Camouflage

Animals of the world have evolved over millions of years both on land and in water, with a breathtaking display of Camouflage and survival techniques, these include colour and shape to help warn off or just too simply blend in to their surrounding area.

Even early man used camouflage techniques, mud, foliage and even dung to help blend in to the surrounding area when hunting.

But astonishingly it took the army’s of the world a long time to catch on to using camouflage;

Armies haven’t always used camouflage to blend in to the surrounding terrain. In the beginning it was common for soldiers to wear very brightly coloured uniforms, this was in order that they could identify themselves from their enemy, keep them looking smart and boost morale. Unfortunately this also made the soldiers very good visual targets for their opposing army.The idear of hiding from the enemy was considered somewhat shameful.

The word camouflage or "concealment of personnel and equipment to help blend into the natural terrain and surroundings" Dates back to the French term "camofler or Veil.

It wasn’t until an American artist called Abbot Thayer back in the early part of 1900s realised how incredibly clever natural camouflage techniques where. He started to log down how many animals used camouflage to enable them to blend in to their surrounding natural terrain.

In 1912 the French commissioned artists to come up with a camouflage pattern that could be used on solders uniforms, these designs were first used on camouflage clothing in world war one . The French even created a division called the camouflage division.

Armies of the world have used many designs and camo patterns for military clothing. The British use the DPM camo pattern also known as Disruptive Displacement Pattern made up of green, sand, brown and black, the same design is also used for the dessert DPM using light browns and sand colours and used by the British Army on operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The US army use the digital pattern ACU camouflage design. An example of the ACU Camouflage can be seen on these Men’s combat trousers in ACU camo.

Uses for Camouflage

Whilst Camouflage patterns have mainly evolved for military specific uses, in more recent years, manufactures have developed a range of clothing to suit the hunting and fishing fraternity and have developed a range of Camouflage clothing to suit their needs. Companies such as Real Tree and Jack Pyke have developed Camouflage patterns that resemble real woodlands and English Oak Camouflage. Even the fashion industry embraced the camo pattern with many designs found on t-shirts, trousers and Camouflage baseball caps.

Apart from Camouflage being used to conceal military personnel with camo military clothing it is also used to conceal equipment using mainly camouflage netting and scrim nets. Camo nets also make great hunting hide nets like the new Jack Pyke Clearview Hide Netting, which is both tough and lightweight, made from nylon net and printed with English Oak Camouflage.  Camouflage nets are great for decorating children’s play areas, bedrooms or even dens.