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Jacket Brands for Men: What Each Popular Brand Is Known For
Brand names help you find a jacket, but they do not guarantee it suits your weather or your body. Here are the facts behind popular jacket brands sold in India, and a checklist to judge any jacket yourself.
People search for branded jackets for men because a familiar name feels safer. That is fair, but brands are big, and the same label can sell a technical trekking shell and a fashion bomber. So this page does two things. First, it sets out verified background on popular brands, so you know who they are and what they are known for. Second, it gives you a checklist to judge any jacket in the shop, branded or not.
Brands are listed alphabetically within each group. Nothing here is a ranking, and none of it comes from testing products.
Indian jacket brands for men
Allen Solly
Allen Solly was launched in India in 1993 by Madura Fashion & Lifestyle, part of Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail. The brand was then owned by William Hollins & Company of England. It is known for "Friday Dressing" smart casuals; the first Friday Dressing ad ran in 1995.
Duke
Duke Fashions India Ltd is based in Ludhiana. Business Standard reported that founder Komal Jain started as a trader in Ludhiana in the 1960s and that Duke began making T-shirts in 1980. In a 2010 release, the company described itself as India's number one selling T-shirt brand, citing an Org-Marg survey.
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo was launched as a brand in 1984 by Oswal Woollen Mills, the flagship of the Nahar group, which began operations in Ludhiana in 1949. The readymade garment business was demerged into Monte Carlo Fashions Limited in 2011 to 12. The company says it is known for branded woollen knitwear.
Red Tape
RedTape was conceptualised in London in 1994 and launched in India in 1996, with its first store in Pitampura, Delhi. It demerged from Mirza International and listed on BSE and NSE in August 2023. The company is based in Noida; footwear is its largest category, alongside apparel and accessories.
Roadster
Roadster was launched in November 2012 and is part of Myntra's private label business. FashionUnited reported it as positioned on value denim and outerwear.
Wildcraft
Wildcraft started in 1998 out of a garage in Bangalore as a services company and moved into products around 2007, according to Entrepreneur India. It makes outdoor gear, apparel and footwear.
Woodland
Woodland's parent, Aero Group, was founded in Quebec, Canada, making winter boots for Canada and Russia, according to YourStory. Woodland entered India in 1992 with hand-stitched leather shoes, with early stores in Delhi's Connaught Place and South Extension. Its range now covers shoes, apparel including jackets, and accessories.
International jacket brands sold in India
Adidas
Adi Dassler registered the adidas company on 18 August 1949 in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and registered a shoe with the 3-Stripes that year. Its headquarters remain in Herzogenaurach.
Decathlon (Quechua, Forclaz, Kalenji)
Decathlon opened its first store in Englos, northern France, in 1976. Quechua (mountain sports) was among its first brands, launched in 1996. Forclaz is its backpacking and trekking brand and Kalenji its running brand. Decathlon began retail in India in 2009 in Sarjapur, Bengaluru, opening to all customers in 2013.
Nike
NIKE, Inc. was incorporated in 1967 in Oregon, with headquarters in Beaverton. It sells under the NIKE, Jordan and Converse brands.
Puma
PUMA was founded by Rudolf Dassler in Herzogenaurach, Germany, starting operations on 1 June 1948 and registering the brand on 1 October 1948. If you are looking at Puma jackets for men, check the product's fabric and fill details, as with any sportswear brand.
The North Face
The North Face began in 1966 in San Francisco's North Beach as a climbing and backpacking equipment retailer, then moved to the Berkeley area in 1968 to make its own apparel and gear. VF Corporation acquired it in 2000.
U.S. Polo Assn.
USPA Global Licensing is the exclusive worldwide licensor for the United States Polo Association, founded in 1890. Arvind Fashions is its partner for India.
How to judge any jacket: a checklist
- Read the fabric content. The label lists the shell, lining and fill. Polyester, for example, is strong and resists shrinking and creasing, but absorbs almost no moisture.
