The OG-107 shirt has a rich history deeply intertwined with the United States military. Here's a brief overview:

Origins: The OG-107 shirt, standing for "Olive Green 107," traces its origins to the early 1950s when the U.S. Army introduced it as part of the Army Green Uniform. It replaced the World War II-era olive drab uniform, offering a more modern and versatile design.

Design: The OG-107 shirt was typically made from a sturdy cotton material in an olive green shade, featuring two chest pockets with button flaps and button-up front closure. It was designed to be worn as a standalone shirt or as part of a layered uniform.

Military Service: The OG-107 shirt served as a standard-issue uniform for various branches of the U.S. military, including the Army, Air Force, and Marines. It was worn in a variety of environments and conditions, from the jungles of Vietnam to the deserts of the Middle East.

Pop Culture: Over the years, the OG-107 shirt became iconic not only within military circles but also in popular culture. Its rugged and utilitarian design made it a favorite among soldiers and civilians alike. It featured prominently in movies, television shows, and fashion trends, further solidifying its status as a cultural icon.

Evolution: While the OG-107 shirt underwent minor design changes over the years, its basic silhouette and functionality remained largely unchanged. However, with advancements in military technology and changes in uniform regulations, it eventually saw phased-out in favor of newer uniform designs.

Legacy: Despite its retirement from active service, the OG-107 shirt continues to hold a special place in military history and popular culture. It remains a symbol of resilience, durability, and the spirit of those who wore it in service to their country. Today, vintage OG-107 shirts are sought after by collectors and enthusiasts, serving as a tangible reminder of a bygone era in military fashion.

SHOP U.S ARMY SHIRTS

Whether your New Year’s resolution is to buy more second hand clothing or you’re just looking for a wardrobe refresh, check out our top picks for January.

We have loads of vintage NASCAR t-shirts in stock, this customised Dale Earnhardt t-shirt isn’t one to pass up on.

Perfect for the bitter January weather.

Another cold weather staple for January.

Refresh your 2024 wardrobe with a French workwear classic.

Plenty of vintage Champion sweatshirts in stock, get them while they’re hot.

Happy New Year from all the team here at liswimacademy!

Check out what’s new on our website by clicking on the link below.

What's New

December has been a busy month for us, we have had a huge shipment of exciting stock for winter and seen the launch of liswimacademy Kids! No matter who you’re shopping for this Christmas, we have something for you.

Check out our top picks as we enter December and keep your eyes peeled for more hitting the website in the coming weeks.

700 Down Puffer Jacket

Perfect for the cold weather, we have loads of The North Face stock in store and online.

Vintage ‘South Carolina’ Champion Sweatshirt

Get your hands on this vintage Champion reverse weave sweatshirt.

Vintage Pants – Denim – 34/30

A good pair of denim jeans is a staple in everyone’s wardrobe, grab the perfect pair of Carhartt jeans here.

Vintage Flannel Shirt

We’re excited to have a wide range of vintage Woolrich flannel shirts in store. These American wool classics won’t stick around for long so get yours while you still can.

Vintage Flannel Board Shirt

Pendleton’s most-enduring, bestselling shirt, the flannel button-down grew out of the surf culture of ‘60s California. Keep warm with these 100% virgin wool shirts.

Kids Detroit Jacket – Hamilton Brown

Our best-selling Carhartt jackets now come in kids sizes! We have an amazing collection of handpicked kids vintage clothes. 

Merry Christmas from all the team here at liswimacademy!

Check out what’s new on our website by clicking on the link below.

What's New

A treasure trove of your favourite vintage pieces, meticulously curated to bring a touch of nostalgia to the playground. From Carhartt to Patagonia, we have a fantastic range to choose from just in time for Christmas.

Check out the link below to browse our full range of kids’ vintage clothes.

liswimacademy Kids

From classic Harley Davidson tees to Pendleton board shirts to a range of vintage Carhartt jackets. We have the recipe for the perfect winter wardrobe.

Check out our top picks going into November and keep your eyes peeled for more hitting the website in the coming weeks. 

Santa Fe Bomber Jacket – Navajo Edition

Once mainly famous within motorcycle culture, many high-profile celebrities have worn Harley-Davidson apparel in recent years. It has thus created a wild demand from consumers who want to get their hands on authentic vintage Harley-Davidson garments.

