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On Trouser Pockets
- nickbauman 6y agoKuhl has been doing this for years, but they chose a slightly higher place on the pantline than Bleckley did. Wonder why. https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/pants/rydr-jean/ https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/pants/rydr-jean/
- Ftuuky 6y ago>"Appendix: Sam, have you simply invented cargo pants? >No. Cargo pants are fashion-as-pretend-occupation — when not at work, wear a fancy chronometer to suggest you’re a pilot or a diver, or camo to suggest you’re in the military. Cargo pants are a paratrooper costume. Cargo shorts have giant external pouches so teenagers in the 90’s, trapped in school, could say (sartorially) “I go out into the world and do adventurous things!” even though the things they stored in those pouches were doritos and portable cd players. >I am discussing clothing as it might be worn by people while doing their real jobs, not their pretend ones. If cargo pants are appropriate for your real job, you definitely don’t want or need my side-seam welt pockets; and vice-versa." Apologies if I'm dense but it is just a reinvention of cargo pants albeit in a more slick way. And several techwear brands already provide this kind of pockets and gravity pockets as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw8EKP7Qs7U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw8EKP7Qs7U
- jakear 6y agoThe def bing gives us: cargo pant (noun) loose-fitting casual slacks with large patch pockets on the thighs. This fits none of those (besides being casual slacks)
- wolfram74 6y agoYeah, I felt somewhat slandered by the attack on cargo pants. I wore them in high school and still wear them to this day for comfort and convenience. There is a functional elegance of being able to have pens, a small note book, keys+wallet and phone in separate pockets easily accessible. It's like having a preponderance of tabs open, but for pants.
- diiq 6y agoWasn't meant to be an attack -- they just solve a different problem for a different demographic. Like I said -- if you can wear cargo pants at work, then these pants probably don't mean much to you.
- wolfram74 6y agoI dunno, "fashion-as-pretend-occupation" feels like a negative connotation, sort of a "stolen valor" for professions the supposed person imagines as more prestigious or moral than what they actually do, adventurer or craftsman vs, say, insurance claims adjuster.
- diiq 6y agoYeah, when I have a moment I'll rewrite that section. I clearly missed the mark tonally. At least I know folks read all the way to the end, I suppose.
- thebooktocome 6y agoI don't think you missed the mark. Some people just like military cosplay a lot and get offended when you call out what they're doing.
- yjftsjthsd-h 6y agoAnd some people just like having lots of pockets and don't care how it looks.
- yencabulator 6y agoAnd some people don't think tight pants look good.
- djrogers 6y agoPerhaps, but there are also a lot of people with not-pretend jobs that can and do wear cargo pants (and shorts!). The implication as originally written was that if you can or do wear such clothing at work, you don’t have a ‘real’ job. That’s patently ridiculous. Heck, some of my highest earning years of late had me working with customers where I’d be more likely to see flip-flops than a collared shirt.
- TwoBit 6y agoDisagree that this is a reinvention of cargo pants. IMO it's just borrowing a tighter version of the pocket. The pocket isn't even the same given that cargo pants pockets are patch pockets instead of internal pockets.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- Ensorceled 6y ago> Apologies if I'm dense but it is just a reinvention of cargo pants albeit in a more slick way. What, exactly, do you think cargo pants are? They aren't "any pants with pockets on the side of the leg".
- recursive 6y agoYou're blowing my mind. You just made me look up cargo pants on wikipedia. Apparently cargo pants have "patch pockets", which I guess is the difference.
- mc32 6y agoOne problem with pockets down the side is if you forget to zip or bottom them, things can fall out, of you don’t design them with a trapping mechanism, but those mechanisms can make it hard to pull things out if you’re sitting, so if you will be retrieving things while seated (school), the a lower position of the pockets where they don’t need a flap trap can be better.
- karaterobot 6y agoAgreed. He designed something that, by comparison to cargo pants, trades a little usefulness for a little bit more of a certain kind of fashion. Sometimes that's what design is: re-evaluating an existing solution to address a different set of requirements, and making small changes. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. The following is not exactly relevant to the article, but it gives me a chance to add the most useful quote I know about fashion design: >When cuffs disappeared from men’s trousers, fashion designers gave interviews explaining that the cuff was archaic and ill-suited to contemporary living. It collected dust, contributed nothing. When the trouser cuff returned, did it collect less dust and begin at last to make a contribution? Probably no fashion designer would argue the point; but the question never came up. Designers got rid of the cuff because there aren’t many options for making trousers different. They restored it for the same reason. (Ralph Caplan)
- yellowapple 6y agoI ain't seeing that rant about cargo pants in the article: > Appendix: Sam, have you simply invented cargo pants? > No. Cargo pants solve different problems for different people. > If cargo pants are appropriate for your daily life, you definitely don’t want or need my side-seam welt pockets; and vice-versa. Cargo pants aren’t office-wear; these dress pants aren’t combat-wear. Maybe the author softened the language there?
- diiq 6y agoI did.
- metalgearsolid3 6y agoFunny enough the designer in the video you mentioned has specifically perfected the phone pocket already. https://imgur.com/a/NgzjJP7 https://imgur.com/a/NgzjJP7
- saaaaaam 6y agoThose pockets are quite ugly though. The huge flap, the gaping phone slit. The advantage of the ones in the original article is they are pretty invisible.
- wigl 6y agoYeah I've seen this kind of pocket experimented with a lot in techwear. These Y-3 pants have a great side pocket: https://media.yoox.biz/items/36/36876259pl_14_d.jpg https://media.yoox.biz/items/36/36876259pl_14_d.jpg I've found it super useful.
- Pamar 6y agoI am sorry, Sam. You just reinvented cargo pants. :P
- jfengel 6y agoAnd the problem with putting cargo in your cargo pants is that it swings when you walk. I have aome great Kuhl pants with similar pocket design, but it's awkward to walk with my phone there. I could perhaps get used to it, especially if they fit a bit tighter as his seem to.
- diiq 6y agoThe pocket opening is placed where the pants are still close fit around the thigh -- I've experienced no swinging or banging of the contents.
