Following the humiliating defeat of 1897 by the Ottomans, the urgent need for modernisation was felt by both the Government and the Staff of the Greek Army. The idea of khaki uniforms was introduced, just few years after the British had introduced their service dress, making Greece one of the first group of countries to adopt a modern look for its military. The use of off-white and drab uniforms was already common for summer use by officers, who traditionally had the option of choosing privately tailored items. It was soon expanded with the universal introduction of the khaki 1908 model for other ranks.