Camouflage has a distinct presence in American history, not to mention the world at large: originally designed for the military, camouflage has since become popular as hunting gear and even as casual wear. Today, it is even possible to find camo seat covers for cars. And as a brief look at this progression will show, there is no reason not to wear camo all the time as a representation of a wholly American lifestyle.
Military camouflage was first developed during the 19th century as a response to the increased accuracy and power of firearms; with weapons more likely to injure their targets, blending into the landscape made soldiers less likely to be struck. The United States’ contribution to camouflage design and camo clothing came in 1942, when artists Grant Wood and Jacques Villon created patterns that became widely used by the U.S. military. Another development occurred decades later during the Gulf War: U.S. troops wore a camouflage pattern nicknamed “cookie dough” and “chocolate chip” to blend in with their desert surroundings. This pattern consisted mainly of shades of tan arranged in accordance with the natural surroundings of the Middle East.
Today, camouflage remains an important of military operations: Congress recently passed a $106 billion emergency war-spending bill to provide 70,000 camouflage uniforms for troops in Afghanistan. But camo has also become more than a uniform: it’s a lifestyle. Camo comes in the form of camo clothes for men, and camo clothes for women, not to mention children and infants. There are camo formal dresses and camo formal suit jackets, not to mention more casual items like sweatshirts, t shirts, and even camo purses. And camouflage isn’t limited to clothing: there are camo seat covers for cars, camo bed sheets, and more. It even comes in various colors, like pink camo, a pattern many women love.
So if you’re a hunter or believe in supporting our troops overseas, what better way to show your support of a wholly American way of life than by wearing or displaying camouflage? No matter the season, no matter the style, camo always makes a statement.