- jfengel 6y agoGreat. They do look very impressive. Pants are hard. (They look easy but there's actually a lot of construction.)
- mst 6y agoI have what over here in .uk tend to be referred to as "combat trousers", where the side pockets are reasonably spacious (I can fit a 7" tablet in one, though it then doesn't close and I can't get anything else in there) but not sufficiently so that they swing. The only annoying thing is finding ones where everything including the hip pocket linings are made of the same heavy material, there are too many where that lining is normal smart trouser pocket material and tear through long before the rest of the trousers are showing noticeable wear.
- Nursie 6y agoCombats also tend to be closer fitting than US "Cargo pants" and can even look quite smart.
- jakear 6y agoVery cool! I’ve gotten into pants-making over quarantine, I’ll have to try this out. I had never considered pockets like this before (that I remember), but when I read the title my first idea was the article’s implementation
- diiq 6y agoGo for it! The main construction trick here is remembering that to put a welt pocket on the outseam means you need open access -- so you close the inseam last, opposite the usual order of things.
- criddell 6y agoAny suggestions on where somebody would start with pants making would be appreciated.
- diiq 6y agoIf you don't already sew, I'd start by making a pillowcase or a dice bag, and then maybe a shirt or something. Take some time to learn about fabric materials and weaves. Pants are notoriously hard to fit, and if you're also learning to use a sewing machine at the same time, it's gonna end in tears. Or even tears. Youtube is chock-full of "learn to sew" videos, and you can buy paper patterns online, or in person (and get helpful advice) at your local fabric store. The instructions that come with such patterns are bad, but still better than the average readme. Then when you've got a feel for it, you can start drafting your own patterns. Much of the information that's available on that is for womenswear, but it doesn't take too much thought to translate things.
- kxyvr 6y agoIt depends on what level you're starting from. During non-COVID times, a reasonable path was to buy a sewing machine from a local shop and part of that transaction would be a short class to help you understand and use your machine. Nowadays, that may be difficult, but depending on your timeline that may be an option in the future. On a similar lines, a good fraction sewing machine shops and fabric stores offer classes, which can also be incredibly helpful. Generally, the progression is something like intro to sewing and then intro to garment sewing. If you've never done garment sewing before, an apron is a good first project. It'll get you used to your machine and how to sew some simple hems and run a draw string. It's also something that's usable, which is nice. After that, pajama pants are a reasonable starting point to the world of pants. Really, any simple pattern should be fine, so something similar to this: https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/patterns/brands/simplicity-sewing-pattern-s9129-unisex-sleepwear/ https://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-storefront-catalog/pat... The key point on pajama or lounge pants is that they don't contain pockets or a fly. However, they do give practice on how to sew all of the fabric together on the crotch, which can be tricky to start. To add a fly, you'll have to learn how to sew a placket as well as how to either sew buttons and button holes or a zipper. Again, neither is particularly difficult, but they do require practice and there a lot of tricks to make it easier, which is partly why a beginning sewing class is nice. To add pockets, it depends on how nice you'd like it to look. Patch pockets have their own set of technique and how to interface, but are the mostly straight forward. You can substitute rear patch pockets with welted pockets and there are good online tutorials for those. As far as the front, I'll contend that slash pockets are easier than a j-style pocket that jeans typically have. Basically, the more complicated the pocket, they more pieces and interfacing that's required and it can be a pain. If you really want to go the online route, Thread Theory has reasonable patterns that can be downloaded: https://threadtheory.ca/collections/sewing-patterns https://threadtheory.ca/collections/sewing-patterns As far as traditional pattern makers, stuff from Simplicity is pretty simple, but stuff from places like Vogue is a pain. Ok. That was an overload. Bottom line: (1) Get a machine (2) make an apron (3) get a pattern for pajama pants (4) slowly add features to your pajama pants until you want to make nice pants (5) get a pattern for nice pants (6) classes help a lot. Iterate on that as long as you're having fun.
- vsskanth 6y agoPretty much all work pants (like Dickie's) have this, in addition to regular pockets.
- rm445 6y agoThey're good pockets, aren't they? But the ones I've owned seem to be sized and proportioned for a stanley knife or similar, not a phone or wallet. I think the author is onto something, though I'm still not convinced these pockets give a nice line with much in them, which people generally care about. Dickies-type trousers tend to have a looser fit than the pictured trousers. The article photos with a phone held partly in the pocket aren't definitive.
- diiq 6y agoI suppose I didn't include photos with the phone fully in the pocket because you genuinely can't tell it's there. There's a slight bulge from the welt of the pocket itself, which I'm still experimenting with, but with-phone is truly indistinguishable from without-phone when I'm standing up. Seated, there's a bulge at the side of the thigh if you really look for it.
- rm445 6y agoI think a photo with the phone 'disappeared' would actually be a valuable addition to the article. Good work by the way, and I hope you change the trouserial (?) world.
- vngzs 6y agoFor pockets to look good with items in them, they need to be big. For pants to look good when the pockets are big, the articles themselves need to be designed to be worn big. Most modern clothing is designed to hug the body and constrain movement, not enable movement. Hence most pants look bad with objects in their pockets. I know of a few brands that buck this trend, but they're basically constrained to wealthy aestheticians.
- bravoetch 6y agoI like the pocket design. No need to attack other people's choices though regarding cargo pants and shirts. I have some arcteryx and outlier pants that change up the pocket design just enough to be great.
- crazygringo 6y agoI applaud new thinking, but his proposed solution doesn't even meet his proposed criteria. > Aesthetically, we want a clean, graceful line from hip to ankle even while holding things. How are side bulges above the knee clean and graceful? > Where is there enough support to prevent items swinging around uncomfortably? Because pants are looser around the knee than the waist, heavy items like a phone will constantly be swinging around uncomfortably down there -- same as they do in cargo pants. As for the problem that started it all: > Putting a modern slab phone, a wallet, and keys into a pair of skinny jeans will leave even the most fashionable figure looking looking like they’re wearing batman’s utility belt as underwear. A little bit, yes, but it's really just the least bad solution. Everything else is even worse. The market has settled on pockets as they are, because they actually truly work best.
