WengerClick Image to Close
Click Image to Enlarge
Click Image to Close
Click Image to Enlarge
Bill's Plain-Front Khakis LS542
Free Shipping! Carefully Made in The Keystone State, Bill's Khakis Capture the Look, the Feel, and the Quality of the Original WWII Khaki!
Bill's Plain-Front Khakis
The British actually invented khakis during the occupation of India in the 1840's. Commander Sir Harry Lumsden ordered his troops to dye their Imperial white uniforms with tea in order to blend better with the desert landscape. The British dubbed the resulting earthy color "khaki", from the Indian word for "dust", which their uniforms now resembled! Khakis eventually became the standard uniform color for both British and American troops. Not until the late 1940's, however, when a generation of WWII U.S. soldiers returned home from the front, still wearing their khakis, did this remarkable pant become the iconic symbol and standard of good taste!
Timeless Virtue — Inspired by Rand, and a pair of vintage WWII Army- issue khaki's he'd salvaged in college, Bill deserted the corporate world and went home to Reading. There he started Bill's Khakis, on a mission to recapture the utter simplicity, quality, style, and integrity of those original Army Surplus Khakis. To Bill, the WWII garment represented not only a forgotten piece of Americana, but a chance to be a producer in the classic Ayn Rand sense. He's headquartered in an ancient brick building in Reading that's been designated on the National Historic Register — further evidence of Bill's determination to preserve the best from our past.
WWII Vintage — Utterly faithful to the original, Bill's Khakis are sewn from American made, 100% combed cotton twill weighing a stout 8.5 oz per square yard — exactly like the ones worn by Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity! This fabric stood up to the heat and humidity of Guam, the dry desert heat in North Africa, and the bitter cold of the Ardennes Forest at the Battle of the Bulge — so you'll get years of rugged durability you can't imagine compared to cheap imports. Holds a clean crease for days, and machine washes beautifully for a relaxed feel. Fully cut throughout, as in the authentic WWII fit, with extra deep, drill-cloth pockets and heavy brass zippers. Choose plain front in even waist sizes 26-46, plus 31, 33, 35, and 37 odd waist sizes. Select either finished (without cuffs) in 30", 32", or 34" inseam; or unfinished to 39" — so you tailor has plenty to work with! Order Stone, Original Khaki or British Tan.
Timeless Virtue — Inspired by Rand, and a pair of vintage WWII Army- issue khaki's he'd salvaged in college, Bill deserted the corporate world and went home to Reading. There he started Bill's Khakis, on a mission to recapture the utter simplicity, quality, style, and integrity of those original Army Surplus Khakis. To Bill, the WWII garment represented not only a forgotten piece of Americana, but a chance to be a producer in the classic Ayn Rand sense. He's headquartered in an ancient brick building in Reading that's been designated on the National Historic Register — further evidence of Bill's determination to preserve the best from our past.
WWII Vintage — Utterly faithful to the original, Bill's Khakis are sewn from American made, 100% combed cotton twill weighing a stout 8.5 oz per square yard — exactly like the ones worn by Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra in From Here to Eternity! This fabric stood up to the heat and humidity of Guam, the dry desert heat in North Africa, and the bitter cold of the Ardennes Forest at the Battle of the Bulge — so you'll get years of rugged durability you can't imagine compared to cheap imports. Holds a clean crease for days, and machine washes beautifully for a relaxed feel. Fully cut throughout, as in the authentic WWII fit, with extra deep, drill-cloth pockets and heavy brass zippers. Choose plain front in even waist sizes 26-46, plus 31, 33, 35, and 37 odd waist sizes. Select either finished (without cuffs) in 30", 32", or 34" inseam; or unfinished to 39" — so you tailor has plenty to work with! Order Stone, Original Khaki or British Tan.
