K-Way: The Model Guide (Le Vrai, Claude, Orsetto, Eiffel, Samson)
Le Vrai 3.0, 4.0, Claude, Orsetto, Warm, Eiffel, Samson: K-Way model names form a small vocabulary that you need to decode before buying — otherwise you end up ordering a summer windbreaker to face November. Here is how to read them, from the original version to the warm winter variations.
Where the name comes from
K-Way was born in Paris in 1965: Léon-Claude Duhamel invented a nylon windbreaker so light that it folds into its own front pocket, worn like a bum bag. The name comes from 'en cas de' ('in case of' rain), turned into 'en K' by the advertisers of the time. Since 2004 the brand has belonged to the Italian group BasicNet, based in Turin, which has repositioned K-Way as premium urban fashion while keeping the original product in the catalogue. The models are, moreover, named with French first names in homage to this history: Claude, Jacques, Léon, Samson.
Le Vrai 3.0 and Le Vrai 4.0: the foundation
'Le Vrai' refers to the faithful reissue of the 1965 windbreaker. The 3.0 is the version that made the brand's name in the 2010s: thin nylon, a two-tone zip, a hood rolled into the collar, packable into its pocket. The 4.0 is its recent evolution: the same silhouette, a fabric reworked to be denser and softer, improved finishing (pockets, cuffs, seams). Visually the two are alike; to the touch, the 4.0 feels more like a 'garment' and less like a 'backpack K-Way'. The pieces we have in stock are 4.0s.
Claude: the benchmark cut
Claude is the name of the classic cut: hip length, hood, zipped front pocket, elasticated cuffs. When people say 'a K-Way' without specifying, they mean a Le Vrai Claude. It is the model to buy first, and the one that then comes in warm versions.
Orsetto, Warm: the winter versions
Orsetto ('little bear' in Italian) means a thick, teddy-style fleece lining. A Le Vrai 4.0 Claude Orsetto keeps the outer shell of the windbreaker and gains a warm, soft interior: it is the version for the in-between seasons and mild winters, perfect for Corsica from October to March. Warm refers to a light quilted lining: thinner than the Orsetto, easier to layer under a coat, but still warmer than the bare windbreaker. Neither packs into its pocket: the lining takes up space.
Eiffel: the long parka
Eiffel is the long version, covering the thighs, with a hood and often the Orsetto lining. It is the K-Way for days of steady rain: the same water-repellent nylon, but full coverage. The Eiffel East model adds patch pockets and a slightly roomier cut.
Samson: the fleece
Samson leaves nylon behind: it is a zip-up jacket in teddy fleece (Orsetto) with nylon panels at the shoulders and pockets. It is worn on its own in the in-between seasons or under a Claude in cold weather. The two-tone colourways (ecru and black, cobalt blue, oak green, taupe) have made it the most 'fashion' piece in the range.
The collaborations
K-Way regularly collaborates with fashion houses, using the Le Vrai Claude as a base: Comme des Garçons (windbreakers with offbeat details, like the blue piece we have in the boutique), AMI Paris, Marni. These editions can be recognised by the cross-branded labelling of both brands and by details specific to each collaboration; they retain a higher resale value than the standard model.
Which K-Way for which use
- Summer rain, travel, backpack: Le Vrai 4.0 Claude (the bare windbreaker)
- Autumn and mild winters: Claude Orsetto
- Layering under a coat: Claude Warm
- Steady rain, journeys on foot: Eiffel
- Dry in-between seasons, style: Samson
A word on sizing
K-Way tends to run small: the Le Vrai Claude is close-fitting at the shoulders and short. If you plan to wear it over a jumper or a hoodie, go one size up; over a T-shirt, your usual size. The Orsetto and Warm versions are slightly roomier to accommodate the lining.
The Le Vrai 4.0 Claude Orsetto and Warm, the Eiffel East parka, the Samson jackets and the Leonide T-shirt are in our K-Way collection, new. To check a piece bought elsewhere, our guide to recognising genuine K-Way details the two-tone zip, the labels and the welded seams.