But where did the H-D imagery come from? Who is responsible for creating the iconic illustrations that allow you to spot a Harley-Davidson piece from a mile away?

Janet Davidson:

Janet Davidson is the aunt of Harley-Davidson founders William and Arthur Davidson. She, famously, is the designer of the iconic “Bar and Shield” logo that we all know and love.  The first logo, designed in 1910, had the company name written in tall and tight lettering inside a bar crossing a shield. This logo is slightly different from the bar and shield logo known today as it has evolved over the last 100 years. Nonetheless, Janet is responsible for creating one of the most recognisable logos in the world.

Paul Smith:

Paul Smith is an illustrator credited for creating the legendary Harley-Davidson imagery depicting an eagle perched upon the bar and shield logo. He has designed multiple graphics for Harley-Davidson over his 30-year graphic design and illustration career. The eagle is by far his most famous work for the brand. Created in 1974, the eagle imagery dominated the marketing for H-D throughout the 80s. The logo was designed to capture the American dream; the American Eagle is regularly used to symbolise freedom and American values. It highlighted the brand's resilience, surviving The Great Depression, two world wars and many other difficulties.

You can find the legendary work of Janet Davidson and Paul Smith on many pieces of vintage Harley-Davidson apparel.

Grab your own piece of American motorcycle culture. Shop our range of Harley-Davidson t-shirts and sweatshirts below.

Harley-Davidson at liswimacademy.

The layered instrumentals and harmonies defined The Beach Boys' unique sound; despite ditching The Pendletones as a group name, their uniform remained the same. You can spot the iconic blue and charcoal plaid board shirt on the covers of their LPs and 45s throughout the early sixties.

Whilst The Beach Boys donned the Pendleton board shirt as their uniform, the outfit was not their original idea. Throughout the late fifties, surfers in California donned swimming trunks under an open plaid Pendleton shirt. Once on the shore, trunks were swapped for light trousers, and thus the iconic 50s surfer aesthetic was born. This is what The Beach Boys crafted their uniform after.

In 2002, Pendleton celebrated its 80th year in business. They brought back iconic shirts from each decade of business to mark the occasion. To no one's surprise, to honour the 1960s, the board shirt worn by The Beach Boys on their album covers was re-released and has remained part of the Pendleton board shirt collection since.

It is up for debate what the most famous era is for Pendleton, whether it is the cowboys and ranchers of the early 1900s who adopted the lightweight flannel to keep warm on the cool desert nights or Californian surfers in the 60s. Either way, Pendleton is still, to this day, an iconic American brand with unmatched quality and craftsmanship.

Keen to grab your own? Shop our wide range of Vintage Pendleton Shirts here.

PinkPantheress: A Modern Y2K Icon

PinkPantheress, a British singer and songwriter, has played a significant role in the resurgence of Y2K style, in the last three years especially. Her music and visuals are steeped in the aesthetics of the early 2000s, from her music videos featuring chunky flip phones to her wardrobe filled with low-rise jeans and bedazzled crop tops. This modern interpretation of Y2K style has resonated with a new generation, causing many to embrace the once-controversial fashion trend.

Interestingly, PinkPantheress' approach to Y2K style has garnered mixed reactions. For those who grew up during the early 2000s, her revival may evoke shock and horror, whereas others have decided to view the trend through a lens of nostalgia. PinkPantheress' bold embrace of Y2K aesthetics forces a fresh perspective, challenging our preconceived notions of what was fashionable during that time.

The Ongoing Influence of Y2K

The Y2K aesthetic never fully disappeared; it merely blended into the background for a while. However, its resurgence in recent years has been impossible to ignore. Designers have drawn inspiration from the early 2000s, incorporating elements like low-rise jeans, rhinestones, and bold graphics into their collections. Iconic brands like Juicy Couture and Von Dutch, which were emblematic of the Y2K era, have experienced a renaissance, thanks to their continued popularity.

The Pandemic and the Rise of Y2K Fashion

The COVID-19 pandemic had an undeniable impact on the fashion industry. With people stuck indoors for a year, the desire for something fun and different became palpable. The Y2K revival provided a sense of joy and change that many craved. The bedazzled velour tracksuits, low-rise jeans, and flashy accessories of the early 2000s became symbols of a newfound optimism and a break from the monotony of life in lockdown.

