Among the exceptional fabrics we have been bringing into your everyday wardrobe since 2012, today we shine a spotlight on ripstop.
A marvel of performance and ingenuity, ripstop has one foot in textiles and the other in military heritage, giving it a unique place in the civilian wardrobe.
We called upon its expertise for our Spring-Summer 2025 collection, and it is only right that we take a moment to look at it closely.
The military origins of ripstop
Closely tied to the invention of nylon in the 1930s, ripstop first rose to prominence when the US Air Force chose it for their airborne unit parachutes.
For obvious reasons, the US military was looking for a stronger, more cost-effective material than silk for its paratroopers, and turned to ripstop during the Second World War. The fabric’s name speaks for itself, literally meaning to “stop rips”.
In essence, it is a classic plain weave of interlacing warp and weft yarns, reinforced at regular intervals. Whether through double warp, double weft or thicker yarns, this reinforcement is visible to the naked eye, giving ripstop its distinctive grid pattern.
In practice, this reinforcing grid prevents small snags from turning into tears, confining damage to a tiny, reinforced square. Tested and proven by US Army paratroopers, ripstop quickly expanded into other fields, used for everything from tents and sleeping bags to sails, tarpaulins, flags and uniforms.
Hast and the choice of ripstop
As you will have gathered, ripstop is a fabric into which reinforcing yarns are woven at regular intervals in a crosshatch pattern to stop tears from spreading. Beyond its strength, ripstop earned its reputation for lightness, as this unique weave provides optimal resistance even in lightweight fabrics.
At the intersection of engineering and practicality, this unique property caught our eye as fabric lovers, convincing us to introduce ripstop to the Hast collections. We have done so for several seasons, and continue again this year. It takes centre stage on a work jacket and an overshirt from the Dolce Farniente collection, exceptional pieces that deserve a closer look.
Our ripstop work jacket
At the crossroads of workwear and military heritage, this work jacket brings you the best of both worlds. From its utilitarian roots, it retains a functional spirit embodied by a regular fit, three patch pockets on the front, two hidden pockets inside and a sleeve placket.
From its military past, it also embraces the material: a premium ripstop, woven in a bright khaki by Japanese experts.
With a weight of 220 gsm, it is significantly lighter than its counterparts without being any more fragile. While our summer work jackets usually weigh between 300 and 500 gsm, this one relies on the natural strength of its weave to deliver exceptional durability.
It brilliantly combines incredible lightness with impressive durability, instantly making it one of our most relevant summer jackets. A masterclass in texture, style and performance, available now online and in our shops.
Our ripstop overshirt
For nearly 15 years, the shirt has held pride of place in the Hast wardrobe. It was around the shirt that the brand was founded back in 2012, and it has maintained this privileged status ever since. Over time, other pieces have joined what became the emblem of our mission, completing an honest, durable and responsible menswear wardrobe.
Among them, the overshirt holds a special place since it is not strictly speaking a shirt, without being something else entirely. Early on, we chose to include it in our collections, confident in its versatility and style potential. An inspired decision, as the overshirt is now a true classic of modern menswear.
For the summer, we tailored it in a ripstop fabric you now know inside out… except for its weaver. Indeed, the fabric of your future overshirt is French, coming straight from the Velcorex mills, a French company based just a few miles from Mulhouse.
For us, its artisans developed a light 210 gsm ripstop, crafted from a clever blend of 85% cotton and 15% linen. You get the signature grid weave of ripstop, the comfort and softness of cotton, as well as the strength, breathability and rustic handle of linen. Texture, performance and durability all come together in a single garment, woven in France and crafted in Portugal. Hard to beat.
It comes in beige with a regular fit, adjustable two-button cuffs, two flap chest patch pockets, a front placket featuring 6 cat-eye buttons, and a generous 7 cm point collar to round off a piece full of character
A final word
Both aesthetic and practical, featherlight yet rock-solid, a pleasure to wear as well as to look at, ripstop is one of those fabrics made iconic by their look and performance.
It was undoubtedly its remarkable performance that made it indispensable from the frontline to civilian wardrobes, from US GI parachutes to our jackets and overshirts.
Two iconic pieces tailored from an equally iconic fabric, available now on Hastparis.com and in store in Paris and Lyon.