Nicole Allen

Left: Nicole and Greg kneeling before the Their Majesties Right: The plaque presented by Their Majesties

In 2006, in the midst of the Midnight Madness rush, the herald for Their Royal Majesties of the East, Brion and Anna, called Nicole to come forward and attend Their pleasure. Queen Anna explained that it was traditional for great lords to find those artisans and craftsmen whose work was particularly pleasing to Them and to grant them an official appointment of patronage. She went on to explain that Revival's clothes, and Nicole's assistance had been a great help to Their Majesties during Their reign, and thus they were granting us just such an appointment! Nicole was presented a plaque that she proudly hung in the Revival shop for the remainder of Pennsic.
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John is posing here with Revival Clothing owner/designer Nicole Allen.

Going straight to the source for answers, I had a chance to sit down with Revival Clothing's Nicole Allen for this exclusive Alliance interview.

Pete: Nicole, could you please explain for everyone just exactly what a “gambeson” is.

Nicole: A gambeson is essentially a padded jacket that had functioned throughout the middle ages as fabric protection or armor – used either by itself or in addition to maille, plate or hardened leather armor.
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Nicole: We set out to find the best combination of durability and affordability to produce a garment that would be useful for both Western Martial Artists and Reenactors. Our gambeson is based on a combination of 14th c. sources, both extant garments and contemporary artwork.
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Nicole: That is because of the night-and-day difference in the materials used!
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Nicole: Well, if you were training in judo, you’d wear a judo gi, right?
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Nicole: Well, I think that it's important for everyone to remember that, armor aside, the most important aspect of safety is a sense of sincerity and companionship for your training partner. Without this, no piece of equipment can ever make things safe.

Pete: Right on! Master Fiore DeLiberi even states how we have to practice carefully with our partner!

Nicole: Exactly.

Designer - Nicole Allen

Nicole has a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati School of Fashion Design and has been professional clothing and costuming designer for close to twenty years. In conjunction with these professional skills she brings a lifelong passion for historical clothing and the romance of bygone eras they evoke, while her experiences as a reenactor and active member of the historical swordsmanship community gives her practical insight into both arming clothes and civilian clothes. She believes strongly in producing readily available clothing that fits and flatters with a period accurate look that is still comfortable to live and play in.

Designer - Nicole AllenNicole has a BS in Design from the University of Cincinnati School of Fashion Design and has been professional clothing and costuming designer for close to twenty years.In conjunction with these professional skills she brings a lifelong passion for historical clothing and the romance of bygone eras they evoke, while her experiences as a reenactor and active member of the historical swordsmanship community gives her practical insight into both arming clothes and civilian clothes.She believes strongly in producing readily available clothing that fits and flatters with a period accurate look that is still comfortable to live and play in.

Revival Clothing - Fine Medieval civilian and arming clothes by our friend from the Chicago Swordplay Guild, Nicole Allen