The Y2K fashion revival, influenced by modern icons like PinkPantheress, has sparked both fascination and trepidation among those who remember the early 2000s. This resurgence is not merely a trip down memory lane but a reinterpretation of the past with a contemporary twist. As we continue to explore and redefine the boundaries of fashion, the Y2K trend remains a testament to the cyclical nature of style, proving that what goes around comes around.Top of Form

There has never been a better time to raid your older siblings’ or parents’ wardrobes or to check out the offerings of your local vintage shop.

Shop our selection of Y2K jeans.

Highlights included:

• Stellar street food courtesy of Rebel and Ruse.
• Complimentary Hennessy and ginger.
• Live DJ set.
• Live street art.
• Vintage basketball jerseys.
• Giveaways.

The street art created at the event is still up in our Lena Street courtyard, come and check it out next time you’re browsing.

Have a look at some of the photos from the event below and keep your eyes on our socials to be the first to know about events hosted at liswimacademy.

The guayabera shirt is a traditional piece of clothing that originated in Cuba in the late 19th century. It is a type of men's shirt that features a pleated front and four pockets, as well as embroidery or other decorative details.

There are a few different stories about how the guayabera shirt came to be. One popular version is that it was created by a group of Cuban seamstresses who were looking for a comfortable and practical shirt for their husbands to wear while working in the hot Cuban climate. They combined elements of several different styles of shirts to create the guayabera, which quickly became popular among Cuban men of all social classes.

Another version of the story attributes the creation of the guayabera to a group of Spanish immigrants who settled in Cuba and brought with them the traditional Spanish shirt known as the "guayabero." This shirt featured many of the same elements as the Cuban guayabera, such as the pleated front and four pockets.

Regardless of its origins, the guayabera shirt quickly became a symbol of Cuban culture and identity. It was worn by politicians, musicians, and everyday people alike, and became a common sight in Cuban cities and towns. In the 1950s, the guayabera even gained popularity outside of Cuba, as American tourists began to visit the island and bring back the distinctive shirts as souvenirs.

Today, the guayabera remains an important part of Cuban culture, as well as a popular fashion item around the world. It has been featured in countless movies and TV shows, and has been worn by everyone from Fidel Castro to Ricky Martin. Whether you're looking to celebrate Cuban heritage or simply add a touch of tropical style to your wardrobe, the guayabera shirt is a versatile and timeless choice.

Shop vintage Guayabera Shirts

Today, they offer a variety of collections ranging from performance outerwear to loungewear, all crafted with the same attention to detail and quality that has defined Woolrich for over 180 years. As an extension of their heritage aesthetic, Woolrich also offers a selection of stylish accessories like bags, hats and scarves that are sure to turn heads when you wear them out on the town or at an outdoor gathering. Woolrich utilizes high-performance materials in all of their products so you know you’re getting something that won’t only look great but will also stand up against whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

Whether it’s raincoats made from Gore-Tex fabric or down jackets filled with lightweight PrimaLoft insulation, you can trust that everything they make will provide maximum protection while still looking good enough to stay fashionable all season long. The combination of quality craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology ensures that Woolrich clothing is built tough but looks great no matter where your adventures take you.

The Pendleton shirt was first introduced in 1913 by Thomas Kay, a British-born, Oregon-based tailor who saw a need for a rugged and good-looking shirt that could stand up to the rigors of life on the range. Pendleton shirts quickly became a hit with cowboys and ranchers, who appreciated their durability and style. In 1919, the shirt business was sold to brothers George and Albert Bridgeforth, who renamed it "Pendleton Woolen Mills."

The company continued to produce high-quality shirts throughout the 1920s and 1930s, but it wasn't until Hollywood celebrities like John Wayne and Cary Grant began wearing them in movies that Pendleton shirts really caught fire with the general public. In the 1940s and 1950s, the shirt became particularly popular with Ivy League students, who wore them as part of their "preppy" style. In recent years, the Pendleton shirt has enjoyed something of a renaissance, with hipsters, retro enthusiasts, and fashion-forward thinkers all embracing its timeless design.

