Now this is complicated, so bear with us. The History Preservation Associates is an online distributor of war-era americana and historical clothing- the stuff grandpa potentially has in a box in his garage. But they’re also the sole US distributor of Buzz Rickson’s jeans, shirts and jackets, a faux-americana WWII-era Japanese company who makes jeans and shirts out of sugar cane and selvage denim. We didn’t even know sugar cane clothing existed!
The cane used is Sweet Sorghum, otherwise known as Sweet Millet or Sugar Millet. It’s a type of grass grown all over the world for making a molasses-like syrup and animal feed. The Sugarcane jeans that feature this fiber have a faint sweet smell and may have occasional woody tufts poking out of the fabric.
Now we’re not sure if this is the Japanese marketing aesthetic shining through - but read one of the descriptions of the shirts:
Sugar Cane Vintage Work Shirts are for those who can appreciate the myriad of nuances and character found in the finest single-malt scotch, the clearest, most colorless diamond or hand-crafted, centuries-old oriental rug. Nothing like this has been offered since the “good old days” of the 1940’s when clothing had to last by necessity. One look and you will be immediately transported back to an era when America was the unquestioned king of goods synonymous with top quality and durability. From the dust bowl farmers of the “Great Depression” to the factory workers on the swing shift who helped win the Second World War, this shirt was there. Every original and distinctive styling feature from the 1940’s has been reproduced, including a super heavy-duty worsted-wool fabric in a classic 1940’s plaid, two open-top pockets, red chain stitching on the bottom thread, bakelite-style buttons, double-stitched seams for superior strength and even authentic labeling. The application of this shirt is either as a heavy shirt worn over traditional undershirts or worn over additional outer shirts as a shirt jacket. It is resplendent in American history at its rugged and stylish best, and it is also going to look fabulous when worn because it is cut to flatter the body, unlike the ultra-loose styles so often encountered everywhere today. Tired of only having choices from what the big outfits and department stores have to offer? Ready for something that will make you the envy of anyone with a keen eye for a look of quality and distinction? This vintage gem will endure beyond fashion because it’s traditional styling at its best, and it will also outwear ANYTHING you are familiar with; let this vintage design be your silver bullet. We defy anyone to find a better-fitting, more-unique, harder-wearing shirt of this type for sale anywhere at any price. Match this shirt with a pair of Sugar Cane selvage-denim jeans for the ultimate in style! Quantities are very limited, so please order early. Please take note of these authentic features and details found only on a shirt of this pedigree.
Amazing! If anyone has ever seen or worn or purchased one of these extremely expensive and incomprehensible examples of eco-fashion, please DO let us know more.
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