Who invented flannel shirts

This meant mass-produced flannels that were becoming popular among the working class for their tough, warm qualities. Then, in , Hamilton Carhartt founded his namesake company. His clothing was made specifically for the working class. His idea was to provide them with a top quality product, which would meet his standard of excellence he wanted his garments to reflect.

Flannel fit the bill; and Carhartt can be largely credited for popularizing the fabric in the United States.

The United States Army issued soldiers flannel shirts during both World Wars, as an added layer of warmth.

Rather than using it for an additional layer of warmth, soldiers began wearing it as a casual wear. Featuring a cargo style design for utility purposes, the extra pockets starting gaining popularity among outdoors-centric individuals. Softness and comfort with added functionality allowed for the once working class attire to expand interest towards everyday outdoorsmen over the decades that followed.

Bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam embraced the style and flannel was repurposed as a fashion statement among teenagers and young adults in support of the music and culture that was rising during that time.

Soon, plaid flannel shirts would become a popular trend for those seeking self-expression. It makes sense that the fine people of Wales would want flannel shirt protection of some sort from the notoriously cold and drizzly Welsh winters. Their version of flannel was the popular, warmer, and sturdier alternative to the wool garments that they wore at the time.

From Wales, flannel made it's way to France and Germany throughout the 17th and 18th centuries until finally showing up in the United States during the Industrial Revolution in With a rapidly expanding railway system, flannel shirts proved to be made of a worthy fabric for the harsh working conditions and long hours of the American laborer.

And it wasn't just used for shirts. Flannel long underwear, known as long johns, and warm flannel sheets , were also made by this time. By the early 20th Century logging, railroad building, and construction continued to dominate the workforce in America and men's flannel shirts soon became synonymous with blue-collar workers. During the Great Depression, they became even more popular as white-collar businessmen suddenly desperate for work found themselves wearing flannel shirts to laborer jobs instead.

Essentially by , flannel shirts were thought of as the working man's shirt and considered a symbol of American hardworking ruggedness, which was only illustrated further by the introduction of the fictional character of Paul Bunyan. After all, can you think of imagery more masculine than a lumberjack styling a classic men's flannel shirt with his trusty axe thrown over his shoulder and his faithful blue Ox, Babe, by his side?

Flannel's image got a pop-culture do-over in the s with the help of grunge rockers who wore flannel shirts as part of their trademarked low-key looks their fans loved.

The once rugged plaid shirts has transitioned to lighter cottons and more affordable synthetic fabrics. Plaid flannel has also transitioned to high fashion. Today's Best Deals. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Two Creatives on Their Journeys to Sustainability. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses.

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