After the t-shirt and the sweatshirt, we continued our summer saga with a new story… that of the chino. Also known as “khaki”, it was first worn by soldiers seeking lightweight trousers that would above all blend more easily into the landscape.
Today, an emblematic workwear piece, the chino is one of the wardrobe essentials to own, alongside your favourite denim. Pairing perfectly with casual or smarter pieces, it ensures effortless everyday style and comes in endless variations.
A military uniform that became a symbol of the preppy movement before attaining iconic status in the men’s wardrobe: what is the story of the chino? It is the success story we invite you to revisit today. Not without emotion, for Hast and the chino share a great love story. A look back at the history of an essential pair of trousers that has not finished reinventing itself.
The origins of the chino
Let us return to the basics. First of all: why was the chino invented? To begin with, the chino was born in two different places. First, in the middle of the 19th century, when British armies occupied part of India. Officer Sir Harry Lumsden found the red and white military uniforms a little too conspicuous and, above all, very warm. He then had the good idea of creating cotton trousers in natural shades, somewhere between khaki and beige. This is where the name “khaki”, also given to the chino, comes from; it means “the colour of the soil” in Hindi.
At the same time, during the Spanish-American War, soldiers could be found wearing these famous trousers. American troops stationed in the Philippines decided to abandon their woollen trousers for a less warm material: cotton. The fabric was then imported from China, which explains why soldiers called this garment “chino”, meaning “Chinese” in Spanish.
A star is born: the chino
Like other garments, such as the t-shirt, the chino was designed to meet a practical need before becoming the casual piece we know today. Thus, when the Second World War ended, American soldiers continued to wear chinos in civilian life, particularly at university. This greatly contributed to its democratisation, and the chino even became the cornerstone of preppy style, a fashion movement launched by female students from affluent American backgrounds.
Then, as is often the case in fashion, the worlds of music, cinema and literature embraced the trend, creating a true myth. The chino appeared on screen, worn by stars such as Steve McQueen and Marlon Brando. Embodying a confident new look, the icons of the era paired the chino with a liberated silhouette. Other figures, such as Jack Kerouac, a leading figure of the beat generation, wore the chino as the uniform of the elegant new rebel.
A little slump
The chino also had its little slump. After a meteoric rise, it met with less enthusiasm from subsequent generations, who relegated it to the status of a slightly old-fashioned dad piece. But as in fashion, everything is a matter of cycles and eternal renewal, the chino has fortunately since regained all its flair and its indispensable status. Infinitely versatile, it comes in timeless shades or brighter colours, and is adorned with distinctive details.
The Hast chino
A true essential, the chino naturally joined the Hast collections in 2019. Very easy to wear with a shirt, a t-shirt or even a sport jacket, the Hast chino is at once simple, with discreet, elegant finishes, and timeless and durable, thanks to its construction in quality Italian cotton canvas. For the season, we have chosen sun-drenched colours, such as plum and ochre brown, joining the ever-faithful navy and khaki. A word of advice: slip it into your summer suitcase between your passport and a pair of sunglasses.
