History
Byrd Cloth Garments
From The Needle's Eye – October 1942
The "Byrd Cloth" garments shown here were exhibited at a recent (1942) New York fashion show where 100% “Aralac” fabric was demonstrated for use in interlining winter clothes. It is claimed that “Aralac” makes cotton garments such as those shown warm enough for even the coldest winter days. “Aralac” is the recently introduced protein-based fiber manufactured synthetically from cow's milk. It is now in production at the plant of Aralac, Inc. in Taftville, Connecticut.
Byrd Cloth is a type of fabric that was designed in 1934 by Mr. Harris Thurston and heavily promoted by Antarctic explorer Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. The material was considered windproof, yet the weave allowed some air to penetrate and therefore allowed sweat to evaporate from the body rather than freeze against the skin. It was meant to replace the fur-lined parkas which had traditionally been used for cold-weather exploration, and was discovered to also be ideal for World War II army uniforms because it absorbed less sweat, repelled mosquito bites, and was much lighter weight than the existing cotton twill uniforms worn by soldiers in the Pacific theater of the second world war.
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Byrd Cloth became trademarked by Reeves Brothers, Inc. of New York in 1975. The trademark expired in 1996.
Today, the cloth is woven from 100% cotton and is considered windproof and water-resistant. As of 2018, it continues to be used in cold-weather clothing.
Today, the cloth is woven from 100% cotton and is considered windproof and water-resistant. As of 2018, it continues to be used in cold-weather clothing.
