A brief history of Chambray to get it out of the way - 

“Chambray” derives from “Cambrai,” a French word referring to a plain weave lightweight fabric originally from Cambrai, France. The fabric earned fame in the States during the late 19th century as a reliable and breathable fabric for tradesmen. The light blue color of some chambray shirts played a role in the moniker “blue collar,” which was used to refer to laborers in the early 20th century. Not to be confused with denim, as chambray is a plain weave while denim is a twill fabric. 

New opportunity, means new jobs, which means new wardrobe. 

A call to action came once again for the work shirt. However, this time, it had to accommodate the modern man. Anxious as he was to work again his shirt was there to ease the process. Keeping his most important tools close to his heart. Literally speaking, chest pockets were updated to holster a pack of cigarettes with ease of extraction for the wearer and a larger chest pocket for an entire tobacco tin.

Not all work shirts were exclusive to chambray, but the fabric is worth mentioning for continuity. Iterations were often made in moleskin, wool, and heavier cotton.

Early iterations of work shirts often featured button-up fronts, point collars, reinforced chain stitch seams, and various chest pockets. As well as some more unique features such as popover bibs, ventilation eyelet holes, and chin straps at the collar stand.

In the early 20th century the work shirt shifted from a meticulously crafted utilitarian, labor-trusted, uniform piece to a simplified, more universal shirt to accommodate the time. During the 1930s the impact of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and FDR’s New Deal initiated a working-class spirit with promises of new and fair labor opportunities put forth by plans and agencies like the National Recovery Association (NRA).