Alpha Industries is an all-American brand like Levi’s or Jeep. This apparel company got its start in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee in 1959, when Alpha Industries began making clothes solely for the U.S. military. As jet engines became the norm, American pilots needed warmer flight jackets to cope with higher altitudes, and Alpha Industries stepped up to provide the iconic MA-1 bomber jacket. While these practical jackets kept pilots warm, servicemen also found that they were surprisingly comfortable, which isn’t always the case with utilitarian military gear. For decades, this military contractor has also outfitted soldiers with its M-65 field jacket, not to mention other essentials like cargo pants and vests.
Over time, the military outerwear brand evolved, moving into the civilian fashion world with on-trend yet always-practical military-inspired apparel. Military-style clothing has always had broad appeal, and there’s no better example of that trend than Alpha Industries MA-1 bomber jacket. It’s truly the OG of bombers, and in recent years Alpha Industries has become a major player on the street style scene. Today, the brand’s jackets, pants, tees, sweatshirts and accessories are everywhere.
The SPY team loves a good bomber jacket, and we’ve been longtime fans of the brand. Now that army greens and military-centric fashion is back in style in a big way, we’re loving Alpha Industries more than ever for their all-American story, comfy fits and timeless looks. Each and every single one of the brand’s products are durably made and ultramodern to meet the needs of the street style movement we’ve been obsessing over for years now. It’s not easy to pull off the retro-meets-modern fashion trend, but Alpha Industries makes it look so easy. Our favorite Alpha Industries products feel both tailor-made for 2020 and 1960 at the same time.
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So if you’re in the process of refreshing your winter wardrobe for 2021, we’ve shared our favorite Alpha Industries products below. They even offer military, student, first responder and medical discounts for those who fall into that category. From sweatshirts to face masks, there are a number of products that you have to check out for yourself. Peep some of our favorites styles for winter below.
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1. MA-1 Battlewash Bomber Jacket
We love Alpha Industries’ iconic Heritage MA-1 Bomber Jacket, and this fashion staple gets a slight makeover for the modern age in the form of the MA-1 Battewash bomber. This reversible bomber gives that vintage look we so appreciate, this time in a teal color we’re low-key drooling over. It comes with that classic “Remove Before Flight” tag on the arm zipper and is also designed to be totally warming in frigid temps. Keep body heat in with a ribbed collar, cuffs and waistband as well. On the reversible side, the jacket is bright orange for days when you want to stand out from the crowd.
2. NASA II Hoodie
Ditch the hoodie you’ve completely worn out this quarantine with a fresh one that’s ready to incorporate itself into your street style. This Alpha Industries hoodie is made for comfort with 80% cotton and 20% polyester. It comes with cotton drawstrings and a kangaroo pocket like all of our favorite comfy men’s hoodies, but this one is decked out with a white NASA logo to give it a bit of a twist.
3. NASA Line Crew Sweatshirt
Don’t always love a hood? We understand. For dudes that prefer crewnecks over a too-casual hoodie, this stylish NASA-inspired sweatshirt is perfect. Like our prior pick, this sweatshirt sports a vintage-looking NASA logo to bring us back in time. Seriously, we love the look of this sweatshirt, and it’s a unisex piece of apparel that will look great on anyone. (We suggest women order a size down.)
4. Heritage N-3B Men’s Parka
Need to gear up for winter? The N-3B is a water-resistant USAF snorkel parka with reinforced elbow patches, a full-length storm flap, inset knit cuffs and faux fur. This men’s parka will keep you warm and dry all winter long, and there’s an adjustable drawcord for those extra windy days. Like all of the best Alpha Industries products, it’s as stylish as it is practical. For those who prefer a tighter fit, Alpha Industries recommends ordering a size down, but you can also opt for the slightly more modern N-3B Altitude Gen II Parka instead.
5. M-65 Field Jackets
Over the last few years, military-style bomber jackets and field jackets have been incredibly popular in the menswear world. We’ve written about these trends many times in 2020. We would say Alpha Industries is lucky, but, of course, they’ve helped drive this resurgence in the first place. Outfit yourself against the wet and the cold with one of the brand’s popular field jackets. We love the Heritage M-65 edition, but the more affordable Defender M-65 has an undeniable vintage appeal.
6. Classic Drawstring Shorts
Alright, it’s not summer anymore, but we still love these classic drawstring shorts for those days when lounging around the house is the only thing on your agenda. These are made with 93% cotton and 7% spandex to give you the stretch you love in your drawstring shorts. The shorts come with two front pockets and one on the back to keep your phone, keys and wallet. Additionally, they hit right above the knee to give a fashion-forward cut that are ready to wear outside or at the gym.
7. A.C.U. Type Cargo Pant
Looking for pockets for your pockets? We got you. Check out these classic military-style men’s cargo pants, which are serving us nothing but places to keep your phone, wallet, keys, chapstick, gum or whatever else you prefer keeping on your body. With eight pockets in total, you can genuinely fit it all. At the waist, expect both a button and drawstring closure to ensure you get the perfect fit even if you accidentally went a size up. Don’t love the color? No worries, you can also get these pants in a handsome olive.
8. Space Shuttle Tee II
While t-shirt time is long behind us, we still love rocking a cozy tee inside our homes. When you have nothing else to do, throw on the Space Shuttle Tee II and live out your childhood astronaut fantasies. This option comes in just two colors — white and black — so there’s a good shot it will match just about anything else in your closet. On the back, there is an artistic depiction of the 100th space shuttle mission.
9. Alpha Surgical Style Mask
Mask up, man. Because it’s 2020, we couldn’t leave out the classic face mask when pulling together the best Alpha Industries products. It’s created to mimic surgical face masks and is the perfect accessory for this plague winter. It’s topped off with elastic ear loops and even a space for an added mask filter (not sold with it) if you so choose.