USAC B-3 Flying Jacket, 1937 S. F. A. D., Merino Fleece
This is the 3rd incarnation of this jacket style, now featuring Havana Brown sleeve reinforcements and trim with an overall significantly more subtle, vintage Time-Wear treatment that allows the gorgeous wool to retain its full luster!
The famous B-3 “bomber jacket” of WWII USAAF fame began service life in 1934 looking very much differently from the typical B-3 Flight Jackets seen in service after 1941.
The very first B-3 Flight Jackets introduced in 1934 had the outer surfaces left in the natural, untreated, raw state, thus they were off-white in color and the outer skin had a somewhat-rough texture as found on leather garments similar to suede. These early B-3 Flight Jackets also were much more similar in appearance to the RAF Aircrew Jacket designed by Leslie Irvin and showing the B-3 Jacket’s lineage to the earlier B-1 and B-2 Jackets. The 1934 B-3 Flight Jacket included zippers on the sleeves, an absence of pockets, a belt at the jacket bottom, single strap on the collar, and no leather reinforcements on the sleeves. By 1935, the B-3 Jacket was modified, now being closer in overall appearance to the B-3 Flight Jackets that would become famous in WWII, though the outside skin surface was still left in the natural, raw state in an off-white color.
The B-3 Flight Jackets were largely produced under contract with civilian manufacturers, but select Air Corps Air Depots did produce various items themselves and some of these items included garments such as the B-3 Flying Jacket and its corresponding A-3 Trousers.
Air Depots were huge facilities of the U.S. Army Air Corps, where training or personnel and maintenance and storage of aircraft and materiel was undertaken prior to deployment to the various Air Bases. Depots were further sub-divided into sub-depots, all of which performed various specialty work within the USAC. The Depots and their affiliates formed the backbone of the U.S. air arm's continental defense mission, and Scott Field, located in Illinois, was one such Air Depot whose specialty in the mid-1930's was Lighter-Than-Air Ships, otherwise known as blimps, balloons or dirigibles.
This B-3 Flight Jacket is copied from a vintage example produced at Scott Field Air Depot (S. F. A. D.) in 1937, which represents a rarity among rare B-3's, as these 1930's B-3 Jackets in the natural sheepskin are extremely scarce, and one made by an Air Depot is that much more scarce.
Although these Depot-made B-3 Jackets conformed, more or less, to the basic B-3 spec. at the time, there were some subtle differences vs. those B-3 Jackets made by civilian contractors for the Air Corps, the most noticeable being the absence of a buckle tab on the left chest near the zipper, the presence of a four-piece back vs. a two-piece back, and the nomenclature and contract data normally located on a woven label in the neck area was instead embossed into the leather strap behind the collar.
These early B-3 Jackets have been the subject of great interest for Eastman Leather Clothing, but finding a supplier who could produce the sheepskin material exactly as it should be proved to be extremely difficult. Not only did the color and texture of fleece have to be matched precisely, but also the very fine finish of the suede, which is achieved by a skilled, manual process known as “fine wheeling.” Perseverance has paid off, and Eastman is proud to be able to offer another top-tier product as part of their “Original-Maker” range of garments.
The super high-quality, supple Merino pelts are absolutely sumptuous and decadently plush, perfectly dye-matched to the “ivory-white” vintage shade of the outer suede and a deep-hued, golden-brown on the soft wool. Trimmed with stunning WarHorse® horsehide and outfitted with a superb copy of the early, riveted-base Hookless zipper, this exact reproduction of a desirable B-3 Jacket style is not only completely authentic, but its pleasing retro design makes it distinctively stylish and ruggedly handsome. And the ultimate in vintage character and appearance has been added via Eastman's hand-applied Time-Worn process, so this jacket looks vintage right out of the box, which is really the most attractive form for this B-3 vs. a boldly new-looking, off-white jacket. Interestingly, the combination of the unique jacket style and the vintage Time Wear, it has been said, gives the jacket more of a western look than a military aviation appearance.