- diiq 6y agoI solemnly swear I've experienced no swinging or banging. These pants are fitted at the thigh, and the pocket bag is inside the pant leg. I genuinely forget my phone is there, even on long walks. And there's no bulge at the knee because trousers don't fit tightly at the knee -- otherwise, you would't be able to sit down. The fit at the top of the pocket prevents swing, and the ease at the bottom prevents bulge.
- eisa01 6y ago> Because pants are looser around the knee than the waist, heavy items like a phone will constantly be swinging around uncomfortably down there -- same as they do in cargo pants. You can have a "pocket-in-pocket" to avoid that problem. My Lululemon trousers [1] have that where I can fit an iPhone 8 so it stays put (I don't store my iPhone as the "double-pocket" in the pictures, it is rather a hidden pocket inside the pocket on the right hand side) [1] https://www.eu.lululemon.com/en-lu/p/commission-pant-classic-warpstreme-32%22/prod9510026.html https://www.eu.lululemon.com/en-lu/p/commission-pant-classic...
- notjustanymike 6y agoThese look very much like a pair of hiking pants I have.
- jimminy 6y agoYeah it reminds me of the climbing pants I use for every day wear[0]. I buy them specifically because they have pockets with zippered side access for when sitting. This looks clean but I'd worry about stuff sliding out of the pocket, as I've had happen with medium-length waist pockets frequently over the years. [0] https://www.prana.com/p/stretch-zion-convertible-pant/M4SC99116.html https://www.prana.com/p/stretch-zion-convertible-pant/M4SC99...
- nathancahill 6y agoI was just going to say, just the the pocket on my Prana's that I wear every day. My other favorite pocket is my ski jacket breast pocket, just to the left of the main zipper. So easy to access.
- jschwartzi 6y agoHe’s reinvented the knife pocket in carpenter jeans. There’s also usually a loop nearby for hanging a hammer so you don’t have to walk around with your tool bags.
- pantaloony 6y agoParticularly when climbing ladders. Anyone who’s ever gone up a ladder and felt like they needed a third hand for carrying crap has experienced why the hammer loop exists. Plus securing it when you’re up there so your dumb ass doesn’t knock it on someone’s head :-)
- jldugger 6y agoPretty much but I should point out that you can’t easily find carpenter pants anymore. And I view the gamer loop as about as useful as the coin pocket: purely decorative in nature.
- skinkestek 6y ago> And I view the gamer loop as about as useful as the coin pocket: purely decorative in nature. I use the coin pocket extensively: for coins, medicine, chewing gum etc.
- Sirened 6y agoWhat medication are you able to fit in a coin pocket? Everything I've ever taken is either bottled, in a large blister pack, or I need more than I could reasonably fit inside that tiny pocket
- annoyingnoob 6y agoYou seem kind of touchy on the 'cargo pocket' subject, which is the first thing that came to mind for me. Glad you found something that works for you. Google 'dockers cell phone pocket'. You can already get shorts and pants with a cell phone pocket on the side. Some very similar to yours, some zippered, some a little closer to the hip, some a little lower.
- diiq 6y agoI guess I should re-write that postscript, given how much attention it's receiving. I have nothing against cargo pants! My point was just that they're solving very different problems for different people, and are stuck in a different kind of innovation-rut.
- annoyingnoob 6y agoMy experience with a couple of the docker pockets is that my phone falls out when I sit or lay down. Most chairs have the knees slightly higher than the bottom and those pockets end up with the opening pointing slightly down and the contents come out.
- tlamponi 6y agoIMHO, what you propose and cargo pants have only in common that they're pants with pockets, nothing else. So the last paragraph is warranted, even if it seems that some here feel personally attacked by it... The whole point is how the pockets are integrated into the pants, and that's completely different solution than cargo pants. Anyway, seems neat! I had some work shorts on a summer job years ago, funnily they were mostly like cargo pants, but they had an additional pocked very similar to your proposed one. It could be used for a folding meter stick (or whatever it's called in English) and that pocket alone made the shorts perfect. It allowed easy storage and access to a frequently used tool which was almost unwieldy long. Do you plan to sell something like this online?
- diiq 6y agoHaha, no, no sales. Making clothes to fit one specific person is an relatively easy task. Making clothes to fit distant internet strangers is much, much harder; and wouldn't pay as well as making software, anyway. Even the US startups that are making clothes to customized measurements, etc, are forced to stay price-competitive by using the same overseas factories that (in addition to the specific kinds of inflexibility I bring up in the post) are often labor rights disasters, which is part of why I make my own clothes in the first place. If I had a clear plan of attack against fast fashion, I'd probably take it, but the best I have right now is individual action.
- pantaloony 6y agoWhen I’m not wearing comfy “tech pants” with extra internal pockets (Prana, REI, and so on) I’ve been wearing a lot of blazers. Extra pockets that, blessedly, aren’t in my pants; dresses you up but not so much that people in my hickish ‘burbs are put off, rather than dressing you down like a hoodie. Appropriate in almost all weather, if you’ve got the right kinds of cloth and weight. Love ‘em.
- ilkan 6y agoI like them. So you've eliminated side and butt pockets? I can see keeping the butt pockets as a display platform for design touches, branding etc but inseam side pockets can be discarded.
- floatingatoll 6y agoThis approach is popular in women’s leggings; look for N-shaped bar/diagonal patterns on the leg stitching.
- glial 6y agoY'all are a little touchy about someone criticizing your cargo pants! Consider that perhaps his criticism hits a nerve because there is an element of truth in it - for most people (myself included as a younger person), the symbolism of cargo pants is as important as the function.
- xapata 6y ago> most people Have you performed a survey? My intuition, from my own experience, is that most people are completely ignorant of the symbolism of cargo pants and use them solely for the cargo feature. I wear Eddie Bauer "Guide Pro" pants. I recommend them, mostly. I haven't found more stylish cargo pants. https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/12951063/men-s-guide-pro-pants https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/12951063/men-s-guide-pro-pants
- wishinghand 6y agoTo be fair, no one thinks of pants that look like that when picturing cargo pants.
