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Strange threadfellows: How the U.S. military shaped what we all wear

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Strange threadfellows: How the U.S. military shaped what we all wear

Planet Money

2025/12/10
Planet Money

Planet Money

2025/12/10
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

From nuclear fission to GPS to the internet, it’s common knowledge that many of the most resource intensive technologies of the last century got their start as military R&D projects in government-funded labs. But as Avery Trufelman explains in her fashion ...

Highlights

The clothes we wear often carry hidden histories, shaped not just by trends but by the practical demands of war and survival. From city streets to mountain trails, designs born in military labs have quietly infiltrated our wardrobes, evolving far beyond their original purpose.
03:00
The U.S. military has directly shaped popular clothing features like synthetic down and durable outerwear.
09:02
The M43 jacket introduced modular layering to military gear
17:52
Mel returned from Australia wearing a British Burma jacket, sparking the idea for Banana Republic.
24:10
The Gap bought Banana Republic and popularized a yuppified version of army-surplus fashion.
27:17
Companies avoid discussing military business to not turn off certain customers
29:51
Outdoor Research developed a high-tech glove system for special operations in the 1980s.
38:07
Wearing camo sweatpants is a way to claim ownership of American institutions.

Chapters

How did army gear become streetwear?
00:00
What role did WWII play in revolutionizing functional fashion?
05:52
Who turned surplus jackets into a retail phenomenon?
15:01
How did military style go from flea markets to luxury malls?
23:55
Why do top outdoor brands owe their designs to the military?
27:17
How does making gear for special ops shape consumer products?
29:51
What does wearing military-inspired clothing really mean today?
35:20

Transcript

Speaker 2: This message comes from the International Rescue Committee. Co-founded with help from Albert Einstein, the IRC provides emergency aid and support to people affected by conflict and disaster. Donate today by visiting rescue.org. Slash rebuild. A...