Whether you're a cowboy or a city slicker, there's no denying that the Pendleton shirt is a wardrobe essential. With its unique blend of style and functionality, it's easy to see why this American classic has been around for over 100 years—and why it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Explore our collection of vintage Pendleton shirts.

Throughout Carhartt's expansive history they have produced many different cuts and shapes of traditional outerwear. The company best known for its workwear selection has exploded in popularity recently within the vintage community. Due to the heavy duty nature and build quality of their products, Carhartt's outerwear pieces have held up and overtime producing the perfect fit. Throughout this post we will explore each popular model of jacket from their fit and production, to the multiple famous faces who have been seen wearing them.  

The Detroit Jacket 

The most iconic and recognisable piece out of the lot, the Detroit jacket. First manufactured and released in 1954 the Detroit often compared with the classic garage jacket due to its silhouette, it was the first in the companies line to comprise off a hard zipper. The jacket was first produced using a stiff denim, it was made up with two hand pockets, a pointed collar and adjusters at the waist. During the creation of the jacket it is thought that the company used the former president Dwight D Eisenhower's iconic woollen military jacket as a reference, giving the nickname Eisenhower jacket in return.    

The Arctic Jacket 

Arctic in the iconic Hamilton brown colour-way. 

With its name giving the reasoning of this jacket away, the Arctic jacket is the go to piece when the weather gets colder. Insulated from top to bottom this jacket keeps you toasty without the need for layering. Mainly constructed with a cotton canvas outer the inside is often lined with padding through the body and arms. Triple stitching can be found at stress points to maintain the jackets durability, taking inspiration from the companies heritage details such as quilted lining as well as tighter cuffs at the arms to trap the heat. 

The Active Jacket 

ASAP Rocky wearing an Active jacket

The lightest coat out the bunch, the Active jackets main purpose was for allowing its wearer to have space and range of movement. Often made using 100% organic 'Dearborn' cotton canvas, this jacket is considered rugged without being rigid, consisting of an attached adjustable hood, kangaroo pocket and a full heavy duty zip. Although mostly found in the canvas fabric outer, this jacket was also manufactured using a harder more durable denim variant as pictured above. Over time the denim outer ages beautifully producing a washed, used finish which is highly sought after. 

Natasha wears a Varsity jacket, French Work jacket & British Army Fatigues

Natasha wears a vintage liner and satin baseball jacket

Ryan wears a vintage Carhartt jacket and double-knee carpenters

Natasha wears a French work jacket and matching trousers

Ryan wears a vintage bomber and Dickies carpenter trousers

Natasha wears a satin baseball jacket

 

 

Ryan wears a 1930's down jacket and Carhartt carpenter trousers

 

Natasha wears a varsity cardigan and carpenter trousers

Ryan wears a Patagonia fleece and Ralph Lauren jeans

Photos - Conor Cartin 

Styling  - Georgia Magee

Models - Ryan Kingi & Natasha Samsara Thompson

The Letterman Jacket has slipped in and out of popular culture since the 1950s, and with the mid-century, vintage resurgence of the past few years, it is once again becoming a lusted after addition to many Millennial and Gen Z wardrobes. Yet, the origins of the jacket trace all the way back to 1865, when the Harvard baseball team began the practice of sewing large Old English letter ‘H’ patches onto the centre of their uniforms. Instead of the collared wool jacket and leather sleeves we’re familiar with today, the “letterman sweater” was a thick knitted pullover.  

These sweaters became a sign of prestige. Although they were worn by everyone on the team, only those who played well were allowed to keep their letterman sweaters – benchwarmers had to return theirs at the end of the season. As these uniforms became a symbol of school and team pride, they were adopted by the Harvard football team. Soon, the cardigan overtook the sweater in popularity and the letters were shifted from the centre of the players chest to the left. 

This tradition continued to gain popularity with other universities and by 1930 it had taken the form we are so familiar with – wool jackets with leather sleeves and chenille lettering – in response to a demand for sturdier uniforms. As the garment trickled down from the Ivy League to high schools, the term ‘Varsity Jacket’ was coined and popularised. This was the Jock uniform of America.  

