Fatigues, cargo pants, chinos - the military’s rich history of inventing superb utilitarian clothing is a gift that keeps on giving... 

First released in 1937 as part of the new British Army Battle Dress uniform, these pants were designed for modern combat. They were first built from wool serge then, later, with a cotton herringbone twill to keep the temperature down in the trouser department whilst troops were touring in hotter climes.

These fatigues were the precursor for the modern cargo pant, boasting a map pocket high on the front of the left thigh and a smaller pocket for field dressings at the right hip. It is an enduring classic – even the German Luftwaffe were big fans. 

After seeing the trousers worn by captured pilots, they copied it, further modifying the design with two large patch pockets on the thighs. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, this may be the closest the Allies got to a round of applause from their combat counterparts. 

The US Army soon followed suit (pun intended) with their M-43 uniform. The extra carrying capacity came in very useful for the US Paratroop regiment when dropped behind enemy lines.

Of course, once the World War II was over, the need for pockets large enough to carry hand grenades and ammunition clips shrank. This led to a big surplus of these trousers throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s, which provided a generation or two of outdoors types - hikers, campers and climbers alike -  with suitably durable, rough and ready clothing for their pursuits, long before Patagonia or Berghaus were available even in specialist stores.

Since then, fatigue pants have infiltrated all walks of life. Their blend of style and utilitarian function has been lept on by subcultures ranging from punks and skinheads to hip hop heads alike – and with good reason. Whether you need trousers roomy enough to bust some moves, pockets to smuggle beers into gigs, or just the comfort of cargo pants with a loopwheeled sweatshirt when you’re locked down on lockdown, they’re hard to beat.

Of course, there’s also a place for a more streamlined fit. Take our chino fatigue for instance . A stripped-back silhouette, the regulation side pockets have been jettisoned in favour of a more discreet approach to storage – a phone and wallet are all the ammunition we non-military types need, after all. We’ve kept the roomy fit, introduced a slight taper, and sourced super-soft, denim-weight fabric – so you can face your everyday battles without having to compromise on comfort.