Wonderful embroidered ladies walking jacket, dating to the early 20th century. Hand stitched silk flowers in the colours of ‘suffrage’ white, purple and green on brown light weight wool ground with a striking green lining. 
Purple stood for loyalty and dignity, white for purity and green for hope. During parades and demonstrations Suffragettes were instructed to proudly wear these colours to show their loyalty to the cause. 
It has obviously been treasured over the years and although it has signs of wear, it is in remarkably good condition. There are a couple of stain spots and the embroidery has thinned in places particularly to the front bodice and the collar. It has been altered and taken out in later years with a complementary brown fabric inserted into the arms and sides of the bodice and leather patches applied to the elbows.