Italian Vegetato BDU Shirt | Issued

Origin of Camouflage

Italian Vegetato

Introduced in 2004, the Italian Mimetico Vegetata camouflage—better known as Vegetato—marked Italy’s shift into a fully modernized combat uniform system. Replacing earlier patterns, it quickly became the standard across the Italian Army, Air Force, and special forces, proving effective in Mediterranean woodland and scrub terrain. The distinctive four-color mix of browns, greens, and khaki gave Italian troops a unique identity while holding its own against NATO counterparts.

The Vegetato parka saw extensive service in both home defense and overseas deployments, from Afghanistan to Libya, and continues to represent the Italian Armed Forces’ modern era. Beyond the battlefield, surplus Vegetato gear remains highly sought after for its striking camouflage, cultural significance, and status as a symbol of Italy’s post-Cold War military modernization.