Black Palm Syndicate has introduced their Range Day Hats in MultiCam Arid, Black and Tropic. The hat incorporate Spacermesh for airflow with the Black Palm Syndicate Logo embroidered on the Right Side. Naturally, there’s no rivet on the crown but there is a Die Cut 3″ x 2″ Velcro patch on the Front for ID or moral patches. Made in the USA!
If you’re an international MultiCam customer, you’ve probably already run across a new company named 1947, LLC when they became the exclusive international distributor of MultiCam fabrics earlier this year. Founded in May, 2014 by two textile industry veterans, 1947 LLC develops and sources woven and knit fabrics globally. In fact, while they are a US company, they also maintain a Shanghai office that ensures their customers will receive the same quality and service they experience in the US.
No matter where you are, if you’ve been using MultiCam for any amount of time, the names at 1947, LLC won’t come as a surprise; Founders Ben Galpen and Ed Ricci as well as Vice President of Sales Bryan Boulis are well known. Not only is this team the international distributor for MultiCam, they are also responsible for new fabric development here in the US.
The firm has partnered with well known brand Texcel Industries to be their exclusive international and new business development partner. They also work with an ever growing list of new licensees to offer MultiCam fabrics.
What this means for the Multicam brand is expanded commercial fabric offering through additional licensed printers. This results in more inventory and options for consumers and fabric development opportunities for manufacturers. Not only that, you’re going to see new nontextile Multicam solutions coming very soon out of this arrangement.
Firebird’s Evo container is currently available for order in MultiCam Black with Arid and Tropic in production.
According to an industry source, for the past few years Polish Special Forces have been utilizing a MultiCam knockoff pattern called “Suez”. “Suez” is very similar to MultiCam, and is missing only one color when compared to the original pattern. It consists of dark brown, olive green, light olive, beige, and tan on a sandy background. It is printed by the Polish fabric printing company Andropol, and has since also been introduced to other services such as the BOR – Polish Secret Service. Recently, at the MSPO trade show, Andropol introduced a green coloration as a proposal of a new pattern for the Polish Border Guard.
In the image above, you can see “Suez” on the left, printed on 50/50 PolyCotton fabric, with MultiCam on the right printed on 50/50 NyCo. The below image shows a swath of “Suez” printed on 50/50 PolyCotton.
As you can see, “Suez” is very similar to commercial MultiCam in composition.
On October 3rd, 2014, the 75th Ranger Regiment will celebrate its 30th anniversary. On that day, they will also officially don the Army’s recently adopted Operational Camouflage Pattern as their garrison dress. This event will mark the first time that an Army unit will be seen in OCP in garrison and they chose their most elite Infantry unit for the honor.
Members of the Regiment have long relied on OCP clothing and equipment while deployed for combat operations as well as during training. Initially, they used Crye Precision MultiCam kit procured with MFP 11 SOF dollars. When the Army adopted the commercial MultiCam pattern as Operations Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern in 2010 the Rangers began to receive Rapid Fielding Initiative equipment such as the FR ACU which was used to augment their existing gear.
Sources say the Army plans to completely outfit the Regiment’s ACUs in the new OCP variant (Scorpion W2) featuring updates such as improved upper arm pockets in November.
Hopefully, this move will usher in an across-the-board approval by the Army for all Soldiers to begin to wear their OCP clothing already issued under RFI. According to industry sources, the Army still plans to offer the new OCP ACUs for sale at Military Clothing Sales Stores beginning May, 2015.
As we see MultiCam being worn more and more at home station by Airmen, we’ve begun to notice that it is being increasingly worn with Sage Green boots rather than the Tan models worn in theater.
Here is a great example as members from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron carry the POW/MIA Flag from the 24-hour vigil run at Marek Park track to the POW/MIA recognition breakfast held at the Rocker NCO Club Sept. 19, 2014 on Kadena Air Base, Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kristine Dreyer)
Set to replace the current Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) and Australian Multicam Pattern Operational Combat Uniform (AMP OCU) as Australian Army’s only camouflage uniform, the Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform (AMCU) was officially launched earlier today at the Chief of Army’s Exercise in Brisbane.
