MEMORIES:
Manufacturer:
The 19th century was the big era for refashioning rugged manufacturing materials into durable duds. Like Levi Strauss did with denim, the brothers George and Joe O’Bryan took a tough material – in this case, “duck” cloth, used for making tents – and reworked it into durable clothing. Duck Head casual wear is still popular a century and a half later.
The O’Bryan Bros. Co. started making their sturdy, dependable duck cloth work clothes in 1865. Unable to trademark the “Duck” name, they hit upon “Duck Head,” and a star brand was born. Duck Head clothing saw long and varied duty throughout the highly eventful 20th century, long before it became an essential part of the 80’s “preppy” look. Not least, starting in the 1930’s Duck Head manufactured the United States military’s khaki uniforms for the war effort.
After the war, the company jumped on the country music craze, turning out the kind of western wear that stood for old-fashioned, down-home American values. Inspired by the songs and the images of the great country and western stars like Hank Williams, “cowboys” and “cowgirls” everywhere sported their rugged but nice-looking Duck Head clothing in nearly every walk of life.
When the label craze exploded in the 80’s, Duck Head was there to provide a casual wardrobe for a brand new generation. The preppy uniform, with its penny loafers, braided belt, and polo shirt, couldn’t be complete without a pair of Duck Head chinos (or khakis). The brightly colored mallard head logo lent conservative prestige to the more casual side of life.
The Duck Head brand expanded successfully into jeans, footwear, and accessories, but good old khakis have never gone out of style among conservative prepsters. Sharp enough for business casual but tough enough for boating, Duck Head marches ruggedly into its third century.
