Avery Trufelman on M-65 Field Jackets, Tactical Fashion & Gorpcore | PoK S13E12

Why is everyone dressed like a Special Forces operator? In this episode, we sit down with Avery Trufelman—host of Articles of Interest and producer at 99% Invisible—to explore the military origins of American fashion, from the M-65 field jacket to gorpcore's rise on the runway. TOPICS COVERED: 0:00 - Intro & Fit Check 2:30 - Avery's Podcasting Process (99% Invisible to Articles of Interest) 8:00 - Military Challenge Coins & Patch Design 11:00 - Vivienne Westwood & How Designers Shape Perception 18:00 - Military Fashion Season ("Gear") Deep Dive 24:00 - Special Forces as Fashion Influencers 29:00 - Women's Military Gear & "Pink It Shrink It" Problem 32:00 - Athleisure, Health Signaling & Lenny Kravitz in Jeans 38:00 - Gorpcore: How Outdoor Brands Changed Fashion 42:00 - The Decline of Military Surplus Stores 48:00 - The Parsons Jacket: Original Hypebeast Drop 54:00 - George Doria: Venture Capital Inventor & Field Jacket Designer 1:03:00 - The Antwerp Six Book & Belgian Fashion History 1:14:00 - Cher, System of a Down & Armenian Diaspora 1:17:00 - Song of the Week WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Why almost every piece of classic menswear comes from military uniforms - How the M-43 and M-65 field jackets became American wardrobe staples - The true story of military surplus stores and why they're disappearing - How Special Forces "cowboys" became fashion influencers post-9/11 - Why outdoor brands secretly supply the US military - The invention of layering (and why jackets had instructi