Nigel Cabourn Army Cargo Pant Dark Green

A true signature model from Nigel Cabourn, the Army Cargo Pant perfectly encapsulates the brand's approach to vintage military clothing. Its design combines elements drawn from the American M-43 and M-51 trousers with details borrowed from British military garments, creating a cargo pant particularly rich in historical references. Made in Japan from 100% cotton Back Satin, it features a robust construction and generous volume that give it the presence of an authentic vintage military trouser.

Features

• 100% cotton
• Dense and durable Back Satin fabric
• Inspired by US M-43 / M-51 and vintage British military clothing
• 2 large gusseted cargo pockets
• 2 side pockets
• Small front gusseted pocket inspired by British military clothing
• Retention straps integrated into the cargo pockets
• Side waist adjusters
• Buttons also allowing the use of braces
• WALDES zip closure
• Drawstring at the ankles
• High rise
• Wide / Relaxed Fit
• Color: Dark Green
• Made in Japan

Description

The Army Cargo Pant is arguably one of the models that best encapsulates the world of Nigel Cabourn. Far from being a simple reproduction of an American military trouser, its design is built as a genuine assembly of historical references. The foundation is notably inspired by the M-51, considered one of the great classics of the American cargo trouser, while various elements from the M-43 and the world of vintage British military clothing further enrich its construction. The result is a pair of trousers that seems to have travelled through several generations of military garments to become a coherent piece that is perfectly suited to everyday wear.

The fabric is an essential part of its character. Nigel Cabourn uses a 100% cotton Back Satin, a dense and particularly durable fabric historically used for military trousers before synthetic fibres became widespread. Its construction gives it a firm hand and excellent structure, while allowing it to develop a particularly appealing patina through wear and washing. The Dark Green naturally reinforces its military character and provides a base that will evolve over time, with areas of friction and creasing gradually developing greater depth and definition.

The richness of the Army Cargo Pant lies above all in its details. The two large cargo pockets on the thighs are naturally functional and sufficiently generous to accommodate a considerable amount of personal belongings. They also incorporate a retention strap directly inspired by systems used on genuine military trousers, which can be pulled out to secure the contents or simply tucked inside the pocket.

A small gusseted pocket positioned on the front brings a more distinctly British influence. This detail was added by Nigel Cabourn and is absent from the original M-51, perfectly illustrating the way the designer combines different historical sources when developing his garments. The waist adjusters can be used to fine-tune the fit without a belt and also function as brace buttons, adding yet another way to wear the trousers.

The closure reflects the same obsession with historical detail, featuring a WALDES zip inspired by American zippers produced during the 1930s. The buttons, adjustment systems and drawstring at the hem complete a construction designed down to its smallest details. At the ankle, the drawstring allows the lower leg to be tightened and the silhouette to be completely transformed, particularly when worn with substantial shoes or boots.

The result is a deliberately generous pair of trousers that fully embraces its military volume. The Army Cargo Pant can be worn at the waist for a more structured silhouette or slightly lower and looser to emphasize its vintage character. Nigel Cabourn himself has regularly highlighted this freedom of wear: some choose their usual size, while others are happy to size up considerably to achieve a particularly wide and imposing silhouette.

Fit

The Army Cargo Pant features a Wide / Relaxed Fit with a high rise, generous volume through the hips and thighs, and a wide leg down to the hem. The waist adjusters allow for a more precise fit without necessarily requiring a belt, while the ankle drawstring can be used to play with the trousers' volume and visual length. For an even more military and voluminous silhouette, it is also possible to size up by one or several sizes compared with your usual size.

Why we selected it

The Army Cargo Pant arguably represents one of the most accomplished expressions of the Nigel Cabourn military wardrobe. The model succeeds where many contemporary cargo trousers fall short: every detail has a function, an origin or a genuine reason for being there. The 100% cotton Back Satin, the combined references to the M-43, M-51 and British military clothing, the WALDES zip, the waist adjusters, retention straps and hem drawstring come together to create a pair of trousers of remarkable richness. The Dark Green gives it that unmistakably military color, particularly beautiful once the fabric begins to develop its own patina. An essential piece for understanding what makes Nigel Cabourn so distinctive within the world of reproductions of iconic garments that have left their mark on their respective eras.