Boys' Historical Uniform Garments: Short Pants--Corduroy Material

Figure 1.--The Scout de France boys wear corduroy shorts in a 1960s photograph. Notice how the boys have rolled down their kneesocks.

Corduroy is probably more assocaited with youth group uniforms than any other fabric, although today it is little used. Corduroy was widely worn by working-class boys in the 19th century who required pants made out of a cheap, hard wearing fabric. After the turn of the 20th century, corduroy began to lose its working class image and was increasingly used for children's clothing. The use of corduroy by the Wandervogel and Scouts was one factor that helped to change the image of corduroy. It was also used by the British Army in World War I. The British Scout Shops were offerring both navy and fawn cord shorts in 1930. We wonder if the navy cord shorts might have been bought by the Boys' Brigaders. Hitler Youth boys wore black cord shorts. Cord shorts were also widely used by French Cubs and Scouts, especially navy corduroy. The hard wearing characteristic of good quality corduroy was the principal attraction. Cord shorts began to decline in popularity in the 1960s as denim began to be worn by more boys, although it was not officailly adoopted as a material for Scout uniforms.

Image

Corduroy is probably more assocaited with youth group uniforms than any other fabric, although today it is little used. Corduroy was widely worn by working-class boys in the 19th century who required pants made out of a cheap, hard wearing fabric. After the turn of the 20th century, corduroy began to lose its working class image and was increasingly used for children's clothing. The use of corduroy by the Wandervogel and Scouts was one factor that helped to change the image of corduroy. It was also used by the British Army in World War I.

Organizations

The British Scout Shops were offerring both navy and fawn cord shorts in 1930. We wonder if the navy cord shorts might have been bought by the Boys' Brigaders. Hitler Youth boys wore black cord shorts. Cord shorts were also widely used by French Cubs and Scouts, especially navy corduroy.

Characteristics

The hard wearing characteristic of good quality corduroy was the principal characteristic that made it such a popular fabric for youth group uniforms from the Wandervogel to Baden Powell's Scouts. Corduroy could take the rough usage in the strenuous outdoor acticities pursued by youth groups. Despite the ability to stand up to rough wear, plush corduroy was also a comfortable fabric. Corduroy was also an easy to launder fabric which undoubtedly appealed to the many moms who did not yet have washing machines. Corduroy, unlike flannel and other wool materials, did not require careful laundry procedures or dry cleaning. It was also a relatively inexpensive fabric. All of these characteristics made it an almost ideal material for uniform shorts. Well made corduroy was a substantial material that provided considerable protection as well as warmth on cool days.

Popularity

Cord shorts began to decline in popularity in the 1960s as denim began to be worn by more boys, although it was not officailly adoopted as a material for Scout uniforms.