a little bit about bleu de travail…
what is bleu de travail?
Bleu de Travail is traditional French workwear, worn by factory workers, carpenters and mechanics since the 1920s.
some of the different types of jackets that we source:
fabrics
French Moleskine is a type of cotton fabric, very hardwearing, that has a longer pile that has been shaved down. It leaves an almost velvety feel, super soft to the touch. They tend to be slightly heavier in weight.
All our workwear is 100% cotton.
All the workwear that we source is 100% cotton. It comes in varying weights, from lightweight through to medium and heavier weaves that are great for autumn. It is usually a plain weave but also comes with a herringbone pattern that ages beautifully, the herringbone becoming more pronounced.
Most of our jackets are from France but we will occasionally find beautiful pieces from Europe or even Vietnam.
vintage and loved
Ahhhh… the beauty of an item of clothing that comes to you with its own long history and stories to tell. Our pre loved jackets come in varying degrees of fade, from deep royal blue to a light chambray, faded by sun and washing. The more each jacket has been worn the more likely it will come with some wear and tear. Any major things to note will be detailed, but you should expect some uneven fade, discolourations, areas of wear, darns, mends or holes.
But remember, these jackets are built to withstand, and so will last and last, and all of those references to their history should be treasured, and not regarded as flaws. The more worn, the softer they will be. We source jackets from the 1950s onwards, the earlier ones tend to have lovely cuff and collar shapes.
deadstock
Deadstock are vintage jackets which have not been pre owned or worn. They may still date from the 60s, 70s or 80s, but have been in storage. Unless detailed they will be in new condition, without wear or imperfections. They tend to be stiffer or more rigid in fabrication, as they are in their original state and the colour os darker or more vibrant in shade.
We launder ours several times to get rid of the “just off the shelf” feel and to give them a little more softness. These are a good choice for you if you’re looking for something a bit more box fresh, or if you just can’t live with fading or darns..