Cargo pants
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Cargo pants (cargo trousers) are much like regular khaki pants, but were designed originally for tough, outdoor activities. They are baggier, permitting free movement, made of hardwearing, quick-drying fabrics, with tough stitching, and have large belt loops and several additional patch pockets.
Cargo pockets generally have accordion folds in the sides for increased capacity, and often have large flaps secured with snaps, buttons or velcro. They are used on battledress or sport hunting clothing for carrying maps, compasses and other equipment in an easily accessible way.
The garments are normally made of rectangular panels of fabric, designed to allow bending at the knee and hip without stretching. Occasionally the knee joint has a hidden gap for ventilation. Stitching is often expressed as an external felled seam, and may be sewn in a contrasting colour to give the garment strong lines. Felled seams are commonly used in outdoor garments to improve water resistance.
Cargo shorts are similar to cargo pants. Some styles have zip-off legs, and can be converted from long to short trousers to suit the weather. These are particularly useful for hikers and global travelers.
Cargo skirts are made in the same style, with the same features. Long and mid-length cargo skirts are typically straight or slightly flared, with a long back split to permit long strides. Cargo miniskirts may be tight with a back split, or deeply pleated like a sports skirt or kilt.
Cargo pants began as a trend in the early 1990s. Cargo pants took on the trend of an urban military look with a relaxed, reversed silhouette, i.e. wider at the hip area and narrow at the ankle. Pockets were either the cargo variety at the hip and/or attached to the side of the leg in the thigh area. The original company starting this trend was Rescue Sportswear, followed by Zoom Cavaricci, Union Bay, Generra and eventually Bugle Boy.
[edit] References
- "The 1990s Fashion History". Pauline Weston Thomas. Fashion-Era.com. 2009-02-08. http://www.fashion-era.com/the_1990s.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
[edit] External links
- Cargo pants - Many examples of the genre
