A piece that gets noticed for all the right reasons.

On the bold modern patchwork jacket that feels artistic and creative — and somehow makes everything underneath it shine.

By Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Posted September 2026 · 6 min read

I am 63 years old, and most of my closet had quietly become invisible. Comfortable, plain, careful — the kinds of clothes that fade into the background the moment I leave the house.

It wore on me more than I let on. I had started to feel a little invisible in my own clothes.

Then a woman in my church group here in Mount Pleasant kept turning up looking artistic and confidently put-together at the same time. I finally asked her. She laughed and told me to read the Clarke family's letter first.

The Clarke family runs a small boutique here in South Carolina, family-run since 1986 — three generations, mother to daughter. The jacket is called the Camille Modern Patchwork Hooded Jacket, and their letter walks through the handful of things they refused to compromise on. I am going to let their words carry it, because they say it better than I could.

1A print that makes people stop

We made the Camille in a modern geometric patchwork — blocks of tan, black, cream, and blue that come together like a piece of wearable art. It is bold enough to be noticed the moment you put it on, but never loud or jarring. When you have spent years feeling plain, this is what confidence looks like.

2Room for a real sweater underneath

We gave the Camille relaxed shoulders and generous armholes so you can layer without it binding or pinching. Wear a chunky knit underneath and it still fits like it was made for you, not like you are squeezing into a size too small. No need to size up — it is cut roomy on purpose.

3A hood that fits over a hat

The hood is roomy, adjustable with a drawstring, and lined in soft blue fleece that is warm without adding bulk. It fits over a knit hat, stays where you put it, and keeps the wind and chill off your face and neck. When the weather turns, it is there.

4A zip that closes with confidence

We finished it with a robust, full-length front zip that lines up cleanly and closes first time, every time — even with cold hands or a gloved hand. It is the small moments that make a coat feel reliable or feel like a fuss. This one feels reliable.

5A mid-weight that feels just right

The Camille is weighted to be warm but not heavy, and finished in a fabric that breathes and moves with you. The length hits right at mid-thigh — long enough to protect your lower back, short enough that you can move freely, get in and out of the car without a fuss. Wear it everywhere, from an errand to lunch to an evening out.

6Deep pockets that keep your hands warm

We cut generous side pockets into the Camille so your hands have somewhere warm to go, and your phone and keys have somewhere to stay. On a cold morning, pockets that hold your hands are pockets that matter. These do.

The Camille, against the jackets you have been buying

Why they're clearing it now

They priced the Camille Modern Patchwork Hooded Jacket at $559.95 when it launched, and it sold at that price all season. But for America's 250th, the Clarke family wanted to give something back to the women who have kept their doors open since 1986 — so every jacket is going out at well under a fifth of that.

I ordered mine the moment I read their letter. It arrived in a kraft-paper parcel with a soft tissue fold and their handwritten note inside. The moment I put it on, I stopped feeling invisible.

I do not usually write things like this. But I spent too many years feeling invisible in plain, careful clothes — and this one jacket quietly gave me back the pleasure of getting dressed. When you have searched for something that felt creative and artistic and warm at the very same time, you know it when you find it. I hope you find your size before it clears.

— Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, SC

This is a personal account from a Clarke Family customer. Sandra was not paid to write it. · The Clarke Family · Family Fashion · South Carolina, since 1986 · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.