Nigel Cabourn Army Cargo Short

This design draws inspiration from three iconic military garments: the U.S. Army M-43, the legendary M-51 cargo trousers and vintage British Army designs.

The trousers are constructed from back satin, a tightly woven and notably rigid fabric. Staying true to the M-51, the material is made from 100% cotton.

When the M-65 was introduced as the successor to the M-51, one important change was made. The fabric shifted from pure cotton to a cotton-nylon blend. While this may appear to be a simple material update, it reflects a significant development in textile history with the rise of nylon as the world’s first fully synthetic fiber.

Nylon was invented in the United States in 1935 but it did not become widely used across textile products until the post-war era particularly during the 1950s.

When the M-51 was officially adopted in 1951, nylon was available but had yet to become common place in military clothing. By the time the M-65 was introduced in 1965, synthetic fibers had become far more established and allowing cotton-nylon blends to be incorporated into military garments.

It is a small detail that tells a much larger story: the transition from traditional natural fabrics to the synthetic and blended textiles that are now an ordinary part of modern clothing.