- grasshopperpurp 6y agoThese pants look fine. When I think of cargo pants, I think of ridiculously large pockets that really only work in the context of the baggy style of the late 90s/early 00s. It's not my favorite look (though it was when I was a kid), but you can make it work on some level. Anyway, when most people are criticizing cargo pants, I believe they have the jumbo pockets in mind. Another poster correctly noted that they ruin a silhouette. The pants you linked don't have this issue as far as I can tell. Note, this is just my impression. Maybe there are people out there who just really hate extra pockets.
- Izkata 6y agoI actually started wearing cargo shorts because I could fit whatever book I was currently reading in those pockets.
- DEADMEAT 6y agoWhat you posted aren't cargo pants? Those are hiking pants. Cargo pants have large, external pockets.
- godelmachine 6y agoI cannot even begin how much I love cargo trousers. Ever since I have started earning, I buy as many cargos as I can buy. During college, I used to buy from factory sale. Always rummaging through all leading websites like Myntra, Amazon, Flipkart, et al for a good deal on cargos, almost on a daily basis. I buy one at least on a monthly basis. If I don't like it, I just return and get my money back. Today morning itself I bought an H&M cargos from their website's 50% sale. I am quite parsimonious too, so buy only those which are offered at 50 - 70% discount and that too from big brands like USPA, H&M, et al. Recently, I have taken a lot of fondness for H&M cargos. I am a person who needs at least 5.5" - 6.1" iPhone (since I read a lot on it) and protect my iPhone with Otterbox Defender/ Griffin Survivor cases. Love the rugged look which the protective cases lend akin to top-secret military/ CIA satellite spy phone. Ipso facto, I need cargos to carry my iPhone around. I wear cargos to work daily as well. Have started researching the availability of formal cargo trousers. Very soon I would be moving to Canada and then to the USA, not sure how much acceptable is cargos in the workplace there. Very soon, once I am well disposed of, I plan to design and stitch my own cargos, particularly formal ones. Would be drawing a lot of inspiration from USPA and H&M cargos, and would be researching on a tough, thick, stretchable fabric as well.
- peter303 6y ago<insert your favorite dad-bod joke here /insert>
- jessewmc 6y agoThe dismissiveness in this thread is unreal. From the comments you'd think the article only had one sentence insulting the Sanctity of Cargo Pants. If you happily wear baggy jeans or cargo pants, these are not for you and you don't have the problem they solve. It's an elegant solution to wear slim fitted pants without awful hip pocket bulges. Cargo pants are not the solution here, as they are huge and baggy and the pockets flop around with anything in them. I'd love to try these.
- msla 6y ago> awful hip pocket bulges Who says they're awful? Why do they say that? We must be informed and skeptical consumers.
- m0xte 6y agoI rather like the hammer pants look myself.
- fanimalmanimal 6y agoObviously this is a personal preference. For example. I think they’re awful. I don’t think these pants are the solution though. I do appreciate the effort.
- groby_b 6y agoCan we have opinions on our clothes without having to give every random person on the Internet a full justification? Why yes, yes we can. But, OK, let's answer it. The first answer is right in the fine article: Hip pockets lead to bad posture when sitting. They cause back pain. The second answer is that if you dress for aesthetic instead of functional reasons, one of the very first concerns is silhouette. And if you care about that, you often care about the torso first, lines second, limbs third. (Note: Since it's an aesthetic judgment, it depends on your preferences) Hip pockets ruin the look of the torso and lines from any angle except a pure frontal view. Worse, they ruin it for tight and loose fitting clothes (because for loose fit, hip pockets with anything of significant weight hangs awkwardly) This pocket design addresses the first issue completely, and the second issue somewhat. (You'll still notice a change in the line especially on tight fit, but it's less noticeable because it's not affecting torso, and it's not at the end of limbs - which get more attention than the middle) Maybe our list of maximes to follow should include "we must assume that people have a reason for what they do, and question somebody else's aesthetical judgment followed by an accusation that they're uninformed or unquestioning is not the best conversational gambit".
- legulere 6y agoRemind me a bit of those pants for cycling: https://www.rapha.cc/it/en/shop/mens-cargo-bib-shorts/product/BRC01XX https://www.rapha.cc/it/en/shop/mens-cargo-bib-shorts/produc...
- quicklime 6y ago> Things, especially phone, need to go in and out of storage frequently, almost unconsciously. Maybe if Facebook or Google were designing pants to maximize user engagement, that’d be the case. But I’d say good UX means that taking your phone out should be a conscious decision, not a compulsive habit. I like the idea though. The design looks nice and it’s nice that someone’s thinking about this, because we seem to be in a path towards tight pants and giant phones.
- pgt 6y agoThis is cool. Living in South Africa where the crime rate is ultra-high, the first thing that occurred to me was that this pocket design looks like it might be easier to pick-pocket while standing?
- subhrm 6y agoThis would make pick-pocketers' life easy .
- memco 6y agoThis kind of pocket in the article appeals to me and were I in search of new pants I would certainly consider them. I used to tell my wife that one of the primary considerations I make when looking for pants is that they have usable pockets: not too big, not too small. Mostly, this is doable for me. However, when we started shopping for her I would joke about the female fashion conspiracy to sell more accessories: they don't put in pockets in women's clothes so they can sell clutches, purses and other stuff. All that aside I think it's just figuring out what works for you and there's more than one way to handle personal storage needs.
- binaryorganic 6y agoI’ve got a pair of pants from REI that have a pocket down there, and I instinctively put my phone there all the time, because of how accessible it is when sitting. It’s great!
- OminousWeapons 6y agoI'd be curious to know how other people are handling this problem without employing cargo pants or custom clothing like this. I'm a guy who likes wearing skinny jeans and agree that stuffing a wallet, too many security keys, a knife, and a huge phone into the pockets kind of distorts the aesthetic. Do other guys / girls just carry their stuff in backpacks?
