sewing room floor produced a whopping 450,000 garments in 2014 alone! Not only does the K-Way factory boast some of the best outdoor garment technology in the world, but they can also produce world-leading outdoor garments at cheaper prices than their international counterparts.
From the production line in Ottery, K-Way’s garments travel with fans up mountains, down rivers, through rain, and even snow, keeping adventures warm, dry, and comfortable as they explore the great outdoors. But, it’s not just adventurers that love the cutting-edge technology that K-Way gear offers.
K-Way lovers also look to their favourite K-Way gear to keep them warm, dry, and comfortable in the urban jungle; whether it’s much-needed warmth when watching their child’s Saturday morning hockey match, running errands, or even socialising at a braai with friends. No matter where you wear it, K-Way’s award-winning gear offers performance that won’t let you down.
When it comes to K-Way gear, we all have our favourite go-to garments — whether it’s the Swan Down jacket, Mira Softshell jacket, fleece pullover, or Azalea Softshell Coat. Now, the 40YY collection is taking those much-loved fan favourites and giving them a new spin with beautiful colour options and a limited-edition women’s collection print that is sure to turn heads. The 40YY collection print is beyond beautiful and oh-so-feminine, and I can’t get enough of it.
Hands-on with the K-Way 40YY Azalea Softshell Coat
Nowhere is this print more striking than on the Azalea Softshell Coat. This popular jacket is usually only available in black and light grey but now gets a bold new look with the 40YY print in mid-blue complemented by a navy blue breast and sleeves. The ultimate winter coat, the Azalea Softshell is technical yet functional. The beautiful full-length coat is designed to offer protection from the elements and is ideal for layering in winter.
The coat boasts 4-Way stretch softshell fabrication and is wind-proof and water-repellent, so it will keep you warm and dry on miserable winter days. The coat has a reversed centre-front zip (for added water-repellent functionality) with a two-way slider. Adjustable cuffs with button closures help to keep out wind, while two front handwarmer pockets provide additional warmth for cold hands. The pockets also feature concealed zips to help keep your stuff secure when you’re out and about.
And my favourite part; the coat has an adjustable and removable hood. Living in Cape Town, a coat with a hood is absolutely essential. I’m always surprised with how many water-resistant full-length coats don’t have a hood! The removable hood makes the Azalea Softshell Coat so versatile, it’s become my go-to winter coat for rainy days. It’s so great to layer over jerseys and even lightweight jackets when you need an added layer of protection from the elements.
But, it’s not just a technical wonder, it’s also beyond comfortable and looks great too. An internal elasticated waistband gives the coat a stylish look and fit and makes it very comfortable to wear and move around in. The coat also has a centre-back slit for added range of motion, and it doesn’t feel overly constricting or too fitted even when the coat is layered over a few thicker garments. The Azalea Softshell also has a fleece lining, which helps to lock in warmth and makes it feel oh-so-cosy to wear.
I never thought a technical winter coat could be so stylish, but this beauty from the K-Way 40YY collection is indeed a must-have for anyone who wants to stay warm and dry this winter without compromising on style. It can be paired with jeans, a sweater, and sneakers for a casual-cool look on weekends, or even dressed up with high-heel boots and a knit jersey for dinner with friends, and it makes every outfit pop.
The K-Way Azalea Softshell Coat is now available online or in-store from Cape Union Mart at R1,599. Click here to shop the full K-Way 40YY collection now. Stock is limited and once it’s sold out you won’t find these unique pieces again, so it’s best to buy it now before it’s gone!