Please note: Availability of material for this product is limited; accordingly, there may be times when it is either unavailable or subject to long delivery times. We appreciate your kind understanding if this is the case if/when you decide to order.
Available in sizes: 36 – 48 regular. Long and extra-long fittings are available at no extra cost on custom order. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from England
Gift Certificates Available
*Price includes
U. S. customs duty,
processing fees, currency-
conversion fees and
shipping & insurance from
the manufacturer to the USA.
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USMC WWII 1943 Tee Shirt “Skivvy”
This is the classic undershirt of the USMC throughout the later phases of WWII. These Tee Shirts along with the corresponding under drawers were commonly known in the slang of sailors and marines as “Skivvies.”
The USMC entered WWII with off-white “Skivvies” identical to those worn by the U. S. Navy, but after lessons learned in combat amidst the green jungle landscape of Pacific battlefields, it became clear that anything white made the wearer a good target for enemy fire, so a directive was issued to contract for green “Skivvies” beginning in 1943. The shade of green was unique to the USMC, being something like bottle green, and due to various production and supply priorities and problems, these new “Marine Green” Tee Shirts and drawers didn’t see large-scale issue until the spring of 1944.
This “Marine Green” Tee Shirt copy has been meticulously researched, developed and manufactured in Japan by the best in the business. They’re produced with a special thread called ‘Raffy’, which is a combination of American Supima cotton, Egyptian cotton and Turfan cotton, which replicates the look and feel of vintage fabric; because these cottons all have different length staples, the thread has a distinctive texture that is similar to vintage fabric. This specialized thread is then woven on rare, vintage, circular knitting machines, so the body is a complete tube with no side seam and known as ‘body-size’ - just like the vintage “Skivvies.”
Finally, the dying and sewing construction are impeccably matched to original examples, rendering a recreation that is second-to-none.
Available in sizes 36 - 44. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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Whitesville Hoodie Sweat Jacket, Heavyweight, Loop-Wheeled, Faded Red
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
Now, you may ask, what is a loop-wheeled hoodie sweatshirt? Loop-wheeling looms are special machines that were once common decades ago and able to weave even rows of small loops of yarn on the inner fabric side rather than the typical fleece we see on contemporary sweatshirt interiors that has much more of a solid, flat appearance. These old looms also can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• Vintage wash
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams and only a zipper set in the front where the fabric was split open
• Set-in sleeves
• Two D-Style pockets
• Zipper-front closure
• Sewn-in hood
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large & XL (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
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Whitesville Hoodie Sweat Jacket, Super-Heavyweight Lined, Black
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
This is a super-heavyweight, waffle thermal-lined hoodie sweat jacket made from loop-wheeled fabric, just like the good old days. When we call this a jacket, it is no understatement, and unlike anything you are familiar with and will find elsewhere. Size small weighs 3.5 lbs!!! Yes, the smallest size is as heavy as many coats, and very insulated! You will be knocked out by the quality, vintage detailing, and fit, as well as the thickness and heft of this hoodie. We simply cannot say enough good about this hoodie; it is one of the most impressive items we offer, the likes of which have not been seen for many decades; we recall these in the 1970's, and that may have been the last time they were produced. But now we can offer you what was once readily available when the USA was the king of quality!
