Was it an Olfio?
Q – How long do you keep an item of Rohan Clothing?
A – What, you mean some people get rid of them ???
So I dug this photo out. Taken somewhere in France in Spring 1987, it is one of my favourite items, and is still going strong unlike my memory as I cannot remember what it was called. Was it an Olfio ? You should have the name on the tag as well. I have used it often for skiing – good visibility, it is warm and wind proof but has side vents for when I get too hot, huge storage pouch, zipped hand muff, pen spaces, waist tightener …. why isn’t it still made !
The little chap in blue is now also a keen Rohanist
Nic
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16 Comments
My Olfio still appears if I want to look really retro, great for night sailing teamed with Trax salopettes (No OMG comments in the dark!)
Seem to remember a Lancia Fulvia rally car with the OLF 10 plate, and thought that was the origin of the name Olfio as it sounded a bit Italian.
My most popular Retro Rohan is an elderly lightweight jacket with poppers instead of a zip. Excellent for walking the dogs on a cool autumnal evening.
Yes it is an Olfio (with insuflex lining) the Moving On was similar but without the lining. I think I should know as I worked for Rohan circa 1983-86. The name OLFIO was from Paul’s Range Rover number plate which was originally on a black Ferrari 308 GT4 2+2 that he had.
Is Andrew right which came first number plate or garment? See post on Olfio and Sohao coming soon
I used to buy Rohan stuff when it was sold in hotels and resembled a sort of mad jumble sale with people almost fighing to find the best bargains! I bought my first pair of bags at the same time as buying my first V.W. beetle.There was a sort of careraderie amongst beetle owners like Rohan owners! Neither went wrong and lasted many years.Unfortunatly I don’t have a Beetle anymore{my Golf wasn’t a patch on the Beetle} but I still buy Rohan, in fact where I used to live, I was called Rohan-man! Yes, I had an Olfio-I assumed the car number plate was bought as a result of the product and not the other way round! Right or wrong? Although costing more than some conventional clothing, I have never been disappointed with anything I have bought from Rohan.Will my Christmas present, a Pinnacle jacket,live up to my expectations on Annapurna next year? [well, actually, Annapurna circuit]
Hello Rohan-man Thanks for the great comment. The Regional Shows where great gatherings.
I think we supprised many a hotel owner/manager. Which one did you go to?
Pinnacle on the Annapurna ciurcuit could be an interesting story on Rohantime!
Oh dear! I’ve still got two Olfios and two Movis – maintained in reasonable condition thanks to our local wool/cobbler/needlecraft shop who have a repair service and delight in challenges.
I do miss Rohan’s repair service. Probably not economically viable these days, but it was really useful.
M
The Moving On, which Sheila mentions, was superceded in 1990 by the Movi – the zipped neck being replaced by snap fasteners. I still have my original in Aubergine and Amethyst (not just better colours, but better names too!) and stilluse it for summer cycling.
Other blasts from the past I have to mention – the Caradhras jacket and the Anduin waterproof – again great names!
This story got me thinking. When I purchased my very first set of Rohan clothing in 1984 I expected to get a few years out of them because they cost a lot of money to me anyway. What I didn’t expect was that I would still be using them today. The Olfio is as good as new. I try to buy other outdoor gear and have done so over the years. But the fact is that I need not of. How’s that for value!
Correction!
Of course that’s an Olfio!
The unpadded version is a Moving On!
How could I have forgotten.
Sorry about the lapse of memory there.
I agree that it is the general style of an Olfio, but the Olfio isn’t padded. I have a blue/green one still. I have not worn it much as I find the business of getting it over the head awkward. I do not remember the name of the padded version, alas. I have a Sohao – a variant of the padded version but one that has a zip right down the front. This is in the wonderful classic grey with yellow lining and very much loved. Other short-term specials I have are the Jekyll and Hyde, both the yellow/grey combination. Sadly I got too fat for my old bags, warm bags and hot bags and cleared them out years ago to make space for things I can fit into. But the most well used and wonderful item in ancient grey/yellow I have is my Action Jacket. It is getting a bit scruffy these days for business trips but I cannot find any other light garment with its pocket capacity so will continue to be my jacket of choice for travel.
Yes this is an Olfio. I think I purchased my first Olfio from the Long Preston shop. It was green and blue and did not have the big chest pocket, which I notice my others do have. I have been thinking about something. I and a lot of my friends, wore Rohan so easily in those days, and yet it was so progressive. Would I wear such obviously progressive clothing now well I can’t find out because there isn’t any? Having said that all my clothing is Rohan and has been since the early 1980′s
Yep – still have my Wild Vest and Hot Bags as well!
The top certainly has elasticated cuffs, with popper fasteners, but the sides don’t zip, just poppers again through which you can see the yellow lining.
The only sign of wear is some stitching around the waist which admittedly is somewhat more stressed today than 22 years ago!
Sure looks like an Olfio, Nic. They first appeared in 1984. The wind resistant outer was good old Airlight (50/50 polyester/cotton) inside was a light polyester insulative wadding, known as Insusoft. This was bonded directly to a knitted cotton/model lining (the reason no quilt stitch lines appeared on either the exterior or interior of the pullover. The name was derived from the licence plate index number off the Howcroft’s Range Rover. The Olfio was considered a high tech Arran sweater. When it first appeared it was accompanied by a jacket style called the Sohao (think I remember that correctly), a Wild Vest and Hot Bags. Later on a quilted version did make a appearance for a couple of years with the rather obtuse model name of 956!
I don’t think that’s an Olfio, because Olfio’s weren’t lined, they were just the same weight and material as a pair of bags. If what you’re wearing is fleece lined with zips up both sides then I’ve also got one which is still going strong, although maybe wearing a bit around the cuffs where it’s elasticated….and like you I also can’t remember what it’s called!
Laurence
I now use my Olfio for Winter gardening and still use a Wild Vest from the same period. For both these garments I agree with the comment – why are they not still made?.
Chris
I recognize that! In fact I have one in my Rohan wardrobe to this day although I must admit it tends to get worn for washing the cars in the winter and other such menial jobs. But it does demonstrate that Rohan stuff is actually good value for money as it hardly ever wears out and the designs are kind of timeless.