CC41 Heavy Cotton Trousers: Khaki

• 100% Cotton

 

• Made in The UK

 

• Traditional cut

 

• Pleat fronts

 

• High waist line

 

• Buttons for braces

 

• Fishtail back with cinch strap

These superb traditional heavy cotton trousers are Made in The UK using British Cotton to replicate an original pair of 1940s CC41 labelled trousers from our archives.

 

Like the originals our Utility style CC41 trousers have a button fly, pleat fronts, high waist line with fishtail back complete with cinch strap and buckle, buttons for braces and turn-ups. Strictly speaking, wartime regulations originally stated that trousers should not have turn-ups but, as the original pair we based our design on had turn-ups, we’ve fitted turn-ups to our version. As a finishing touch we’ve replicated an original CC41 label which is hand stamped with the correct number which denotes that it was an approved design. CC41 stands for Controlled Commodity 1941. Clothing rationing began in June 1st 1941 with no warning, it was announced out of the blue on the news at 9.00am mainly to prevent a rush of panic buying Due to the war effort there was a shortage of fabric Clothing Rations were controlled on a points system and the books contained coupons of various point values. Items of clothing were assigned point values. Each person was allowed sixty-six points a year, which was supposed to equal to one complete outfit of clothing for the average adult.

 

The CC41 label assured buyers of an officially approved quality, the CC41 label on our trousers assure today’s wearer of the same high quality as would have been expected in the 1940’s. The striking design was created by Reginald Shipp and was used on all approved wartime clothing and also on furniture during WW2. In a bid to overcome the clothing rations, knitting became even more popular than before, people were encouraged to knit gloves, socks and scarves to send to the men in the armed forces while brightly coloured Fair Isle sweaters became a symbol of hope in a rather “black & white” World.