Nigel Cabourn Utility Shirt Type 2 Denim Indigo

A true signature piece from the Nigel Cabourn wardrobe, the Utility Shirt Type 2 is a contemporary reconstruction of the American utility shirt, bringing together several references drawn from military clothing and vintage workwear. This version combines Japanese 10oz Indigo Denim from Okayama with contrasting Oxford fabric, in a construction that can be worn either as a shirt or as a lightweight jacket.

Features

• 100% cotton
• Japanese 10oz Indigo Denim
• Denim from Okayama
• Contrasting Oxford fabric on the lower section
• Two large front pockets inspired by the 1920s US Army Pullover Denim Jacket
• Flap chest pocket inspired by the M-43 HBT Jacket
• Inspired by US Navy chambray shirts
• Construction inspired by several generations of American military and utility clothing
• Loose / Relaxed Fit silhouette
• Indigo color
• Made in Japan

Description

The Utility Shirt Type 2 perfectly illustrates the way Nigel Cabourn approaches archival clothing. Rather than faithfully reproducing a single historical model, the brand brings together several elements from American garments of different periods to create a coherent piece that never actually existed in this exact form. The result sits somewhere between a work shirt, a military garment and a utility jacket, while retaining a distinctly contemporary character.

The large front pockets are among the most immediately recognisable features of the model. They take their inspiration from the pockets of the Pullover Denim Jacket worn by the US Army in the 1920s, a utility garment designed in particular for work, maintenance and training. Nigel Cabourn retains their generous volume and functionality while transforming the original pullover construction into a fully opening and considerably more versatile shirt.

The flap chest pocket, meanwhile, references the M-43 HBT Jacket used by American forces during the 1940s. The lower section is inspired by US Navy chambray shirts. These different influences are not simply decorative: each brings a specific function, proportion or detail to the design. Their combination gives the impression of a garment that has travelled through several generations of American utility clothing.

For this version, Nigel Cabourn uses Japanese 10oz denim from Okayama. Its mid-weight construction is ideally suited to the garment: dense enough to offer real substance and develop a beautiful patina, yet supple enough to retain the comfort and freedom of movement expected from a shirt. The indigo denim is yarn-dyed before weaving and will gradually develop variations in tone around the seams, folds and areas of friction through wear and washing.

The contrast with the Oxford fabric on the lower section further enhances the character of the piece. This two-fabric construction visually highlights the different historical sources of the model while creating an interesting contrast between the texture and depth of the indigo denim and the more regular appearance of the Oxford. With time, the denim will naturally develop lighter tones, while areas of tension and friction will gradually reveal the construction of the shirt.

The Utility Shirt Type 2 is deliberately constructed with generous proportions. Its dropped shoulders, considerable width and substantial length allow it to be worn in several ways: as a loose-fitting shirt, open over a T-shirt, or as a true lightweight jacket over another shirt. This freedom of volume is an integral part of the design and makes it particularly well suited to layering.

The result is a piece that is highly representative of the Nigel Cabourn philosophy: starting from authentic historical garments, understanding their details and functions, then reinterpreting them to create something new. The Utility Shirt Type 2 is therefore not simply a reproduction of an American utility shirt, but a true synthesis of several decades of military and workwear clothing.

Fit

The Utility Shirt Type 2 features a Loose / Relaxed Fit, deliberately generous and designed to be worn either on its own or layered. The shoulders are dropped, the chest is generously proportioned and the body is long, giving the piece a silhouette close to that of a lightweight jacket. It can be worn in your usual size for a relaxed yet balanced fit, or sized up to further accentuate its volume and utility character.

Why we selected it

The Utility Shirt Type 2 Denim Indigo perfectly represents what we appreciate about the work of Nigel Cabourn: a contemporary piece in which every element has a genuine historical origin. The large pockets of the 1920s Pullover Denim Jacket, the M-43 HBT chest pocket, the US Navy inspiration and the Japanese denim from Okayama come together in a remarkably coherent design. The Indigo 10oz Denim adds that extra dimension found in exceptional denim: a fabric that never remains static, with a patina that gradually develops alongside its wearer.