(From left) Private Stephanie Sims, Private Nicolette Lane, Corporal Dean George, and Lance Corporal Keith Hall at the Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform launch during the biennial Chief of Army’s Exercise. (Photo: Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)
As we’ve mentioned in the past, the new Australian MultiCam Pattern is a hybrid pattern and color palette that combines pattern features of AMP OCU with the original color palette used for the DPCU. The kit consists of Combat and Field uniforms as well as Bush Hat, Belt and Rank Slides. Each Close Combat Soldier will receive 2 Combat uniforms and 3 Field uniforms while all others will be issued 3 Field uniforms. The design for the Combat uniform has been slightly simplified from the previous issue and all gear will be manufactured in Australia. Rollout begins next month.
Australian Army soldier Corporal Thomas McCammont from 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, helps a team-mate over an obstacle during the Duke of Gloucester Cup at Singleton, NSW. (Photo: Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)
Features
AMCU Combat Shirt:
-High collar in woven fabric with zip closure.
-Knit fabric body with no pockets to allow for comfort under body armor.
-Integrated elbow pad.
-Woven fabric raglan sleeves.
-Angled sleeve pockets with Velcro closure.
-Velcro adjustment tabs at cuffs.
-Pen pocket on left sleeve.
AMCU Combat Pant:
-Stretch woven fabric in back yoke (below waistband), crotch and around knee.
-Adjustable waist with advanced design.
-Padded waistband.
-Button and zip front fly closure.
-Reinforced saddle seat.
-Integrated knee pad.
-Knee pad is snugly held in correct location using elasticised cord adjustment(connects to front thigh pockets) and Velcro closure tabs at the side of the knee.
-2 side thigh pockets with zip closure.
-2 lower front thigh pockets (external – contains toggle and elasticised draw cord for knee pad adjustment) with Velcro closure.
-2 front pockets below waistband (internal).
-2 lower leg pockets with Velcro closure.
-Cord and cord lock adjustment at cuffs
Private Stephanie Sims at the Australian Multicam Camouflage Uniform launch during the biennial Chief of Army’s Exercise. (Photo: Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)
AMCU Field Shirt:
-Based on the current DPCU shirt.
-Near infrared (NIR) fabric.
-5 button closure at the centre front.
-Chest pockets with zip closure.
-Sleeve pockets with button closure.
-Shorter coat length than current shirt.
-Velcro adjustment tabs at cuffs.
-Rank slide at chest
-Increased width at coat hem compared to current shirt.
-Graded sleeve length.
AMCU Field Pant:
-Stretch woven fabric in back yoke (below waistband) and crotch.
-Button and zip front fly closure.
-Adjustable waist with advanced design.
-Padded waistband.
-Integrated knee pad with Velcro closure tab.
-2 side thigh pockets with zip closure.
-2 front pockets below waistband (internal).
-Cord and cord lock adjustment at cuffs.
Australia’s Assistant Minister for Defence, The Hon Stuart Robert MP said in an interview with Foreign Affairs,
“Defence is pleased to partner with Australian companies to manufacture the AMCU. I am confident the manufacturing of the AMCU in Australia not only supports local business, but also maintains high standards and keeps pace with current technology,” Mr Robert said.
“At the moment there are two manufacturers for the AMCU – Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) and Pacific Brands Workwear Group (PBWG).”
The Australian Army offers a great fact sheet for those interested.
In closing, I’d like to point out that the Australian government modified this pattern (which is a national MultiCam derivative designed for them by Crye Precision) at their in-house labs. They could do this because they paid for the pattern.
During a recent trip to Spain, Chief of Staff of the United States Army Ray Odierno discusses those outrageous MultiCam royalties and ways to get around them with Spanish Army General Jaime Dominguez Buj.
