From today, at South Pacific Berets: Bleu de Travail!
Bleu de Travail translates as ‘working blues’ and is a catch
all for the indigo-dyed cotton workwear popularised by French factory workers
from the late 1800s. Bleu de Travail stands for jackets, shirts, or trousers,
but when we talk about the Bleu de Travail today, it’s usually just the jacket.
Simple, distinctive and hard-wearing; denim/jeans’ ancestor.
Bleu de Travail has become very fashionable over the last 10
years; hip fashion stores in Tokyo, NYC and London charging up to $350.00 for a
jacket. South Pacific Berets orders these jackets from established, old time
manufacturers and sells at a much more reasonable and realistic price.
Worldwide demand means shortages in supply and stock numbers are relatively
low, but we restock, add and change as often as possible.
The Mercure is South Pacific Berets' own model - a classic
bleu de travail in Bugatti blue; 100% heavy 320gr cotton, fitted with 2 large
side pockets, 1 breast pocket and 1 interior pocket and covered button
fastenings.
The Dutch HaVeP 3014 jacket is a true vintage original and a
personal favourite. Unchanged since the 1950's, an original workman's jacket in
100% K1 2/1 twill weave 300gr navy cotton, fitted with 2 front pockets, 1
breast pocket and 1 inside pocket (all large enough to fit a well sized beret)
and double row button fastening.
Those jackets and that guys overall pants etc. look exactly like what the bulk of Spanish, French workers (from farmers to construction etc.) wear. I noticed the price in Euros for simple work clothes has skyrocketed! This is why you are better off just wearing anything that is old rather than the traditional blue work clothing. After all, the name of the game is to make $$ at work, not spend a fortune in work clothing jajajaja!
ReplyDeleteHa, you are dead right - it's the old contradiction between a utility and fashion; whether its cars, housing, clothing..., it seems that all matter designed for a good practical use become fashionable one day.
DeleteOne can be cynical about that, but personally, I think it is fantastic that something that proved itself to be of great quality, that has stood the test of time, makes it into general fashion attire.
Hi Daan,
ReplyDeleteJUst to get a better uinderstanding of the jackets size, what size are you? For example, would you be a LARGE T4 52/54? This will help me because i believe that would be too large for me. Thank you.
Hi Willard,
DeleteYes, I am a size T4 and measure 1.84m or 6.2. The best way to go is to measure a similar jacket or loose shirt and compare with the measurement table on the web site. The jackets are not tailored, meaning to be a loose fit.
Drop me a line if you need any help.
Cheers,
Daan
Yeah, i did the math on that jacket....it came to $145 CND - just a wee too expensive for me! I like the jacket, color, concept and all that but just wayyy over my price range. It's like what that Portuguesito do cu said, that we are paying a lot of money for work clothes despite the fact that we go to work to earn money. Here in Canada, you can walk into a MARK'S WORK WAREHOUSE and have a minor hart attack when you see the prices for work clothes!! OUTRAGEOUS! Soon enough, we'll probably have to go to work naked, and get paid with a basket containing some fish, poultry, meat and dairy instead of receiving money. Who knows?
ReplyDeleteYep, I completely understand - it works the same way for me (wholesale) with a relatively high euro against the Kiwi $.
DeleteStill, I dare say that my prices are among the lowest you'd find.
Hi there, are those French jackets you sell LINED or UNLINED jackets? The reason i ask is because i need to know if they keep you warm or not? Have you heard of a brand called L'ideal? Or Magbayon ditu from the Filipines?
ReplyDeleteThese jackets are unlined, as all 'bleu de travail' are. They are made of a thick weave heavy cotton though (320 grams/m2), which makes them close to windproof.
DeleteI am familiar with L'ideal, another French brand, but have not heard of Magbayon.
If i buy one of those overpriced Blue Jackets, will you also sell me a pair of Blue Pants? I need the jacket and the Blue Pants for my construction job. You should offer the Blue Pants to go with the jacket, and sell these items for less because they are too expensive, sorry. But i do want to buy both because i need for work. Hosca Kal
ReplyDeleteDear Ömer,
DeleteI have to disappoint you re. the pants - I don't stock them.
But, if you find the jackets overpriced, by all means go somewhere else if you find any cheaper.
Best,
Daan