Why did I do this?
As a long time student of the Vietnam War I fell in love with the jungle fatigues. In fact, everyone I know who wore them professionally or for historical interest loved them more than any other uniform. They were classy and practical. They were deliberately designed from the lessons of the Pacific and China-Burma-India campaigns of WWII. They were as close to the perfect uniform the U.S. Military ever devised – sharp and functional, yet simple. They set the standard for nearly 30 years, being the preferred uniform among infantry and SOF units until they were no longer in the inventory and authorized. No modern uniform, with their odd fabric compositions, chemical coatings, random and useless pockets, Velcro and zippers comes close. I’m sorry, but there is nothing about Crye Precision that is worth a $400 garment.
So why reinvent the wheel?
I keep saying that if anyone else was doing this, I wouldn’t be. Sometimes we find a niche. If there’s a pair of OD pants, I’m sure I bought them and hated them. From “performance” fabrics that don’t breathe, noisy Velcro swatches that wear out to weird “Ranger Green" shades of OD, I never found something that I really wanted to wear, especially while working, rucking or shooting. I was left with few choices. I could either wear original jungles (which I do too often), but those are getting rare in my size and I dislike destroying historical artifacts. Or I could buy repro jungles, which are now plentiful but not necessarily cheap. I thought I could improve on the almost perfect jungle fatigue design and add small features that would be largely expected in a modern tactical/work pant while keeping with the original aesthetic. As for the jacket, there wasn’t much I felt I wanted to do, or should do with the original design aside from adding a custom sized shoulder pocket that’s perfect for carrying a phone, a notebook or some tobacco.
Why else would I do this?
I’m a bit old school. There was a time when combat uniforms were supposed to have some aesthetic appeal. Articles like the field jacket remain timeless precisely because the functionality and the classy look go hand-in-hand. I like to incorporate these old designs in my daily wear; they are masculine and mature. There is a proliferation of “tactical” gear and clothing made by young startups looking to cash in on that industry. I won’t waste your time with my thoughts on that, but suffice it to say that I think it’s time for the GWOT generation to grow up. T-shirts covered in skulls, blood splatters and shell casings are for middle school boys. For years, military surplus added class and rugged functionality to outdoor clothing. I want to make clothing that is purposefully designed, high quality and functional; clothing that isn’t embarrassing to wear out to the pub and works equally well for weeks in the bush.
Everything about the Mk II Jungle Fatigues was carefully considered with input from close friends who are infantry and SOF combat veterans. They are a true OG-107 and 100% cotton poplin rip-stop. After breaking them in, you’ll never want to have poly/cotton or NYCO against your skin ever again. Make no mistake; they don’t just look good, they are meant to be worn in the field. I tested my own prototypes extensively through backpacking trips, trips to the range and chopping wood.
So this is the dream I didn’t realize I had when I was much younger.
I never imagined making clothing. Now I am.
