The past in the present
Deeply attached to the history of clothing, we have one wish: to bring the style of the past back into fashion. To do so, we revisit historical pieces of the workwear and military wardrobe and modernize them.
Champ de Manoeuvres · Toulouse
Our values
Four convictions, and what they demand of us.
We hold to certain values that guide our choices, and that we are ready to defend.
The brand
We dress work again
Champ de Manoeuvres starts from a simple conviction: the finest clothes of the last century were not designed to please. They were designed to serve: in workshops, in fields, under the uniform.
We go looking for these pieces in their original state: a French work jacket, a US Army jungle jacket, a pair of fatigue pants. We take up their construction, their stitches, their proportions, then bring them back to a body of today.
The rest follows. If a piece claims it will last twenty years, it has to be made for it, made by people you can go and visit, and repairable when it wears.
What we stand for
Four convictions
Quality first
We believe the quality of a garment should be the first thing that counts. To achieve it, we hunt down the best materials and assemble our clothes in human-scale workshops with traditional know-how.
The craft spirit
Made in France, as far as possible. We favor French workshops and manufacturers. When our workshop is overloaded, we work closely with fellow makers, to our specifications.
Repair rather than replace
A garment cut to last twenty years deserves to be mended. Our workshop hems with the chain stitch, darns on vintage machines and reinforces what has worn, on our clothes and on yours, whatever the brand.
In practice
What that means
Fabric
Selvedge denim
Japanese or Italian depending on the model, woven on shuttle looms. Closed selvedge, a cloth that marks itself instead of wearing evenly.
Cut
Archive pieces
Taken from the French workwear wardrobe and American militaria, then adjusted to a contemporary build.
Manufacturing
France, as far as possible
Human-scale workshops. When overloaded, we entrust the work to fellow French makers, to our specifications.
Assembly
Vintage machines
Union Special and Singer, maintained, used for the stitches only they can make.
After purchase
Repair workshop
Chain-stitch hems, darning, reinforcements and alterations, including on other brands’ clothes.
The wardrobe
Convictions, but above all clothes
None of this counts unless it shows on the piece you wear.
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