Universal Works Jackets

Universal Works Jackets at Behind The Pines Amsterdam

The Bakers Jacket is the piece the brand is built around — a three-pocket chore jacket taken from French and British work clothing, cut a little fuller, and made in cloth that is better than the original ever was. Around it sits a small range of coats, liner jackets and heavier overshirts that follow the same idea: useful shapes, good fabric, no branding on the outside.

These are not technical jackets. Nothing here is waterproof or wind-sealed. What they do is work as everyday outerwear for eight or nine months of the year, and layer under something waterproof for the rest.

The range

Chore and Bakers jackets

Straight body, patch pockets, button front. In cotton twill or canvas they are a spring and autumn jacket; in wool or a heavier weave they carry into winter with a layer underneath. The cut has enough room for a knit but not so much that it looks borrowed.

Liner and quilted jackets

Light insulation in a shirt-shaped body. These are mid-layers that look like outerwear — warm under a coat, enough on their own on a mild day, and packable enough to keep in a bag.

Coats and heavier pieces

Longer cuts in wool and heavy cotton for actual cold. Warm, structured, and completely unprotected against rain, which in Amsterdam means they want a shell or an umbrella rather than optimism.

How to choose

Decide what goes underneath. If the answer is a t-shirt, take your usual size and the jacket will sit properly. If it is a chunky knit, size up once — the cut is roomy but not generous through the shoulder.

Then be honest about weather. None of these resist water. If you need something for a wet commute, buy a hardshell for that job and keep the Universal Works piece for the days it suits. We would rather say that than sell you a canvas jacket for a Dutch November.

What to expect

• Not waterproof and not windproof — cotton and wool outer fabrics with no membrane.
• Relaxed straight cut with room for a light layer; size up once for a heavy knit.
• Cotton canvas and twill arrive stiff and soften considerably over the first weeks of wear.
• Limited production runs — fabrics and colours change every season and rarely return.

Why buy from Behind The Pines

We stock Universal Works alongside genuinely technical outerwear, which means we have no reason to oversell a chore jacket as something it is not. If you need waterproof, we will point you at waterproof. Orders ship from Amsterdam.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Bakers Jacket warm?

On its own, it is a spring and autumn jacket. With a knit or a liner underneath it works into cold weather. There is no insulation in the standard cotton versions.

Are Universal Works jackets waterproof?

No. Cotton canvas will shed a brief shower and then wet through. For rain you want a shell over the top.

What size should I take?

Your usual size if you wear a t-shirt or shirt underneath. One up if you plan to wear a thick jumper under it regularly.

What is the difference between a Bakers Jacket and a Bakers Overshirt?

Weight and structure. The jacket uses heavier cloth and has more body; the overshirt is lighter and closer to a shirt in construction. Same family, different jobs.

How do I care for cotton canvas?

Wash as little as you can and cold when you do. Hang dry. Canvas develops its character through wear, and hot washing flattens it out.

Shop Universal Works Jackets at Behind The Pines Amsterdam

Browse the full Universal Works collection, see the lighter end in Universal Works Shirts, or compare across brands in Jackets.