Original Design 07: Camouflage

Posted on February 15, 2009 
Filed Under Military Design, Feature: Original Design

Do you recognize any of these camouflages? Stone Island and C.P. Company have long been using inspiration from real military camouflage for patterns for their jackets. Click below to read more.

http://www.found-nyc.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/od_camodesign/od_camo_0000_1.jpg

Left: Czech z.60 Jehlici camouflage. Right: Stone Island anorak from AW’1999.

Czech z.60 Jehlici Camouflage
Jehlici, which translates to “needles” in English, has three main variations of this pattern: Dark on Light, Light on Dark, and Invisible. Dark on Light has blobs of a darker green over a lighter grayish green base color. Light on Dark is just the opposite. These appear to have been early production uniforms with later ones being Invisible style where the pattern can only be seen from the underside of the cloth. The Jehlici camo was the inspiration for the Bulagarian frogskin pattern. This camo has been used on both Stone Island and C.P. Company jackets.


Left: German Sumpfmuster camouflage. Right: Stone Island AW07 4p43.

German Sumpfmuster Camouflage
Based on the 1944 Wehmmacht marsh pattern, Sumpfmuster was also known as Tan&Water, Sumpftarn, and Swamp camouflage. The first versions of Sumpfmuster were developed in the early 1950’s and continued see usage till the early 1970’s. In Aw’07 Stone Island released a hooded field jacket and a parka in this camo.


Left: German Flectarn Camouflage . Right: Stone Island Denims Jeans from AW’06.

German Flectarn Camouflage
The first standard issue German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) camo pattern was based on the pattern most associated with the Waffen SS . The proper name of this German pattern is Flecktarn, though it is commonly misused as “Flecktar”. Unlike the bolder WWII versions the new camo used “standard” colors of three greens, black, and brown for a summer only coloration. Trials of this pattern took place in the early 1980s with a slow phase in during the very late 1980s and early 1990s. This camo was used on various Stone Island Denims jeans and hats during AW06.


Left: Bundeswehr-Schneetarn Camouflage. Right: C.P. Company Donna Snow Cape in Schneetarn camo.

Schneetarn Camouflage(Snow Camo)
In the mid 1970’s the Bundeswehr started using this specialized reversible camo pattern Schneetarn (Snow Camo). In forest areas the side pictured above is worn outside, offering better concealment than straight white. The primary original piece that was first issued in this camo was know as the snow cape. The C.P. Company Donna snow cape, is pictured above to the right. The cape is interesting because it allows the soldier to conceal not only his body but his entire field gear. It could also be used as camo for a shelter or other position.The Schneetarn camo was used by Moreno Ferrari for the C.P. Donna Snow Cape.


Left: US Army ERDL. Right: Stone Island vintage Ice Camouflage field jacket.

United States ERDL Camouflage.
Developed in the 1960’s, ERDL camouflage continued to see use till the mid 1980’s as a slightly redesigned version called Woodland camouflage. Not only was Massimo Osti inspired by the ERDL print, but also incorporated the rip stop fabric into his camouflage Ice Jackets. The rip stop was to minimize the tearing of fabric if it was snagged.


Above: Stone Island hand painted field jacket from AW’08.

The one Stone Island camouflage I’m having a hard time placing is the new AW’08 hand painted camo. It looks a bit like the Hungarian army M90, but not quite. If you know the name of the camo please reply below.


Above: DPM, Disruptive Pattern Material, by Hardy Blechman.

If you have an interest in camouflage, I recommend DPM, Disruptive Pattern Material, by Hardy Blechman. I was a bit skeptical at first thinking it would be just a book for designers, but it really is quite thorough and a great reference to have around.

Great links online for info on camouflage:
http://www.kamouflage.net
http://www.battlefront.com
http://camo.henrikc.dk

If you enjoyed this, check out more Stone Island military influences in the Original Design section.



Comments

5 Responses to “Original Design 07: Camouflage”

  1. blueboys1875 on February 16th, 2009 4:24 am

    Really interesting article, i have the DPM book and it is a thing of beauty, expensive but fantastic. missed the czech camo anorak when it came out but its one i will definately go for if it turns up in the right size.

  2. Beseda on February 16th, 2009 5:00 am

    Some other non-trivial camo patterns from russian architect Iakov Chernikhov can be found here:
    http://www.icif.ru/Engl/cyc/mask/index.htm

    Though they were mostly research into the subject done for Commissariat of Defense in 1941-1945.

    Resembles much of a Razzle-Dazzle.

  3. FOUND_NYC on February 16th, 2009 2:44 pm

    thanks for the link beseda. Am a big fan of the Razzle-Dazzle ship camo.

  4. jimmymack on February 17th, 2009 9:06 am

    Dazzle camo is definitely cool! In a similar vein, check out the urban disruptive camo worn by British Challenger and Chieftain tanks deployed in Berlin as part of the Berlin Brigade:

    http://emlra.org/images/photos/Berlin_Brigade_chieftains_parade.jpg

    http://www.armouruk.net/images/uk10479.jpg

    I am a huge fan of modern disruptive camouflage…

  5. lucas on August 13th, 2009 4:41 pm

    hey, there are still lot of cool stuff you can get just by checking out vintage czech military shops
    >
    >
    >

    http://armyshop.cz/foto.asp?strLang=&Pic=PoncaPrevleky/G08373.JPG&PicName=Od%ECv%20do%20de%9At%EC%20pogumovan%FD%20BW%20-%20bl%F9za

    http://armyshop.cz/foto.asp?strLang=&Pic=PoncaPrevleky/G405ZB.jpg&PicName=P%F8evlek%20URNA

    http://armyshop.cz/foto.asp?strLang=&Pic=Tricka/KRR/T00105A.jpg&PicName=Tri%C4%8Dko%20maskovac%C3%AD%20loveck%C3%A1%20camo

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