- Check the insulation. For down, look for fill power and fill weight; 550 to 650 fill power is described by Kathmandu as an everyday sweet spot. For synthetic fill, judge thickness.
- Check weather claims. "Waterproof" should come with taped seams and ideally a hydrostatic head rating in mm. "Water resistant" means light rain only.
- Look at the zip. It should run smoothly, have a fabric guard at the chin and a storm flap if it is a winter or rain jacket.
- Inspect the seams. Stitches should be even and tight, with no loose threads at stress points like pockets and underarms.
- Test the fit. Shoulder seam on your shoulder bone, sleeves to the wrist when you reach forward, and room for your usual mid layer.
- Read the care label. The washtub, triangle, square, iron and circle symbols tell you how to wash, bleach, dry, iron and dry clean. A cross means do not.
- For riding, ignore the logo. Look for EN 17092 class marking and EN 1621 armour.
Brand vs jacket type: start with the job
Before picking a brand, pick the type of jacket. Sportswear brands are natural places to look for sports and gym jackets and windcheaters. Outdoor brands focus on trekking shells, puffers and rain jackets. Knitwear specialists suit sweaters and cardigans. Leather and footwear-led brands often carry leather jackets, where the leather type matters more than the name.
Sizes differ between brands
There is still no widely adopted national size chart in India. The government's INDIAsize survey, run by NIFT, scanned more than 25,000 people aged 15 to 65 in six cities. Business Standard reported in July 2026 that the resulting charts have been available to industry since January 2026 and that a national sizing framework is close to being finalised, but wider brand adoption is still pending. Until then, a medium in one brand may be a large in another. Measure your chest under the arms and compare with each brand's own chart every time.
Reading a jacket label in one minute
| On the label | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Shell fabric | Nylon or polyester for wind and rain; cotton for breathability; wool for warmth |
| Fill | Down with fill power, or synthetic |
| Leather type | Full grain or top grain over bonded |
| Waterproof rating | Hydrostatic head in mm, plus taped seams |
| Care symbols | Can you machine wash it, or does it need professional cleaning? |
| Safety marks | EN 17092 and EN 1621 for riding jackets |
Want to compare styles first? Go back to our jacket for men hub.
Questions men ask
Which jacket brand is best for men in India?
No single brand is best for everyone. The right choice depends on the job: trekking, rain, office, festive or riding. Use brand background as a starting point, then judge the actual jacket on its fabric, fill, weather claims, seams, fit and care label. A well-made jacket from any brand beats a logo that does not suit your weather.
Are Puma jackets good for winter?
It depends on the specific jacket, not the brand. Puma, founded in Germany in 1948, sells everything from light track jackets to padded styles. For winter, check the label for insulation type and amount, a hood, a storm flap over the zip and a fit that allows a sweater underneath.
Is Woodland an Indian brand?
Woodland's parent, Aero Group, was founded in Quebec, Canada, making winter boots, according to YourStory. Woodland entered India in 1992 with hand-stitched leather shoes, and its first stores were in Delhi. Its range now includes apparel such as jackets, along with shoes and accessories.
What brands does Decathlon sell for jackets?
Decathlon sells its own brands. Quechua covers mountain sports and was among its first brands in 1996, Forclaz is its backpacking and trekking brand, and Kalenji is its running brand. Decathlon began retail in India in 2009 in Bengaluru.
How can I tell if a branded jacket is good quality?
Check the fabric and fill on the label, run the zip, inspect seams at the pockets and underarms, and look for taped seams if it claims to be waterproof. Try it on with your usual layers. Read the care label so you know how much upkeep it needs. These matter more than the logo.
Why does my size differ between jacket brands?
India does not yet have a widely adopted national size chart, so brands use their own. The INDIAsize survey has produced body-size charts for industry, but adoption is still pending, as Business Standard reported in 2026. Measure your chest and check each brand's chart.
Sources: PUMA: history · RedTape investor presentation (NSE) · YourStory: Woodland and Aero Group · Decathlon: our key dates · Monte Carlo: about us · Business Standard: India moves towards standard clothing sizes. Updated 14 October 2026.