Uniform, Herringbone Twill, M1941
The Army knew during the pre-WWII years that at some point the United States military would need to modernize itself and its materiel. Uniforms were among the items needing retrofit and re-outfitting. Gone needed to be the days of troops training in blue denims and dungarees. A sturdy shell garment was needed to cover the regulation woolen OD or cotton khaki uniform during work details or field training. In some cases the shell uniform would become the only garment worn in hot and humid conditions. Eventually U.S. Army soldiers would go into battle in the early campaigns of the pacific wearing their HBT fatigues because it was so comfortable. The Cotton Herringbone Twill or HBT uniform was developed for this purpose. The HBT or Herringbone weave pattern was introduced as the first ever "rip stop" type of fabric. It was robust, held up and performed well under use and distressed conditions, and was comfortable for the wearer. The Army would eventually design several variations of HBT fatigue uniforms but the M1941 HBT uniform was the first ever. It consisted of a button front jacket, hidden pocket trousers, and a fully brimmed hat.
The hat with it's round brim was reminiscent of the floppy old Denim Daisy Mae hat which afforded excellent protection from the sun to the head, neck, ears, and face. Hat is fully ventilated with eyelets throughout. Interior hat seams are covered with HBT binding tape. The trousers were modeled in the styling of the Cotton Khaki uniform trousers which incorporated hidden front, rear, and watch pockets, button fly, and full waist and fly lining. The jacket has button cuffs, side adjustment buckles, two pleated pockets with buttoned flaps.
Accurate HBT fabric does not exist on the commercial textile market so we contracted with a domestic American fabric mill to produce the best most authentic HBT fabric available anywhere on the planet. It is durable and hefty and wears hard just like the originals. We dyed the fabric in the authentic sage shade of Olive Drab #5, otherwise known to collectors as "light shade". The dyes used in dyeing the fabric are mil-spec so they are very colorfast. The buttons are restrikes of the WWII era Burst of Glory 13-star metal buttons with black metal tacks which affix them. Construction of the garment is accomplished with mercerized and glazed 100% cotton thread matched for gauge and dyed in the appropriate shade of OD authentic to the uniform.
Be advised the fabric used in these garments has a residual shrinkage of about 1" in the waist and chest. Shrinkage should be considered when sizing.