18" Shoulder
22" Chest
31" Length
24.5" Sleeve

Black chambray work shirt by 5 Brothers, likely dating to the 1940s.

Founded in 1890, 5 Brothers was an American workwear brand known for producing durable shirts for labor and industrial use. Chambray was a staple fabric in their lineup, valued for its strength, breathability, and ease of repair.

This shirt shows extreme wear throughout, including missing buttons, torn fabric, and heavy abrasion. Numerous areas of hand-applied mending appear across the body and sleeves, added gradually in response to damage rather than decoration.

The surface records repeated use and continued care, with repairs overlapping fading and wear. Rather than original condition, the garment reflects the final stage of a working life, where preservation came through repair. It stands today as an archival example of American workwear shaped by necessity and time.