Photo: Courtesy of Authentic Apparel Group.
Full disclosure: A U.S. Army-inspired clothing line didn't sound all that promising when we first got word of it. But, a new contemporary clothing line has gotten the official okay from the Army, and we have to admit — this is not what we were expecting.
The line is being produced by Authentic Apparel Group, and for now, it's limited to menswear — but womenswear could be on the horizon. AAG is the only apparel company to be awarded with a license to use the U.S. Army name and branding, so it's a pretty big deal in terms of street cred. For the moment, the collection is only available at Zappos, but the company plans to expand its offerigs to other online and brick-and-mortar retailers in the near future.
According to an Authentic Apparel spokesman, the company went through an extensive approval process, and every piece in the collection had to pass rigorous testing to achieve Army approval. How many clothing companies can say that every piece in their collection has been approved by the Pentagon? Zero.
The fall collection takes its inspiration from classic Army gear (naturally), with field coats, bomber jackets, and rugged sweaters. Even better: Sales of officially licensed U.S. Army merchandise will benefit the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs, which aids soldiers, retirees, and their families. Truth be told, what guy wouldn't want to buy well-made classics that have made it through fashion boot camp? (Fashionista)