- schrijver 6y agoYou never noticed that lots of people have purses? They are designed to solve exactly this problem :) Jeans designed for women tend to have smaller pockets and of course a legging or a skirt or dress doesn’t have pockets at all. The big downside with purses is that they require your hands and you can forget them on a train, unlike your pockets. I imagine that’s why in urban areas the small corded Gucci/Louis Vuitton purses have become very popular with men and women alike, as they overcome some of the practical downsides, they’re more like fanny packs in the sense that they leave your hands free and stay close to your body. The fanny pack itself has made something of a comeback too, although now you wear them slung over a shoulder instead of around your hip.
- schrijver 6y agoI should have read the article, it actually explains how pockets used to be separate garments, worn over or under clothing. It looks like this approach has come back in fashion. Programmers can appreciate the modularity!
- pantaloony 6y agoJackets. Hoodies seem to be popular, and come in various weights. Blazers can fit typical “everyday carry” stuff without losing fit (though larger phones or really thick wallets might be a challenge, if you don’t ant them to be noticeable) and come in styles/weights/fabrics appropriate for all but the very hottest or very coldest weather. Jackets are purses for men. Love them. Hate keeping stuff in my pants pockets.
- dirtyid 6y agoAlternatively, more pockets on tops. Fall/winter has much more carrying flexibly: anorak with stomach pocket, winter jackets with chest pockets. Also I find it ironic women's work out tights have phone side pockets already figured out but men's are still limited to a key pouch on the back. Also very functional mesh panels but I suppose that's to close to mesh shirts for most dudes.
- MrsPeaches 6y agoTL;DR: https://sambleckley.com/assets/images/pants1.jpg https://sambleckley.com/assets/images/pants1.jpg
- blacksmith_tb 6y agoI have a similar pair from Duluth Trading[1], but what kills me is having the 'extra' pocket on only one side - I am sure that works perfectly for some, but for me, I very much want my phone on my left leg, it's like trying to unlearn a common key combo to have to look for it on the right. 1: https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-duluthflex-ballroom-slim-fit-khaki-pants-84310.html https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-duluthflex-ballroom-slim-...
- repeek 6y agoCheck out their Engineer pants, they have that pocket on both sides. [1] 1. https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-duluthflex-fire-hose-relaxed-fit-engineers-pants-84337BRN.html https://www.duluthtrading.com/mens-duluthflex-fire-hose-rela...
- blacksmith_tb 6y agoHmm, interesting (though apparently being closed out). To me that looks like a narrower pocket (they have a photo showing a boxcutter being put in it, I doubt a smartphone could be crammed in). It's also not 'stealth' in terms of looks, since the pocket is appliqued on the outside of the leg, instead of hidden inside.
- 42droids 6y agoI am only here to say: Put pockets on all women clothes!! Thank you.
- amelius 6y agoAnd I'm here to say that phone companies should make smaller phones.
- nordsieck 6y ago> And I'm here to say that phone companies should make smaller phones. If people bought small phones, companies would make them.
- amelius 6y agoNo, because Apple wants to sell us something else than a phone. They want to sell us a vending machine for entertainment. Probably it's the same for the other phone companies.
- marcosdumay 6y agoActual phones are going out of fashion quite quickly. People want communication devices with several usage options, that once in a full moon work as phones too. And yes, people want entertainment too. Apple is just submitting to their customers desires.
- 42droids 6y agoIt feels to me that customers submit to Apple's desires...
- marcosdumay 6y agoMaybe so, but non-Apple phones are designed against those same goals, and their market is pretty competitive. If those came from Apple instead of consumers, they wouldn't be universal.
- nordsieck 6y ago> Women used to have pockets. That “used to” has to count back 150 or even 200 years, and those pockets were often a separate garment, either worn underneath and accessed through a slit in the dress, or worn around the hips overtop, rather than built into the dress directly — but regardless, “it has pockets!” as a joyous surprise is a modern invention. This part seems particularly unconvincing - if you take this at face value, all women's clothes "have pockets" because women typically carry a purse. I don't know many people who would agree with that.
- adrianmonk 6y agoI would add one item to the list of requirements: as I walk around and engage in other movements, objects should not flop around uncomfortably or jiggle around and make noise more than necessary. That is a big advantage of locating pockets near the hips. First of all, as you walk your hips stay in a relatively fixed position, whereas your knees move back and forth a lot. So items nearer the knees are swung back and forth a lot more. Also, close to the waist where the cloth fits more tightly. Looser cloth closer to the knee tends to swing back and forth because there is more slack which allows it to do so. Unfortunately, I don't know way to solve this and solve the problems that they have solved like accessibility when you're sitting down. Maybe you could stick pockets near the hip but on the side of the body instead of front or back. But those pockets would have to bend a whole lot.
- entangledqubit 6y agoI have the same complaint. Perhaps a hidden, floating, spandex style layer that encapsulates the pocket and contents against the leg would solve that issue? This could be done while minimizing impact to the outer appearance.
- kart23 6y agoLululemon does this on their lined shorts.
- ianhorn 6y agoThis is a cool exercise, but there's a broken assumption. Or an assumption of no outwear I missed: > Where is there enough support to prevent items swinging around uncomfortably? He answered this with a box basically around the thighs, but I'd also add the torso and maybe even the upper arms. A personal bugbear of mine is jackets without internal breast pockets. When you have one on each side of a jacket that isn't ultra lightweight, it fits a wallet and phone perfectly, it's super accessible, and it doesn't change the appearance. In San Francisco where you never really need to zip/button up your jacket, it's perfect. This is the hill I will die on.
- Mtinie 6y agoI fully agree, though I’m on the East Coast and evening then I don’t mind occasionally opening my jacket to get my wallet or phone. When shopping a jacket without dual internal breast pockets goes back on the rack and won’t be considered.
- yellowapple 6y agoExternal breast pockets work okay for this, too, provided they're big enough and have some kind of flap (with a button or velcro or zipper) to keep it closed. Such pockets are especially handy on shirts.
