[DEEP DIVE] FATIGUE SHIRT

DEEP DIVE - FATIGUE SHIRT

 

 

Welcome back to "DEEP DIVE" where we take a look into the inspiration behind some of our favorite Engineered Garments pieces. In this installation, we are featuring the "Fatigue Shirt", the Engineered Garments version of a staple workwear shirt, used by both government and military bodies of the United States. 

 

On April 5, 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt formed the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) by executive order as part of the New Deal - a series of work projects, agencies, and reforms designed to provide jobs for millions of unemployed Americans. Informed by the President’s love of the outdoors and dedication to conservation, this agency formed the backbone of America’s National and State Park system.   

 

The men who joined this program were issued two sets of clothing: wool dress uniforms for off-duty hours, and denim fatigues for working. This denim pullover piece of this outfit was modified from an earlier brown denim overshirt which had seen use during WWI. Quickly becoming a favorite of the United States government for their lasting durability and cheap manufacturing cost, these garments were made in the same factories as many private label workwear items - providing further cost savings. 

 

During World War II, this pullover style was adopted by the United States Army as a barracks uniform. Many of the workers and soldiers who wore the original overshirt grew frustrated with the popover style, and began cutting down to the bottom hem - allowing the shirt to open fully. It was this style which Engineered Garments’s designer Daiki Suzuki encountered in a vintage store, and which inspired the design of the Engineered Garments Fatigue Shirt. 

 

The Fatigue Shirt contains the same core details of the CCC U.S. Army Pullover Denim Shirt, including the two large pockets and three buttons across the front. Signature EG touches can be found on the collar, which sports a tab, and the added snap-closure breast pocket. Of course, the most major innovation is the placement of two buttons concealed on the lower half which allows the popover silhouette to open - just like the DIY versions of the mid-20th century.  

 

Take home your own version of this trusty garment in classic Indigo Denim Twill, or sample the other workwear and military-inspired fabrics that are available for the Fall/Winter 21 season. 

 

The Fatigue Shirt is available the following fabrics:

 

• Indigo Denim Twill Shirting
• Black Cotton Ripstop
• Dark Navy Cotton Ripstop
• Olive Cotton Ripstop
• Khaki 14w Corduroy
  
  

 

Available in-store and online at nepenthesny.com