What is Brooks Brothers Explorer Collection？

The Brooks Brothers Explorer Collection is the brand’s line of “performance” suit separates designed specifically for travel, daily commuting, and durability.¹

While the “1818” collection is their flagship luxury line, the “Explorer” collection is their utility workhorse. It is designed to look like a traditional suit but act like performance wear.²

Here is the breakdown of what makes it different:

1. The Fabric: High-Tech Italian Wool³

Unlike cheap “travel suits” from other brands that use heavy polyester, the Explorer line uses Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC) Super 100s wool woven in Italy.⁴

• The Blend: It is typically a blend (e.g., ~88% Wool / 8–12% synthetic) or specially treated 100% wool. This gives it “natural stretch” without looking shiny or cheap.⁵

• The Treatments: The fabric is treated to be water-repellent (light rain beads off) and wrinkle-resistant.⁶

• Super 100s: This is a lower “Super” number than their luxury suits (which are usually 110s or 120s).⁷ This is intentional—Super 100s wool is thicker and more durable, making it harder to snag or wear out.

2. Sold as “Separates” (Crucial Detail)⁸

This is the biggest selling point for many men.

• 1818 Suits: Sold as a “nest” (e.g., if you buy a size 42 jacket, it must come with size 36 pants). You cannot change the pant size.

• Explorer Suits: Sold as separates.⁹ You can buy a size 42 Jacket and size 32 pants.

  • Best For: Athletic builds (big chest/small waist) or men who don’t fit the standard “6-inch drop.”

3. Construction & Details

• Half-Canvas: Surprisingly for a performance line, these jackets still feature half-canvas construction.¹⁰ This means they have a floating chest piece (for better drape) rather than being fully fused (glued) like most travel suits.

• Finished Hems: The trousers often come pre-hemmed (finished length), meaning you can theoretically buy them off the rack and wear them immediately without visiting a tailor.¹¹

Explorer vs. 1818: Which should you buy?

The Verdict:

Buy the Explorer if you travel for work, need to shove your suit into an overhead bin, or if you have an athletic build that makes buying standard suits difficult. Buy the 1818 if you want the “classic” Brooks Brothers look and soft Italian hand-feel.