The shop coat is a workwear item that has existed since the late 19th century and is highly valued in modern workplaces as a protective garment worn over everyday clothes to prevent various stains, such as oil, during work. In this context, "shop" refers to a workshop, and in Japan, French-made shop coats are called "atelier coats," replacing the word "workshop" with the French word "atelier" (though officially, in French, they are called "blouse de travail," or work blouse). Previously, smocks (French: biaude or blouse) were the predominant French workwear, but as the century turned, they evolved into these front-opening coat-type garments. Older French atelier coats were often made of linen, and their collar shapes and other styles differed from their American counterparts. This linen atelier coat was designed with such garments in mind. The natural, rustic texture of linen and the taste of a bygone era add softness and French sophistication to a work style.
