TROUSERS, COTTON, KHAKI, 1945

The TROUSERS, COTTON, KHAKI, 1945 are modeled on U.S. Army chino trousers produced under the 1945 specification MIL-T-2064 and the slightly revised 1951 specification MIL-T-2064A, collectively known as “45 Khaki.” While the term covers a broad range of wartime and postwar production variations, one detail often associated with the 45 Khaki is the flat-felled side seam, a construction method that disappears from Army chino trousers in the early 1950s. This reproduction references a version fitted with urea buttons and featuring standard single-welt pockets and a flat-felled side seam.

The earliest recorded mention of “chino” dates back to 1898, when twill pants were produced for servicemen stationed in the Philippines, as well as Roosevelt’s famous “Rough Riders” cavalry. At this time, Spanish was the official language, and “chino” was the Spanish word for “Chinese.” The twill fabric used for these pants originated from China, and thus “chino” evolved from a nickname for the trousers to their widely accepted name. In 1903, the US Military officially authorized the use of hot weather fatigue and field dress made from this lighter fabric.

Entering World War II, the durability of the chino cloth made it an essential part of the military uniform in the Pacific and also at home at West Point. Photographs taken at Tarawa Atoll show the chino worn during friendly baseball games and day-to-day laboring – the chino trouser was the ideal all-weather garment. While khaki itself gradually saw less use from the military, its influence can be seen in the M41 before being succeeded by the olive drab M43, as well as the M-421A summer flight jacket.

Post World War II, chino cloth moved from the battlefield to college campuses, where it took a turn from military wear to practical civilian clothing. Quickly becoming a favorite among Ivy League students, who often paired the khaki chino with rich madras cloths, Oxford button-down shirts and penny loafers, a timeless style that would captivate Hollywood stars such as Paul Newman, inspiring the wider public.

• 100% Cotton Chino Fabric
• Urea Button
• Cotton Sewing Thread Construction
• Made in Japan