A Quiet Revival of Military Form
Simple Declaration didn't begin as a brand. It started with a curiosity about the way people used to dress, how form followed function, and how clothing carried meaning without shouting. Something about the way certain people I looked up to carried themselves: film stars, musicians, athletes. Never overdressed, never trying too hard. Their style wasn't about trends; it was about presence. A quiet kind of ease. The instinct to wear only what was necessary. That quiet restraint has always stayed with me.
This isn't about nostalgia. It's about building something grounded. Clothes with a sense of history behind them. Pieces you can wear often that feel considered. Each silhouette at Simple Declaration carries a little bit of that influence. Artists, musicians, architects, and film stars all had a way of dressing that was instinctive, and that instinct is something I try to follow.
This is the first in a series of writings I'll be putting out, starting with a piece that's become central to the collection: the Double Front Belt Looped Trouser. Inspired by military utility, an icon in our collection. Once built for war, now shaped to fit a quieter kind of life.
Addressing The Gorkhas
The Gurkhas, or Gorkhas, with the endonym Gorkhali, are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of North India. The trousers that came to be known as "Gurkha pants" trace their origins to the uniforms worn by these legendary soldiers. They feature distinctive design elements: a high rise, double or single deep pleats, and, most importantly, an extended waistband with adjustable buckles or straps, often called a "cummerbund waist," allowing wearers to tighten or loosen the fit without a belt. These construction details are functional and intentional, rooted in adaptability and comfort during military campaigns in varied climates.
There's a common misconception in Bangladesh: many high-rise pants are labeled "Gurkhas." But without the signature elements, they lack the foundational traits that make a garment authentically Gurkha. True Gurkha pants are not merely about rise height, they're defined by these purposeful features.
Our Double Looped Trousers
Many menswear garments trace their origins to the battlefield, designed not for trend but for function, structure, and resilience. Among them, few are as quietly enduring as the military trousers. Our Double Front Belt Looped Trousers pay homage to that legacy. Inspired by utilitarian trousers worn by officers and infantry alike, this design revives a lesser-known but highly functional detail: the double front belt loop. Originally intended to hold heavier belts and field gear in place, we've reimagined it here not for burden but for balance, for structure, for silhouette, for presence.
Where traditional military trousers leaned on excess for survival, multiple pockets, thick fabrics, and reinforced seams, ours focuses on restraint. A cleaner cut. Elongated lines. Deep front pleats. Built not to wage war but to withstand the rigors of the modern movement with quiet discipline.
This is not reenactment. It's reinterpretation. A silhouette born from history but tailored for now. As tailoring tilts back toward form with function, we believe pieces like these are not just relevant; they're essential. In a time of overcomplication, they remind us of what real design looks like: intentional, adaptable, and enduring.