Looking for the most authentic streetwear out there? Remember one word: chambray.

The fabric of choice by the everyday workingman, chambray (also known as cambric) is the granddaddy textile of all streetwear.  In fact, the term “blue-collar worker” was derived from the sturdy, lightweight, and finely woven cotton fabric that was often dyed blue—a testament to how closely associated chambray was with the working force. From the farmers in France (where it originated) to the factory workers of United States, chambray was among the few things which symbolized the raw, unadulterated, and tough nature of the outside world. One cannot but agree that no hardcore casualwear fanatic could go wrong with the iconic chambray shirt-and-denim pants look.

Paying homage to the fabric which undeniably has become a metaphor for basic and casual clothing,  renowned youth apparel brand Vans has reinvented its popular Half Cab shoes—incorporating chambray with suede elements to create a cool pair of kicks. With the new Vans Half Cab Chambray, styles of the past are ushered into the present, giving the youth of today the most legit of all streetwear.  —The Soy Boy

from highsnobiety.com