The pattern of the TSPTR Cord Work Shirt is based on a modified US Navy CPO shirt with scoop pockets and authentic anchor buttons. It is constructed from Portuguese cotton Corduroy and comes in naturally dyed Berry colourway, which gives a beautiful finish that will fade over time with wear and result in a unique piece that reflects the life of its wearer.
The CPO shirt, short for Chief Petty Officier’s Shirt, was introduced by the US Navy in the 1930s and was designed to keep its wearer warm on deck in cold weather. The original version was made from dense, heavy wool. It continued to be issued right through the Second World War and, afterwards, remained popular with discharged servicemen as they continued to wear it at home. CPO Shirts could often be found in second-hand shops and military surplus stores, accelerating its popularity in the contemporary civilian wardrobe.
Much of the favoured clothing of Yosemite’s Camp 4 climbing community, the iconic campground close to Half Dome and El Capitan, was made up of military surplus or vintage workwear. As early as the 1940s, climbers such as Royal Robbins and Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard used the camp as a base to try out new ideas on the surrounding peaks. Chouinard even made and sold climbing gear in the camp’s car park.
TSPTR is an acronym standing for Truth, Symmetry, Pleasure, Taste and Recognition, the five design principles of Louis Sullivan, American modernist architect, designer and ‘the father of skyscrapers’. His viewpoint was that “form should ever follow function”. The brand takes its inspiration from American counterculture, citing pop culture, war, protest and music amongst the influences it uses.
Regular fit, so choose your usual size.
Key Features of the TSPTR Cord Work Shirt
- A modified version of the USN CPO Shirt
- Constructed from Portuguese cotton Corduroy
- Naturally dyed in a striking berry colourway
- Scoop pockets
- Authentic anchor buttons
- Made in Portugal
