The Rite Record-Journal

A Brief History of Tupelo Chambray Work Shirts

A Brief History of Tupelo Chambray Work Shirts

Tupelo, Mississippi: it’s best known as the birthplace of Elvis Presley, but to those interested in the history of American workwear, it’s also likely the home of a special fabric. That textile is Tupelo madras chambray, a much sought after vintage collectible that’s rarely reproduced, and one that might have an Elvis connection, too, as we’ll see. What is Tupelo madras chambray? It’s a shirting and dress fabric woven with ‘fancy’ patterns, popularly used for work clothing between the late 1920s and late 1930s. Catalogs from Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward and more featured Tupelo madras work shirts for men and fabric sold...

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A Brief History of the Work Shirt, Part 2 - 1930-1940

1930s america style vintage work shirt workwear

A Brief History of the Work Shirt, Part 2 - 1930-1940

And we're back! But wait, you're probably thinking, "What, just one decade this time?" I know, I know, but there are two reasons for that.

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A Brief History of the Work Shirt - 1886-1930

A Brief History of the Work Shirt - 1886-1930

Odds are you’re reading this blog post after arriving at the site for the first time and odds are, this is the first history of work shirts you’ve come across on the Internet. Admittedly, this is a bit of a rough sketch attempt I'll make below, but I want to go into some detail to explain how work shirt styles changed (and didn't) in various eras.  The late 1800s The very first The Rite Stuff product I did was the Heracles work shirt and that was no accident: of all the ‘heritage’ clothing items, work shirts are my favorite and...

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Denim Mythbusting: Why Is It Called 'Wabash' Fabric?

calico denim heritage indigo rite stuff stifel the rite stuff wabash workwear

Denim Mythbusting: Why Is It Called 'Wabash' Fabric?

How did the term "wabash" really originate and is that what people called it in the past?

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What does 'Made in Japan' mean?

ethics heritage john lofgren made in japan the rite stuff workwear

What does 'Made in Japan' mean?

It's been a while, huh? Sorry about the lack of blog posts, but life has been hectic for me these days. I moved out of the city, got a new job, went to Sendai, have been looking to (and signed to) buy a house, and more. So, it's been crazy this past month, but that's no excuse! Today I'd like to write about what exactly "Made in Japan" means for me, for my brand, and explain a bit more about why working with John Lofgren is so important.  More than just helping with production in Japan, John helps to make...

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