- dan-robertson 6y agoI think it can be quite hard to make a jacket which won’t sag too much or have a weird weight distribution with things in the breast pocket. And you may get a visible lump depending on the size of the item and fit of the jacket (again large flat phones against a not-flat chest doesn’t help, and neither does the trend for clothing to fit quite tightly). That said, I agree with you that internal pockets in jackets are great (though obviously it can be harder to access the contents once you have taken the jacket off). I do also have a jacket with a pocket on the upper sleeve. It’s tiny and weird and basically useless and I’m not really sure what it’s for (credit card? Tiny MP3 player? If it were a skiing jacket then I might guess it was for a lift pass but it’s definitely not a skiing jacket and it’s a weird manoeuvre to try to get your upper arm to a reader at waist height) though sometimes I will put my keys there because their lumpy shape makes them uncomfortable in pockets closer to the skin and I rarely need to access them
- aahhahahaaa 6y agoI would buy these pants in a heartbeat. I'm fairly slender, like tight fitting pants, but hate the hip pockets. Cargo pants are baggy and everything rattles around in the large pockets. These are a really thoughtful middleground where you don't have to sacrifice style for utility.
- amelius 6y agoCargo pants are even better if you complement them with a tool-belt. /s
- lizthewhiz 6y agoI really appreciate the design and thought that went into these pants. Goes to show what is possible when you can craft your own clothes and break free of the constraints of mass produced clothes. Would have been cool to see the pants in a wool plaid or suiting material to emphasize their dressiness. I think people are getting cargo pants vibe because of the dark green twill.
- diiq 6y agoAbsolutely in the works, but I'm not rich enough to make prototypes in superfine :)
- lizthewhiz 6y agoLol fair, the green fabric is much better than muslin at least =D
- sumnole 6y agoActually, cargo pants are quite trendy right now as techwear. Whether or not they stay in style, at least they'll always be functional.
- jackdawed 6y agoI'm pretty curious what portion of HN's audience is aware of techwear and the work of Errolson Hugh at Acronym or Taka Kasuga at Arc'teryx Veilance. I've noticed that SWE's make up a substantial portion of the techwear community, in part due to the pricing and the overlap with sci-fi/utilitarian tastes.
- george_ciobanu 6y agoSo where to order? Sign me up please.
- fouc 6y agoI love this idea. I generally only carry a wallet and a phone, one in each front pocket. Love the idea of having side pockets for them with the slanted/deep pocket approach.
- css 6y agoForgive me if I am wrong or ignorant, but wouldn’t this design be very weak since all the weight of the items in the pocket falls onto one seam? Most pants anchor the pocket bag to the waist, which is much more durable.
- Kluny 6y agoI'm not even going to read the comments. These pockets meet my needs. Where can I buy the pants?
- astatine 6y agoIt is quite impressive, and slightly unreal, the variety of articles which get HN readers worked up. But, truth be told, I enjoy these threads where I absolutely have no opinion and can look, sometimes in amusement but mostly in wonderment, at all sides of the debates. Keep the passion strong, fellow readers.
- GuB-42 6y agoCargo pants are not the only pants with side pockets. I suggest that you take a look at hiking pants. Hiking clothing is my preferred kind, even if I am not hiking. Here are some arguments: - They tend to look neutral. Not flashy like other kind of sportswear, and not as obvious as cargo pants. - They are comfortable, reasonably durable, and low maintenance. They are made for hiking after all. - They tend to have plenty of pockets, including ones in the location recommended by the article. - Zippers on pockets are common. Makes them safer. They usually have some sort of water resistance too. - Speaking of water resistance, it is another great feature of hiking pants, they often have a hydrophobic coating (that doesn't always last unfortunately) and are designed to dry quickly. Rain doesn't only happen during hikes. Of course, their neutral style is a negative if you want to make a fashion statement, but in a casual setting, if you don't care and don't want others to care, this is perfect.
- dirtyid 6y agoNewer gen of military pants also have sensible and tested pocket placements. Front pockets are under-rated imo And spending more time out in due to covid, the knee pads are functional. Also surprisingly good fit if you can pull off tacticool. Some cool scandinavian work pants as well. Just need proper civilian patterns. https://www.cryeprecision.com/ProductDetail/APRCPE0032R https://www.cryeprecision.com/ProductDetail/APRCPE0032R
- meheleventyone 6y agoYeah I have front cargo pockets on my ski trousers. They’re a great placement for regular access when wearing a pack and double as a handy place to put stuff when working in snow. https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/products/lofoten/lofoten-gore-tex-pro-pant-men/ https://www.norrona.com/en-GB/products/lofoten/lofoten-gore-... In that style I broke from wearing Carhartt WIP chinos and bought some of these as they had the front pockets. https://tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/aspect-rs-pant/ https://tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/aspect-rs-pant/ They have a pretty nice cut and don’t scream militia member quite so much as the Crye trousers.
- js2 6y ago
- andrewshadura 6y agoSkirtCraft make great skirts for men and women with four deep pockets.
- reaperducer 6y agoCargo pants are fashion-as-pretend-occupation Nobody tell him about tactical kilts†. He'll have an aneurysm. †"Utilikilts" for those in Seattle.
- Sirened 6y agoLots of yoga pants actually have this pocket! It's good for not having a huge lump on your hips but still being able to hold things like your phone
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- hammock 6y agoPockets on dress pants are placed right below the waistband not because someone thought that's the most convenient place for pocket access, but because it conceals them (there, they are hidden under a jacket. Or were, since no one wears a jacket and tie anymore). They're actually there because, indirectly, it's a LESS convenient place to put them. They're also sewn in line with the outside seam, again to help conceal them. Pockets are not a feature to showcase on dress pants, and in most cases take away from the formality of the garment.
- gumby 6y agoThis is a great overview and history of a sadly under appreciated problem. Well, actually a huge number of people suffer so they appreciate the problem but it is poorly discussed. My only objection is so something in the coda: > Cargo pants aren’t office-wear I have been in the workforce for almost 40 years and have never worked somewhere where anyone would bat an eye at cargo pants.