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• Super-heavy all-cotton waffle thermal lining
• Vintage wash
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams and only a zipper set in the front where the fabric was split open
• Set-in sleeves
• Two D-Style pockets
• Zipper-front closure
• Sewn-in hood
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large & XL (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos
Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Black & Grey
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
Now, you may ask, what is a loop-wheeled sweatshirt? Loop-wheeling looms are special machines that were once common decades ago and able to weave even rows of small loops of yarn on the inner fabric side rather than the typical fleece we see on contemporary sweatshirt interiors that has much more of a solid, flat appearance. These old looms also can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams
• Set-in sleeves
• Four-inch cuff and waistband
• Vee-placket neck detail on front and back
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, & Large (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos
Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Faded Red
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
Now, you may ask, what is a loop-wheeled sweatshirt? Loop-wheeling looms are special machines that were once common decades ago and able to weave even rows of small loops of yarn on the inner fabric side rather than the typical fleece we see on contemporary sweatshirt interiors that has much more of a solid, flat appearance. These old looms also can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• Vintage wash
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams
• Set-in sleeves
• Four-inch cuff and waistband
• Knit collar, cuffs, and waistband in a ribbing style that just screams old school
• Vee-placket neck detail on front and back
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, & Large (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos
Whitesville Sweatshirt, Heavyweight Loop-Wheeled Navy & Orange
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands, thus the quality and vintage detailing is consistent across all brands.
Now, you may ask, what is a loop-wheeled sweatshirt? Loop-wheeling looms are special machines that were once common decades ago and able to weave even rows of small loops of yarn on the inner fabric side rather than the typical fleece we see on contemporary sweatshirt interiors that has much more of a solid, flat appearance. These old looms also can only weave one set diameter per loom; this means the factory needs a different loom for each size - very expensive - which is why you hardly ever see true tube construction in modern-day garments. Even the most expensive designer sweatshirts will usually have a side seam - sometimes two seams! Tube construction ensures true shape is maintained, not only during its construction, but during its life of wear. This is the proper way to make a sweatshirt; in the good old days, the proper way was the only way. It's cheap and easy to make shirts from a flat piece of cloth and most customers would never notice the difference, though they may wonder why their not-so-cheap sweatshirt seemed to lose its shape after only a few washes - but now you know.
Traditional vintage-style sweatshirts of this caliber are not available even from the fashion high street. With shrewd foresight of the oncoming vintage clothing market, much of the old, U.S.-made 1920's machinery and looms were bought up by the Japanese in the 1970's when they were otherwise deemed obsolete. These old looms, although much slower than modern machinery, are able to produce much higher-quality fabric - fabric that perfectly matches the quality of those garments made from the good old days. For those who can appreciate such quality, these sweatshirts are sure to please.
These Whitesville premium, vintage-style, all-cotton athletic sweatshirts are not made from the same fabric as our Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies even though they come from the same parent company; Whitesville sweatshirts are made from much heavier fabric, but are otherwise of similar vintage detailing that includes 100% cotton fabricated on 1920's-vintage loop-wheeling machines, styled with all the correct features found on the old sweatshirts, and cut to hug the body in a flattering form without bulk, just as the vintage originals did. Limited quantities available. Take note of these authentic vintage styling features:
• Custom manufacturing of heavyweight, all-cotton fleece fabricated on a vintage loop-wheeling loom
• TUBE-Body construction with no side seams
• Set-in sleeves
• Four-inch cuff and waistband
• Vee-placket neck detail on front and back
• Exact copy of the original-style rayon-on-cotton labels
• True vintage fit for flattering appearance, not a sloppy, relaxed fit with droopy shoulder seams
Sizes: Small, Medium, & Large (fit is larger than Buzz Rickson's sweatshirts and hoodies). Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos
Whitesville Vintage-Style 2-Pack Tee Shirts, Black
Since 2007, we have been bringing these wonderful, bygone tees to the USA, which standout as one of our favorite everyday items. It was in June of 2022, that the production team for the FX TV show, The Bear, contacted us to purchase several packs of this Whitesville tee shirt in white for Jeremy Allen White's character, and they have subsequently gone on to purchase even more as the show enjoys continued success. Now you can make this tee shirt of minor celebrity an everyday favorite and shop from the actual supplier to the show. Just as was the case with our introduction of the Buzz Rickson William Gibson black MA-1 Jacket in 2003, the rest, as the saying goes, is history ...
