The phrase “blue collar” originates from the denim or chambray work shirts worn by industrial or manual workers, differing from “white collar” workers, who held jobs in business and finance. A chambray work shirt worn in the field For buttons, again, this depends on era and preference. For us, the mid-blue painted metal buttons on the USN chambray shirt always look good against the lighter blue of the shirt; particularly when the paint begins to chip. Brands Who Produce Notable Chambray Work Shirts

The buttons are reproductions of 1920s-style painted metal cat’s eye buttons that have been painstakingly reproduced in Japan. These buttons are incredibly hard wearing and, with wear, will develop an attractive patina as the paint begins to chip. Collar tab detail on the The Rite Stuff Heracles Shirt my guarantee to you that all The Rite Stuff items are ethically made. Bryan Shettig, The Rite Stuff The Rite Stuff Heracles Shirt at Those That KnowFrom cambric’s original use as a fabric used for detailed embroidery and lacework, chambray has gone on to be synonymous with hard-wearing, long-lasting military clothing and workwear. The Characteristics of Chambray As with everything, the details that go into the ideal chambray work shirt are subjective and down to personal preference of both the designer and wearer. Typically, the higher quality shirts will have some details and characteristics that lesser shirts, won’t meaning there’s things a few things you can look out for when choosing the perfect shirt.

Quite often chambray will be marketed as denim, and vice versa. They are, though, two different fabrics. Perhaps most commonly known from their use by US Navy from 1901 all the way up until the Second World War, chambray work shirts having seen somewhat of a resurgence in recent years thanks to heritage and reproduction brands as well as a renewed interest in vintage workwear. By the end of the 1930s the cut and details of work shirts had become relatively standardised with brands refining their models to a point where they would remain familiar when compared with work shirts of today. All main seams are triple chainstitched so you an be sure that your Heracles shirt is tough enough to deal with anything you can throw at it. Garment workers tag on the Heracles

What is a CPO Shirt?

The fabric used to produce US Navy chambray shirts was woven on original narrow shuttle looms and had a blue warp and white weft, giving the classic light blue colour. The cloth was lightweight and breathable, tough and durable. Designed to be worn for extended periods of time, day after day, keeping the wearer comfortable and cool. Chambray work shirts formed part of the standard USN uniform from 1901 up until WWII By 1910 work shirts started to become more refined and details such as triple stitching and curved yokes became popular. Milton Goodman workshirt advertisement There’s a huge number of variations in chambray and even more so in denim, but typically the result is that denim is a heavier, rugged fabric, with more give and stretch than chambray. The History of the Work Shirt

The coloured warp and white weft of chambray, along with its one-times-one structure give the fabric its lighter colour and softer feel. The thread count is typically 150-500, resulting in a fine but dense cloth. Weight varies, but it is typically on the lighter side, though some heavier versions do exist. USN Personnel wearing chambray work shirts

If we may call professions and office positions white collar jobs, we may call the trades blue collar jobs” The Times newspaper, 1924