 Eventually, the jacket caught the eye of the professional leagues, with merchandising manufacturers producing them for athletes and supporters alike. To keep the prices down for the public, companies began using satin for the jackets instead of leather, making it more accessible to all fans. As the Varsity jacket infiltrated other American sports, fanbase heavy teams like the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls created their own versions.

This all-American staple of preppy lifestyle began to enjoy widespread popularity and crossed into popular culture. In 1983, Michael Jackson wore a red letterman jacket with gold leather sleeves and a large letter ‘M’ emblazoned on the chest, in his iconic “Thriller” music video.  

 The jacket gained so much popularity that it became a staple of 80s and 90s fashion scene, with hip-hop groups like Run DMC and NWA sporting the jacket, making it a staple of the streets. In 1987, the legendary streetwear label Stüssy began producing its own Letterman jackets using old production techniques, with the original leather and wool materials. The brand went on to release its Homeboy jacket, that paid homage to the original varsity jacket with elements of street influence. 

 In 1994, even Princess Diana was sporting a custom-made Philadelphia Eagles’ Varsity jacket, a gift from their former statistician Jack Edelstein.  

 Today brands like Nike and Bape continue to create their own versions of the iconic jacket, ensuring that it continues to be a staple of street and preppy styles. Most recently, Bella Hadid was papped in an iteration of the jacket, pairing it with baggy jeans and loafers, meaning this iconic garment is no longer a symbol of prestige and elitism, but a defining feature of cool. 

The Trucker Cap comes from humble beginnings. They were originally given away by agricultural companies, such as John Deere, to truckers and customers from the farming industry in the early 1970s. The caps were cheap to manufacture with their simple mesh and foam construction, and are adjustable to fit any size of head. As well as being a token of good will from the company, they also served as an effective marketing tool, with large logos emblazoned across the crown cap. 

The caps would quickly become part of the 'uniform' of rural workers in the US. Not only did they protect the wearer from the sun, but the mesh and foam construction meant the hat was breathable while also absorbing sweat effectively. Many workers began collecting caps from different companies and promotions over the years, with some of the originals commanding high price tags on second hand platforms today! 

By the early 2000s the hats had infiltrated the suburban youth of America. Designer brands like Von Dutch began creating their own Trucker Caps with various embroidery and screen printing, and the style was adopted by Hip Hop, Punk and Skate sub-cultures. To this day agricultural companies still produce and give away Trucker caps, and remain a truly iconic piece of Americana. 

Want to add a Vintage Trucker Cap to your collection? Click here to shop now!

Post-War the jacket remained popular as other industries adopted the jacket as standard workwear for their employees. Eisenhower himself went onto become President of the United States which no doubt buoyed the popularity of the jacket. Dickies have stayed true to the original design ethos of the Eisenhower: rugged, versatile and smart. 

The Eisenhower's ubiquitousness lies in it's simple and paired down design, meaning it can be styled up or down by anybody. The Eisenhower makes an appearance in almost every major sub-culture and profession, be it Skaters, Musicians or Blue Collar Workers. Pair it with classic Levi's 501's and a t-shirt for day to day wear, or layer it under longer jackets for a smarter fit. 

Shop Eisenhower Jackets Here

By 1983 Starter was the official merchandiser for every major sports league in America, from the NBA, NHL to the NFL. Starter had become so popular that teams were signing the brand to redesign team colours to increase their value. By the 1990's Hip Hop had exploded across the US, and Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls were a household name. Rappers such as P Diddy and RUN DMC frequently wore their favourite team's colours, and their fans soon adopted the fashion having seen the jackets plastered across MTV, and on the like's of Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Will Smith in The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. 

But Starter becoming a status symbol would soon become it's undoing. Costing over 100$ per jacket, young people soon started to become the victims of violent robberies as certain jackets started to sky rocket in value. Kanye West's Mother cited Starter Jackets as one reason she banned him from riding the L train in Chicago as she feared him becoming a victim of the same crime. 

