Gutshot John
12-28-08, 11:53
Maybe it's due to my preppy roots, but I've always felt khaki was the ultimate in classic cool. I love jeans, but I always feel more comfortable in a good pair of khakis from Jos. Banks.
The origin of khaki was that British troops in India were appalled that their cotton uniforms kept getting dirty so their Indian servants showed them a certain mud called "khaki" (translated as "dust") that when the white cotton was soaked in the mud (mixture of dust and water) impregnated itself into the fibers. This made excellent natural camouflage and eventually replaces the ubiquitous "red coat" throughout the British Army.
Now I keep seeing all the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan covered with "dust". Their uniform camouflage seemingly requires it to be most effective and it occurs to me how really important this color has been in the history of warfare.
Is there a broader lesson here for us? Not just about camouflage but in all things related to tactical craft.
The origin of khaki was that British troops in India were appalled that their cotton uniforms kept getting dirty so their Indian servants showed them a certain mud called "khaki" (translated as "dust") that when the white cotton was soaked in the mud (mixture of dust and water) impregnated itself into the fibers. This made excellent natural camouflage and eventually replaces the ubiquitous "red coat" throughout the British Army.
Now I keep seeing all the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan covered with "dust". Their uniform camouflage seemingly requires it to be most effective and it occurs to me how really important this color has been in the history of warfare.
Is there a broader lesson here for us? Not just about camouflage but in all things related to tactical craft.