A special pair I finally managed to get my hands on.
I did a massive fist pump. Haha. I think I even lifted off the ground a little.
This is a camouflage pattern from the military of the former Czechoslovakia, which existed from the mid-50s until 1990.
Here, it’s officially referred to as the Czechoslovak People's Army, and the camouflage itself is called "DUBÁKY." A military gear contact I'm close with told me that this means "mushrooms" in Czech, and it's called that because it actually looks a bit like them.
I know "People's Army" might sound a bit vague, but apparently, that's just the term used for armies maintained by socialist states or communist parties.
While it's the Czech Republic today, the history leading up to the 1989 Velvet Revolution is incredibly complex and heavy. It would take a long time to explain, so I highly recommend looking it up if you're interested.
The communist regime ended with that 1989 revolution, and the history followed with the split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
This history is truly significant to the Czech Republic today, and the stories I hear from older people I occasionally meet at bars—about the era, their work, politics, war, immigration, and much more—are almost always breathtaking and intense.
I recently learned about the "Hospoda"—the classic-style pubs found everywhere in Prague where you can drink cheap beer. I occasionally pop into one for a quick drink while hanging out, but I noticed there are never any young people there. I had always wondered why, and it seems that because of the lingering socialist influence and the fact that many people there still hold those ideologies, young people tend to avoid them.
That made me realize why younger people prefer the clean, casual restaurants serving classic Czech beer and food. It’s complicated, haha.
It was a fact I was glad to learn while living here, and understanding that context, I decided I'd keep going to those pubs just the same.
Occasionally, there are places that look a bit intimidating when you first walk in, haha.
But they aren't actually scary, and often everything turns out just fine once you're drinking; please, definitely jump into a local pub when you come to Prague! Haha.
Even if they're shy, there are honestly so many good people there.
A bit of a tangent, but given that background (the pub story is unrelated, haha), this is the kind of collectible military gear that is almost impossible to find just wandering around, not just in the Czech Republic, but anywhere. I managed to get this pair a little while ago through a very specific channel. I might be able to get jackets or other items in the future, but that would be nothing short of a miracle. Haha.
Actually, I’d seen it once before, and even then, the price was enough to make my knees buckle, so I just had to laugh. But then again, I figured, "Well, that makes sense." Haha.
Plus, it wasn't even on the shop floor—it was brought out from the back room because of the flow of our conversation, and they showed it to me as a special favor. Haha.
Personally, as someone doing this work, and especially being based in the Czech Republic, I have always wanted to acquire this.
I feel truly happy right now. Haha.
It was my first time seeing one properly in person, and it’s just too cool.
The quality of the cotton is amazing, and more than anything, this camo pattern.
It’s insane. Haha. How did they come up with these colors and this pattern? Haha.
There are other cool Czechoslovakian camouflage patterns from this era, but personally, this one stands out as my number one favorite—or rather, the design is just on another level. Haha.
It’s reversible; the side with orange has two pockets, one on the front and one on the back, while the green side has one.
The waist is cinched with a drawstring, and the silhouette when worn is outstanding.
That was a long one, but this is a pair I can't recommend enough.
Washed once
Model height - 174cm man / 167cm woman
Material - Cotton
Size - Fits ~w33
Measurement on flat - (cm)
Waist ~84cm
the Rise 30
thickness of thigh 35.5
Inseam 71
hem-width 22.5
Condition - No issues.