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands. Whitesville tee shirts take us back to when tee shirts were not moo moo dresses outfitted with short sleeves that flirt with our elbows; rather, these are vintage-style tee shirts of the 1950's - 1970's that are trim fitting, short in the body length, and with quarter-length sleeves. The trim design with quarter sleeves lends itself well to reducing excess fabric and bulk when worn as an undershirt or just as a tee shirt, and the short body length affords a flattering look when worn untucked, typically stopping near the trouser pockets, though tucking in remains anyone's option.
The original tee shirts were made on “body-size” looms which yield a shirt with no side seams, thus weaving a perfect tube. To do this requires special looms that are only used by specialist manufacturers these days; subsequently, the looms are hard to source and expensive to produce garments on because you need one loom for each size you want made - but it's the proper way to make a vintage-style tee shirt, and it's the only way they were made in the 1950's - ‘70's.
The expertise for making such a garment is largely only found in one place in the world these days - Japan. The Japanese have become renowned as world experts in vintage-style garment manufacture and home of body-size construction, being able to produce super-accurate, vintage-quality fabrics.
These Whitesville vintage-style tee shirts are produced from fine-weave, long-staple, 7-ounce cotton with a high stitch count, have a reinforced rib-knit neck tape, and come in vintage-style packaging with two tee shirts per pack, thus the price you see on this page is for two tee shirts, not one.
We cannot endorse these tee shirts any more highly; they are a staff favorite, and we're sure you'll want to make them a wardrobe staple!
Available in sizes Sm - XXL. Shrinkage should be expected. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos
Whitesville Vintage-Style 2-Pack Tee Shirts, Off-White
Since 2007, we have been bringing these wonderful, bygone tees to the USA, which standout as one of our favorite everyday items. It was in June of 2022, that the production team for the FX TV show, The Bear, contacted us to purchase several packs of this Whitesville tee shirt in white for Jeremy Allen White's character, and they have subsequently gone on to purchase even more as the show enjoys continued success. Now you can make this tee shirt of minor celebrity an everyday favorite and shop from the actual supplier to the show. Just as was the case with our introduction of the Buzz Rickson William Gibson black MA-1 Jacket in 2003, the rest, as the saying goes, is history ...
The Whitesville brand is a long-defunct sportswear label from the "good old days" in American clothing that was resurrected by the same manufacturer that brings us the world-renowned Buzz Rickson's, Sugar Cane, and Sun Surf brands. Whitesville tee shirts take us back to when tee shirts were not moo moo dresses outfitted with short sleeves that flirt with our elbows; rather, these are vintage-style tee shirts of the 1950's - 1970's that are trim fitting, short in the body length, and with quarter-length sleeves. The trim design with quarter sleeves lends itself well to reducing excess fabric and bulk when worn as an undershirt or just as a tee shirt, and the short body length affords a flattering look when worn untucked, typically stopping near the trouser pockets, though tucking in remains anyone's option.
The original tee shirts were made on “body-size” looms which yield a shirt with no side seams, thus weaving a perfect tube. To do this requires special looms that are only used by specialist manufacturers these days; subsequently, the looms are hard to source and expensive to produce garments on because you need one loom for each size you want made - but it's the proper way to make a vintage-style tee shirt, and it's the only way they were made in the 1950's - ‘70's.
The expertise for making such a garment is largely only found in one place in the world these days - Japan. The Japanese have become renowned as world experts in vintage-style garment manufacture and home of body-size construction, being able to produce super-accurate, vintage-quality fabrics.
These Whitesville vintage-style tee shirts are produced from fine-weave, long-staple, 7-ounce cotton with a high stitch count, have a reinforced rib-knit neck tape, and come in vintage-style packaging with two tee shirts per pack, thus the price you see on this page is for two tee shirts, not one.
We cannot endorse these tee shirts any more highly; they are a staff favorite, and we're sure you'll want to make them a wardrobe staple!
Available in sizes Sm - XXL. Shrinkage should be expected. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit.
Imported from Japan
Click for Information and Photos