This coupled with Beckerman's decision to take the company public and in turn losing his creative control, seen Starter file for bankruptcy in 1999 as their popularity weaned and pop culture moved on. Started was relaunched in 2004 after being acquired by Nike CEO Phil Knight, and since then has continued to be a sportswear staple, but has never managed to reclaim it's icon status. As recently as 2019 J Cole performed at the NBA All Star Game donning a classic Charlotte Hornets Starter Jacket

In this time of climate emergency, it can feel pretty overwhelming hearing statistics of climate breakdown, sometimes it can feel as if the world is about to end. Whilst only governments and policy makers can fix these large, overarching issues, it is important to remember the power we have as individuals to make more sustainable choices and generate positive change.

One of the easiest, most accessible ways to live more sustainably, is to revaluate where we buy our clothing from. The fast fashion industry is worth roughly 35 million EUR, producing 1 billion garments annually. This industry, built on fast production to capitalise on new trends, is extremely wasteful, emitting 1.2 billion tons of C02; equating to 5% of global emissions. Surprisingly, this translates to more emissions created by air travel and international shipping combined. Whilst evidently fast fashion has a large environmental impact, it also has a huge social and human cost.

In fast fashion supply chains, workers are forced to work long hours for very little pay off, often under dodgy contracts and in unwelcoming environments. Research conducted by Oxfam reported a 7-day working week during peak times is often the norm in garment factories. More so, other NGO’s have reported that in Bangladesh it is common for workers to work a 90-hour week, yet employees still do not have enough money to live on for a month. Garment worker exploitation does not only happen in faraway countries, cases have been reported in Leicester of ‘dark factories’, some paying their works a pathetic €3.50 an hour. As the demand for fast fashion increases as people want more for less, frontline garment workers will continue to suffer under this pressure.

Whilst the fast fashion industry serves to please only the consumer, hurting everyone else along the supply chain, slow fashion is a kinder alternative to the planet and people. Shopping vintage and second-hand allows us to avoid feeding big corporate companies who only care about lining their own pockets, and not their workers’. €30bn worth of unused clothing hangs in Finland wardrobes, 85% of which will end up in landfill. The staggering amount of clothing sent to landfill, could save the U.K around €3 billion a year in cost and resources.

Choosing to shop vintage or second-hand, means we can show some love to clothing that already exists.

With the quality of fast fashion clothing being incredibly poor so customers will continue to purchase, it is no surprise more than half of fast fashion items are thrown away in less than a year. Shopping vintage allows us to buy pieces which were made in a less industrialised time; therefore, they are constructed of better, less processed materials, thus lasting longer.

It is clear there is a high cost to cheap clothing, yet customers like you and I are not the ones paying the price. Choosing to shop vintage or second hand, means we can shop with a clear conscious, knowing our what we buy hasn’t contributed to someone else’s pain. Making small changes to our lifestyles and shopping habits, means we can do our bit for the planet, whilst gaining clothing which will last and has its own unique history. 

( The Original GAT )

This story is particularly interesting given the context of Adidas and Puma's histories, both run the the feuding Dassler Brothers. Official reports show that Puma created the initial prototypes that would become the famous GAT, but they deny ever having made shoes for the Military. It is Adidas who flaunts their role in the production, claiming to have to produced them from the 1980's onwards. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 89' The Bundeswehr was significantly downsized, and thousands of former soldiers sold their GATs to Army Surplus stores, along with the rest of their German Army garb which has a legendary reputation in vintage circles.

While we may never know the exact origins of the GAT, or if Puma or Adidas are the true creators, what we do know is the GAT's ubiquity took it from the Surplus stores of Germany to the High Fashion runways of Paris. It's a blank canvas of a shoe, that huge brands worldwide continue to reinterpret year after year. t’s simple design and quality means it's a silhouette that remains truly timeless. Pair your GAT's with a pair of Tailored Trousers or Chinos for a smarter look, or dress them down with some cuffed Levi's 501's. It's hard to go wrong with GAT's.

The Aloha Shirt was created by a Chinese immigrant named Ellery Chun, in the early 1930s. Ellery sold his vibrant shirts to droves of surfers, tourists and locals. Chun came up with the idea of ready to wear Aloha shirts after seeing local boys wearing shirts made from Japanese challis and local Filipino boys who wore brilliantly coloured shirt-tail-out shirts known as bayau shirts. Hawaii's cruise ship tourists became enamoured with the colourful garb, and soon designer labels were springing up across the island. This was the start of the 'Aloha Boom'.

