During the U.S. servicemen's 1 year of military service, they were a period of leave known as Rest and Recuperation. For those seeking some time out of country there were a number of asian destinations for soldiers to visit which included, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taiwan and Tokyo. Hawaii also became a popular destination among soldiers taking R&R leave, as it was close to enough for family and friends to meet them there.

For soldiers taking leave in country, Saigon, Vung Tau and China Beach offered shorter breaks. Soldiers indulged in popular pastimes such as surfing, swimming, and sailing. Despite the civilian atmosphere maintained around the R&R centre, many soldiers preferred wearing camouflage swim trunks over the military-issue shorts they were provided with.

Amidst a multitude of vintage examples, our TIGER CAMOUFLAGE SWIM SHORTS / ADVISOR pay homage to those witnessed on China Beach. Featuring front eyelets for a lace tie, convenient velcro tape, and practical hand pockets, they are completed with a single-buttoned back pocket and darts at the rear.

The origins of Tiger Stripe camouflage trace back to the French 'lizard' pattern, also known as Tenue Du Leopard. The pattern is often credited to the Vietnamese, due to the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps making subtle changes to the lizard camouflage and using it to reflect the thick jungle conditions and intense tropical heat of Vietnam, by incorporating bold black stripes over shades of green and brown.

The Tiger Stripe pattern gained significant recognition during the Vietnam War when it was unofficially embraced by the U.S. Armed forces. Many young servicemen opted for the Tiger Stripe over the official issue ERDL pattern. USMAAG advisors were even authorised to wear the combat uniform of their Vietnamese units, leading to the production of many uniforms by local tailors. This diversity in production explains the myriad variations seen in the pattern.

Among the various tiger stripe iterations, the Advisor Tiger Stripes emerged as a mid-war pattern in Vietnam, prevalent from 1968 until the conflict's conclusion. Widely utilised by LRRP/Ranger Units, SF, SOG, CIDG, and ARVN units, they earned the moniker "Gold Tigers" due to their characteristic fading into golden tones and purple-blacks. This particular pattern stands as a testament to the adaptability and practicality of military attire in responding to the unique challenges posed by different theatres of operation.

In recreating this iconic camouflage pattern, we have hand printed and dyed on to a dense cotton twill fabric, achieving an authentic weight and overall atmosphere.