Footwear, Clothing and Accessory Stores

Moleskin - Traditional clothing and materials

Clothing to make you proof against the elements
There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes! - Billy Connolly

In Association with Orvis

Moleskin

    Pretty much the whole time I was in Antarctica I wore moleskin trousers - pants.  They were versatile enough to be worn indoors and out. Contrary to the impression the name may give, they are made neither of the skin of moles nor the kin of moles. Any of the modern (not historical) pictures on this site that show people in Antarctica will show them wearing moleskin pants.

Moleskin is a wonderfully comfortable, tough and hard-wearing cotton fabric that is as tough as leather but as soft as velvet to the touch. Substantial on their own, extra warm with long underwear and warm and weather proof with windproofs or waterproofs on top.

Rugged enough for the outdoors since the 1400s

100% cotton moleskin fabric embodies the endurance and tradition of the rugged lifestyle for which it was created. First developed in medieval Europe, this cloth was worn by farmers and the sporting gentry alike, offering warmth, protection, and comfort in varied conditions. Like corduroy, moleskin has a softer brushed nap that is very wind resistant.  Though the pleasant feel of the fabric seems like a luxury, this sheared pile actually protects the surface from abrasion and wear. This texture resembles suede or the downy coat of the mole, its namesake.

To create the finest moleskin, special looms are required that produce high tension, tightly weaving the small threads-up to 280 threads per inch in the warp. The cloth is then precisely clipped and brushed to create the soft, sueded finish.

Casual wear, if I could I'd wear them all the time, forget jeans or combats or slacks or anything else, these are the nicest practical leg-wear you can have for cooler climates. Lightweight moleskin pants have a surprisingly wide temperature comfort range, I wear mine perfectly well up to about 75F and down to around 30F (for short shopping trips!).

World's Softest Jeans - $79
Perfect for cooler weather, our heavyweight, vintage moleskin jeans, more robust than the famous Ratcatcher Moleskins, is tough, yet still manages to be remarkably soft and comfortable. Cut in classic five-pocket jeans style.

Original "Ratcatcher" Moleskin Pants - $98 - named by the 19th-century farmers who wore them. Midweight cotton moleskin, slightly lighter in weight than our field moleskin for casual wear around town, sports the trademark brushed, suedelike hand and remains as tough as leather. Constructed in a venerable mill in England that's made the highest-quality moleskin in existence since 1901.