Created in 1965 for the US Armed Forces, it was based on previous models - the perishable M-41, the M-43 with front pockets and the M-51 (the numbers referring to the year of manufacture) - with the addition of the latest innovations like Velcro and the convertible collar that hid the hood. In order to adapt to various conditions, it was crafted with a new material, the NYCO, a mixture of cotton and nylon that is practically indestructible. Inner buttons were added to complement the piece with an inner lining, as well as fastenings on the cuffs and even a hidden flap that unfolded over gloves for greater protection.
History and influence of the M-65
Like many of the wardrobe staples from the modern man’s uniform, the M-65 jacket was born in a very different, almost contradictory context, even though it has always maintained its functionality.
Like many of the garments used in the Vietnam War, the M-65’s meaning changed completely as the soldiers returned home. Some of them were rebelling against a war they had known firsthand, and their protest uniforms were the same they had worn in Vietnam. The M-65 went from being an official garment to one of counter-culture. Jack Nicholson, Bob Marley, Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver and Al Pacino in Serpico.
Newer generations are now discovering an item that gradually evolved from its original meaning, and is now being re-invented under design houses, such as Off-White, Alexander Wang and Ralph Lauren.
