# Alpha Industries, Inc.

> Alpha Industries is an American outerwear company that started in 1959 as a U.S. Department of Defense contract manufacturer and turned its government-spec flight jackets into a global fashion label. It produced the MA-1 bomber, the M-65 field coat and the N-3B parka to military specification for decades, then began selling civilian versions in 1970 under a distinct three-bar label. Now in its third generation of family ownership under CEO Michael Cirker, the company sells through wholesale accounts, department stores, licensed sports collections, its own e-commerce site and a small number of physical stores, and it uses a steady stream of designer and streetwear collaborations - Supreme, Vetements, BAPE, Lee, Cecilie Bahnsen among them - to keep a 1963 pattern relevant to buyers who were not born when it was drafted.

- **Founded:** 1959
- **Headquarters:** Reston, Virginia, United States
- **Founders:** Samuel Gelber (Founder), Herman Wynn (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 150 employees (third-party estimates range from roughly 106 to 150 across offices on multiple continents)
- **Products:** MA-1 Flight Jacket, M-65 Field Coat, N-3B Parka, N-2B and L-2B Jackets, CWU-45/P and CWU-36/P Flight Jackets
- **Notable:** Awarded initial U.S. Department of Defense contracts in 1959 for Air Force N-3B parkas and Navy shipboard shirts, Began producing the MA-1 bomber jacket under government contract in 1963 - the garment that became one of the most copied jackets in fashion history, Produced the U.S. Army M-65 field coat for roughly 25 years beginning in 1965

## Products & services

- **MA-1 Flight Jacket** — The company's signature product: a nylon-shell, reversible-lining bomber jacket first produced under U.S. Department of Defense contract and adapted for civilian sale from 1970 onward. Sold today in heritage, slim, hooded and seasonal variants.
- **M-65 Field Coat** — Four-pocket cotton-nylon field jacket with concealed hood; Alpha produced it for the U.S. Army for roughly 25 years and continues to sell civilian versions.
- **N-3B Parka** — Extreme-cold-weather parka with fur-trimmed tunnel hood, developed from Air Force cold-weather specifications.
- **N-2B and L-2B Jackets** — Shorter cold-weather parka and lightweight summer flight jacket produced alongside the MA-1 under government contract.
- **CWU-45/P and CWU-36/P Flight Jackets** — Nomex flame-resistant flight jackets made to military specification, later offered commercially.
- **Heritage Collection** — Civilian production of the MA-1, M-65 and N-3B built to the original military specifications rather than fashion-updated fits.
- **RE:SUPPLY** — Sustainability-focused line using recycled materials, applying surplus logic to fibre sourcing.
- **Licensed Sports Collections** — Officially licensed NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL bomber jackets and apparel sold to team fans.
- **Collaborations** — Limited co-branded capsules with designers and streetwear labels, including Supreme, Vetements, BAPE/AAPE, Lee, Alanui, Slam Jam, Thug Club and Cecilie Bahnsen.
- **Accessories and Youth** — Bags, hats, belts, wallets, pet items and children's outerwear extending the core silhouettes.
- **Spring/Summer Tiger Camo Collection** — Lightweight seasonal collection reworking Tiger Stripe camouflage, a pattern used by units in Vietnam, into everyday silhouettes.

## Achievements

- Awarded initial U.S. Department of Defense contracts in 1959 for Air Force N-3B parkas and Navy shipboard shirts
- Began producing the MA-1 bomber jacket under government contract in 1963 - the garment that became one of the most copied jackets in fashion history
- Produced the U.S. Army M-65 field coat for roughly 25 years beginning in 1965
- Supplied military organisations across a dozen countries beyond the United States
- Successfully converted from defence contractor to consumer brand starting in 1970 with a distinct three-bar civilian label
- Launched its first e-commerce website in 1997, early for an apparel manufacturer of its size
- Celebrated 50th and 60th anniversaries in 2009 and 2019 as a continuously operating outerwear maker
- Opened its first permanent brick-and-mortar store in October 2023 at 290 Lafayette Street, SoHo, New York - more than 1,700 square feet
- Opened a European flagship in Frankfurt designed around the brand's military history
- Built a collaboration programme spanning streetwear, luxury and art institutions, from Supreme and BAPE to Alanui and Cecilie Bahnsen

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Launched the "Not Just Uniform" collaboration with Uniform Display, marked by a community activation supported by Johnnie Walker.
- **2026-01** — Released its first collaboration with Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen - a cropped MA-1 and two N-2B jackets - and marked it with an exhibit at Dover Street Market Paris during Paris Fashion Week.
- **2026-01** — Introduced the Tiger Camo Collection for Spring/Summer 2026, reworking Vietnam-era Tiger Stripe camouflage into lightweight everyday silhouettes.
- **2025-11** — Unveiled a debut Fall/Winter capsule with Seoul label Thug Club reworking the CWU 45/P and N-3B.
- **2025-03** — Detailed its collaboration strategy publicly, describing partnerships with Alanui, Slam Jam, Roomers, Minnessak and Schirn Kunsthalle Frankfurt as a central business pillar rather than a marketing add-on.
- **2024-11** — Announced a global eight-piece capsule collaboration with denim brand Lee.
- **2023-10** — Opened its first permanent retail store, a 1,700-plus square foot space at 290 Lafayette Street in SoHo, New York.

## Links

- Website: https://alphaindustries.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/alphaindustriesinc.
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/alphaindustries
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC52os0ZHtSQRhw2PZRGgFrA
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alphaindustries/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/AlphaIndustries

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Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-27