- analog31 6y agoI like the idea of rethinking an everyday item to make it more usable, while also attending to aesthetics. A lot of technologies could be improved by just writing down a list of "What's this thing really supposed to do?" And then, iterating on that list as the design evolves. In the case of this article, I have three more feature requests: 1. The pocket should be narrow enough so the phone can't rotate sideways while it's in there. That's my biggest complaint about cargo or hiking pants, which is what I typically wear. 2. Pay attention to how the phone behaves while riding a bike. I don't want pants that require me to find a special place for my phone while I'm out and active. But the author's designs look like they stand a real chance. 3. The pocket should be slightly "hooked" on the inside, so my phone doesn't slide out during my nap. I owe two broken phone screens to this phenomenon.
- crooked-v 6y agoFor 3, I'm a fan of small, discreet zippers. My Bluffworks pants have zippers that are discreet enough to be unnoticeable but sturdy enough for roller coasters.
- cycomanic 6y agoThose pockets look exactly like the pockets on kühl (https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/pants/ https://www.kuhl.com/kuhl/mens/pants/) pants and those pants come in all sorts of shapes and sizes not just cargo pants. I can attest to the fact that they are very practical for using for modern smartphones which have definetly become to large for front pockets.
- txcwpalpha 6y agoKuhl pants are some of my favorite pants I own, second only to my Prana pants which also have similar pockets. I recently discovered that "hiking pants" are superior in almost every way to normal pants. They're usually more comfortable, deal with both high and low temperatures well, and nowadays have aesthetic styles that you can even wear in semi-formal work situations or to a nice dinner.
- uglycoyote 6y agoI bought some kuhl pants and the damn rivets that they put on the butt pockets were not only uncomfortable to sit on but have left unsightly gouges on all my dining chairs. I stopped using those pants once I realized where the gouges came from. All that in the the make of making a pant that looks rugged (I don't think the rivets really improved the pants structurally)
- txcwpalpha 6y agoInteresting! The Kuhl pants I own don't have any rivets in them at all (in fact there's no metal or anything non-fabric except for the crotch zipper and button) so I have not experienced that. Will have to keep that in mind if I look at any of the other styles from them, though.
- fxtentacle 6y agoI wonder how pickpocket-safe they are because the lower placement would allow someone to reach my pockets without entering my field of view. I mean back pockets and the side pockets of cargo pants also aren't safe, but those trousers usually have the regular side pockets as a safe alternative for phone & money.
- samstave 6y agoActually - what you have done is recreated the pockets on the LuLuLemon workout gear for ladies. If you have not seen them - women love them. And the pocket is slightly higher than yours. (I love your design, FYI) But go look at high-end womens workout clothes for pocket ideas too. Also, while youre at it, the How I built this podcast with the founder of LuLuLemon is a really fascinating listen. Personally - I am starting down the road to re-invent the backpack - and the umbrella...
- kart23 6y agoIt's there on some mens items too! My lined shorts have a nice stretchy pocket on the side of the thigh and it works great.
- Godel_unicode 6y agoYou've invented carpenter jeans, from the late 90s. If you want to buy a modern equivalent, the Prana Bronson jeans are exactly this. Bonus points, they come in shorts with the same Pixel XL sized pockets.
- samstave 6y agoWhat sort of pattern did you start with? Did you DL one, buy one or make your own?
- diiq 6y agoI drafted from scratch; not shown here (for fear of distracting from the pockets) are the high waist, button fly, and swallowtail back that make them deeply unfashionable :) But you could easily add this to almost any pants pattern, so long as the inseam isn't flat-felled.
- samstave 6y agoCan you please share pics / pattern?
- diiq 6y agoIt's a=just a standard welt pocket on an angle. Find a welt pocket tutorial you like and follow it, but on the outseam :) The only trick is that the inseam has to be open when you add the pocket to the outseam. I haven't made a paper pattern of it, yet, because I've cut it differently each time. When I settle on a design I will make myself a pattern -- but it'll be pretty specific to me.
- crocodiletears 6y agoPropper's STL pant series take a similar tact for their cargo pockets. It's definitely a massive improvement in terms of business-casual looking workwear that doesn't sacrifice utility. I hope pockets like these do take off. I know too many women who've lamented the fact that they have few options for practical pants that don't also trade out the style of tighter-fitting women's wear.
- darkerside 6y agoI agree with the baseline principles, but these pockets are at the edge of reach, which is far from convenient. I was sure they would end up with a waist level pocket, in a stretchy material, on top of the belt area.
- albntomat0 6y agoLike a built in fanny pack?
- darkerside 6y agoYeah! They're popular despite being universally derided. If someone can solve that style problem, I smell disruption. There is a running "flip belt" that is also essentially the same thing. I haven't pulled the trigger, but it remains on my mind.
- vinay427 6y agoThere are a quite a few of these running belts, none of which have solved the style problem to my taste unfortunately. I was researching these extensively for running last week, so without endorsing any specifically, here are some names I've heard a lot in running and hiking communities online in case it helps anyone looking at options: * FlipBelt * Naked Running Band * SPIbelt * Salomon Pulse Also, a comparison review of a bunch of different models: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-running-belts/ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-running-belt...
- ip26 6y agoI hadn't even really thought about it, but I've had pockets like this for a few years in pants from Patagonia and Black Diamond. They are indeed quite nice, exactly as the author describes. Best for a phone or slender wallet.
- bacon_waffle 6y agoSame here. A pair of Macpac chinos I bought several years ago has this pocket and manages to not look too outdoorsy.
- jonplackett 6y agoThese are kinda just skinny cargo pants, no?
- ISL 6y agoCarhartt makes pants with a "cell-phone" pocket that approximates the author's design. They're great -- they've become a stalwart in my rotation. Durability is mixed, but I'm in love with the pocket. https://www.carhartt.com/products/Rugged-Work-Khaki-Pant-100095 https://www.carhartt.com/products/Rugged-Work-Khaki-Pant-100...
- zepto 6y agoExactly - and they are not the only ones.
- milofeynman 6y agoWith no pockets on the butt it makes the pants look weird. The plain area is just too empty. Might I suggest adding the words "sexy" or "pink"
- diiq 6y agoYou're right, I think a yoke might work better than darts to break up that space.
