Black cargo trousers occupy a different space to their neutral or earthy counterparts. Where beige reads relaxed and transitional, black reads sharp — the cargo silhouette loses some of its utilitarian associations in a dark colour, and in 100% cotton gabardine from Childsplay, made in Turkey, it takes on a cleaner, more considered character altogether. The smooth twill surface and structured drape of gabardine are what separate these from standard black cargo trousers, which typically come in canvas or jersey and read very differently at a distance.

Black is the most wardrobe-flexible tone in this range — it goes with everything and requires no colour-matching thought. For boys who wear a lot of graphic tops, bold prints or branded pieces, black cargo trousers act as a reliable base that lets the top half lead. For parents who want a trouser that works across casual, smart-casual and even some semi-formal contexts when paired correctly, black gabardine earns its place more broadly than any other colour in this range.

Wash at 30°C and turn inside out before machine washing to protect the black dye and the surface finish of the gabardine. Hang to dry rather than tumble drying, which can cause the fabric to shrink and the pocket detailing to distort. Black cotton gabardine holds its depth well at low wash temperatures, so the trouser should stay looking sharp through regular use with proper care.