Safari jackets are lightweight jackets that are usually made of cotton or a cotton blend, and are traditionally khaki in color. They are normally identifiable due to a number of exterior front pockets, ordinarily four, and other features, such as epaulets and a belt. The term safari jacket is often used interchangeably with bush jacket, although bush jackets sometimes lack the belt and epaulets that are characteristic of safari jackets. While safari jackets were originally produced to be worn on safari in Africa, they have been worn casually for fashion purposes since at least the 1950s with another major resurgence in popularity in the 21st century.
Normally made from either poplin or cotton drill, depending on the desired thickness of the jacket, the safari jacket is presumably modeled after British khaki military clothing designed for wear in hot climates. Consequently, it bears several stylistic resemblances to the military-style jacket, including the four exterior front pockets, usually with button closures, epaulets, and a belt, though military jackets are not always belted. While traditional safari jackets are khaki in color, or sometimes olive or military green, they are flexible in terms of design and have many variations in color, length, number of pockets, and belting. Some varieties even have short sleeves, though this is sometimes where the distinction is drawn between safari jackets and bush jackets.
Created during the 19th century for wear in the hot African climate, safari jackets were worn by British colonists exploring Africa. The jackets became increasingly popular in the early 20th century with British, American, and South African adventures who went on safaris in the African bush, often for the purpose of big-game hunting. The flexibility of the lightweight material made the jackets easy to pack, while the toughness of poplin or drill made them rugged and durable. Furthermore, the light khaki color deflected heat and the pockets made it easy to carry many small items that can be useful on safari.
Until about the 1950s, safari jackets were not generally worn for casual purposes. The popularity of American novelist Ernest Hemingway, himself a big game hunter who had spent a great deal of time in Africa, brought the safari jacket into the world of fashion. Since then, safari jackets have generally been fashionable, but especially in the early 21st century when many big-name fashion designers manufactured and marketed their own widely varying versions of the jacket.