A tag from one of Ellery's original Aloha Shirts

As popularity boomed, the Aloha Industry moved to factory production of ready to wear shirts, rather than the tailor made shirts of the past. By the end of the 1930's 450 people were employed in Aloha production, which was generating €600,000 annually. This popularity would only continue to grow, with US Servicemen and Women stationed in Hawaii bringing the shirts back to the Mainland US as badges of honour. This, combined with Hawaii's booming tourist industry lead to a golden age of Aloha Shirts during the 40s and 50s, with everyone from Elvis to US presidents donning the vibrant island patterns.

Frank Sinatra and Montgomery Clift in 'From Here to Eternity' in 1953

In the 1960's the Hawaiian Fashion Guild began a movement called 'Operation Liberation'. Hawaiian office workers were forced to wear suits in non air conditioned buildings, so the Guild began to push for Aloha Shirts to be considered appropriate workwear. They went so far as to gift Aloha Shirts to every member of the Hawaiian House of Representatives and the Senate, leading to a bill allowing Aloha Shirts to be worn throughout the summer. This was followed by 'Aloha Fridays' which allowed all male employees to wear them one day out of the week. This would eventually trickle down into the mainland US, becoming today what is known as casual Friday's in many offices. 

Photo of the Hawaiian House of Reps in 2012 still honouring the 'Operation Liberation' tradition.

The Aloha Boom could not last forever, and by the 1980s the industry in Hawaii was dying a slow death. Large multinational companies like Walmart began producing cheap knock offs, using cheaper production methods and fabrics. Soon popular designs were being blatantly stolen, and the reduction in quality from cheap International production began to sully the reputation of the once great shirt. 

Tom Sellek in Magnum PI, 1983, donning his famous Aloha Shirt, now preserved in the Smithsonian Museum.

In recent years, Aloha shirts have seen a revival in popularity. This could be linked to the cult status held by films like Scarface and Romeo & Juliet helping to catapult them back into the fashion Zeitgeist. We've seen Fashion Houses like Balenciaga and Gucci producing their own variations and presenting them on runways around the world. While very far gone from the days of tiny surf shops in Waikiki, Aloha Shirts still embody the culture and allure of Island life, and will no doubt remain a timeless, and staple garment.

Leonardo Dicaprio in Romeo & Juliet in the 1990's.

Why not check out our selection of Aloha Shirts? Our selection is constantly being updated with new colourways, sizes and patterns.

VINTAGE HAWAIIAN SHIRTS

The bomber jacket—or MA-1 if we're being technical—has a longstanding history that stretches from the middle of the 20th Century into today. Starting as a jacket that was best suited for chilly, cramped cockpits, the jacket has become  into an outerwear staple that's seen high fashion reinterpretations for the modern man & woman.

The first incarnation of the bomber as we know it seems to be the MA-1 which began to be issued to U.S military at the end of the 1950s. Made of sage-green or blue nylon, a later incarnation could be worn inside out so that the ‘blaze orange’ or ‘international orange’ lining could alert rescue missions to stranded pilots. 

In 1977 Alpha launched the CWU-36/P for summer and the CWU-45/P for winter which are still in use. Made of ‘Nomex’ the jackets have a turn-down collar rather than the knit standing collar of the MA-1,

When MA-1 manufacturers began shifting from exclusive military contracts to civilian production in the late '60s through the early '80s, a variety of subcultures rose up throughout Europe, the U.S., and Japan.

English punks and skinheads would wear the bomber jacket over tucked in T-shirts, cuffed skinny denim, Doc Martens shoes, and other military-inspired gear like M-65 jackets and M-51 fishtail parkas.

In Japan, as the cry for Americana in the '60s was it's own counterculture movement, there was an increased interest for American clothing imports in the men's clothing market. Japanese guys adopted both the MA-1 and the earlier B-15 as outerwear in the '60s and '70s, wearing it in a much more traditional way, styling it like servicemen in the late '50s or early '60s.

Today's bomber, depending on where you buy it, will either be a very close reproduction of the classic, or tailored towards modern tastes. 

The bomber jacket has also provided countless inspiration to high fashion menswear designers, who consistently revisit and reinterpret the silhouette. Whether you're talking about the now classic Raf Simons oversized "Pyramid" bomber from his Spring/Summer 2000 SUMMA CUM LEURE collection; Helmut Lang's iconic "bondage" bombers from 2004;  elongated bombers from street goth favorites Rick Owens and Fear of God; or floral printed versions from Balenciaga and Dries Van Noten, bomber jackets are now runway veterans.

There's a reason why the Bomber Jacket has continued to influence culture and fashion for the best part of a century. You cannot replicate the comfort and practicality of a MA-1 or MA-2. For that reason we salute you, the bomber jacket!

SHOP ALL BOMBER JACKETS

As the fashion world's love for traditional workwear shows no sign of diminishing, we take a look at one of the most coveted pieces for collectors and street-style stars alike: the bleu de travail or French worker jacket.

Royal-blue workwear jackets, the design of which is heavily indebted to the classic French working man’s jacket, are admirably simple and elegant.

What’s so remarkable about these jackets is that they simultaneously speak of beatnik creativity (it’s impossible to look at these jackets without thinking of the late, lamented New York photographer Mr Bill Cunningham) and salt-of-the-earth manual labour.

In reality, most of these jackets have origins in a number of different European countries. We currently have in stock pieces from France, Austria, Germany, Italy and Czech Republic.

An often forgotten & more rare element of Blu De Travail is the matching trousers. Often wide-legged & in the classic shades of blue with the occasional red trim up the sides they are a unique and beautiful vintage piece themselves. 

Whether you prefer your chore jackets in moleskin, with visible repair patches, with logo's or simple & classic we have the perfect vintage Blu De Travail for you. 

Explore our collection of Blu De Travail

Champion has reached a new audience of style conscious wearers in recent years thanks to new product designs and trendy collaborations with the likes of Supreme and Vetements. However the company has a history that almost stretches back a century. The “Knickerbocker Knitting Company” was founded in 1919 by two brothers, Abe and Bill Feinbloom, in Rochester, New York. The company found a market for its products providing college athletes with high-quality sporting apparel and patented its reverse weave technology in 1938, a method of knitting garments that minimized shrinking and optimized durability. This lead to the creation of its now-famous hoodies, which became a popular workwear staple for cold winter conditions. Its appeal translated over to the East Coast rap scene, with the brand being pretty much ubiquitous in rap videos during the ‘90s. The toughness and durability of Champion brand staples were a perfect compliment to the raw energy of the era.

On the track “7th Chamber” Raekwon spits “Champion gear that I rock, you get your boots knocked.” The spirit of competition is a recurring theme in hip-hop since its inception and Champion is a physical embodiment of that. Champion has been a reliable choice for the entire Wu-Tang Clan over the years, popping up again and again in public photos of the group. As the hoodies blur the line between absolute utility and the comfort of streetwear (not to mention general affordability), it’s no wonder that rappers today are still making their Champion hoodies a staple of their wardrobes.

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Carhartt was founded by Hamilton Carhartt in 1889 in Dearborn, Michigan, to make work clothing for manual laborers. The company started with only two sewing machines and five workers. Carhartt's first slogan was "Honest value for an honest dollar."

The company's initial expansion in the 1890s focused on railroad workers' need for strong and long-lasting work clothes; indeed Carhartt worked closely with local railroad workers to ensure that his work bibs met their needs as perfectly as possible.

Within 20 years of its founding, Carhartt had expanded its facilities into eight other cities, including locations in the Finland and Canada. Carhartt downsized due to declining sales during the Great Depression but found its footing again in World War II.

In 1994, Edwin Faeh established his project ‘Work in Progress’ and became the first distributor of Carhartt in Europe. Before that, Edwin had been working under a title called ‘All American Project’, which retailed authentic American brands to a European Market. In a smart move by Carhartt, by allowing a Eurpoean extremity to manufacture and distribute, and then design the clothing for a market he had more scope on allowed the brand a greater bearing and outreach.

Soon colours and styles exclusive to Europe were being manufactured. With the distinct American style of Carhartt, the WIP designs appealed more to the European sensibility. It was noticed that the label was mainly being distributed to skate shops and independent stores. Carhartt had evolved from an All American brand into a true staple of street wear.