- metaphor 6y agoThe problem statement discusses the undesirable trade-offs of tight/skinny jeans, yet the model solution isn't even remotely representative of the framework that it suggestively seeks to improve. I can't help but see this pocket as a liability; a cost-saving excuse to omit a proper securing mechanism of sorts shrouded by a pitch of being innovative. In a perfectly postured world with 2 operational modes--standing and sitting--this might be good enough, but I'd hardly be willing to risk yet another $600+ cellphone to find out when I'm crouching, squatting, gargoyling, kicking legs up, riding a bike, in a sports car bucket seat, etc. Furthermore, if it's easy for you to slip your phone in and out of, then it'll also be easy for thieves to do so as well.
- boraalparat 6y agoYou should checkout running tights, pants and shorts. Nearly all brands are implementing this kind of different pockets and zippers. Both women and men design differs for their anatomy as well.
- ed312 6y agoNot everyone can wear jeans + tshirt to the office. Borrowing athletic- and work-wear inspired designs for office/formal cloths has huge potential.
- lifeisstillgood 6y agoMe, Inwould avoid the whole problem and remove the pocket from the clothing - I have a lycra-like arm and that holds a phone for jogging and it is useful enough that if I could just slap it onto any piece of clothing and it would stay then I have a pocket I can put onto any clothing i want at any location
- GekkePrutser 6y agoVery interesting idea. I'm a bit worried about pickpockets though with the pockets so low. Right now if I'm worried about them (I live in Barcelona where they are a major pest!) I put my hands in my pockets. That won't work if they're so far down. However I do love rethinking common things we take for granted, especially about clothing. For one I don't understand how the common business suit is so popular. It looks really old-fashioned (has hardly changed design over the years), has all sorts of non-functional appendages like those flaps on the jackets, collars, cuffs, ties, nonfunctional pockets, buttons you're not supposed to use etc. They're super uncomfortable, restrictive and sweaty. And they're really generic, everyone from a store manager to a president wears them. And for what? Everyone in business wears them so they're not proving anything.. It's almost like a uniform. Humanity shouldn't be that shallow :) Uniforms are about stripping a person of their identity whereas business and politics is all about being more distinctive than others. I really don't get why this is such a thing :)
- RyJones 6y agoThere are pants with a zipped pocket[0]. Not an endorsement of that particular retailer or brand; merely an example. [0]: https://www.target.com/p/wrangler-men-s-five-pocket-pants-navy/-/A-54585868 https://www.target.com/p/wrangler-men-s-five-pocket-pants-na...
- KozmoNau7 6y agoIf you get properly fitted suit pants, they're actually quite comfortable, and in the right materials (generally wool), they're also a lot less warm than you'd think. And the jacket can be sewn to have decent freedom of movement, obviously not to gynmast type movements, but certainly not uncomfortably restricting. I still think the standard suit looks silly, but when well-made, it is actually designed to be worn comfortably for a whole workday.
- viraptor 6y agoThey're a both a weird thing and a status symbol, because once you pay enough, they're actually really comfortable. I've got a tailored suit which is amazing to wear and not restrictive. Will most people get that experience? No :( It would be better if we used something that can be better quality on a budget. But at least I can have fun with them.. "buttons you're not supposed to use" is basically an old meme. Button them up if you like and tell people that's the current style. See how many can you convert. That's all it is really. Or wear fun colour suits. There are options if you can afford the game.
- 0x138d5 6y agoDidn't 5.11 have something like this? Chinos that fit AR mags.
- mike_h 6y agoNobody would miss the pockets on top for a place to hang your hands? I depend on this to take some load off my spine sometimes. And I feel like pocketing away my hands is like a “mute button” on a certain amount of proprioception when I need to really do some thinking or relaxing. Love everything else about this btw.
- maxander 6y agoHook your thumbs through your belt loops. Same effect, slightly less slouchy, and more panache.
- zigh 6y agoThat's a interesting and real use case for upper pockets. I can attest doing so the same for both ergonomic and psychological reasons. Plus, there is one reason pockets in lower part of the torso is not very common, it is because the larger leg movements range make the weight in the lower pocket a painful experience in walking and running. The OP design therefore is not very practical IMHO.
- noman-land 6y agoGuys, I'm sorry to tell you this, but you look like a dork in cargo pants, and everyone knows it but you.
- pbhjpbhj 6y agoWhat utility does your attempt at shanking people for their manner of dress serve? Aren't you showing that you're a less useful part of society by doing that?
- teekert 6y agoDamn it (wo)man, I so agree, when I was 12-15 we wore "workers", comfy, lots of big pockets. Wish then would become cool again.
- zuhayeer 6y agoLove this. Would be great to see these in stores. An unfortunate thing about the apparel industry (which I think contributes to how outdated clothing styles have been) is that it's all about the marketing budget and distribution channels. Things like getting your brand onto racks in stores and massive online ad campaigns become the key things to your business. That doesn't really encourage much innovation on product, it's securing the channel that really matters. A large brand's marketing budget can simply just eclipse yours to do better in sales. As you become bigger, all the attention simply shifts to supply chain, distribution, and increasing sales. All optimization problems, almost doesn't matter what you make. Hope that changes though
- maxander 6y agoAt various points, thinking about what I wear to events where well-worn skinny pants are advantageous, I've thought about hip-pouches as a solution to the pocket problem. I've generally found that this runs into an inevitable quandrary: - To carry my wallet+phone+keys, it will need to be reasonably sized - To be trusted with my wallet+phone+keys, it will need to be durable- built out of leather, or at least something like heavy canvas - It can't be brightly colored or otherwise goofy, because aesthetics - If you're wearing something on your hip that is dark-colored, made of heavy-duty material, and is roughly holster-sized, it will generally look like a gun holster to casual or distant inspection. That's not only a bad fashion statement, that's plausibly dangerous in some circumstances. A pouch mounted right above the knee might solve this (I don't think anyone wears their pistol there?) if there's a decent way to wear a pouch that's not hung from the belt.
- Pxtl 6y agoIt's funny, I actually had a pair of something similar in the '90s. I had a pair of charcoal grey men's pants of some unknown heavier fabric that were cut slim instead of baggy like cargo pants or work pants, and had a pair of discrete flap pockets instead of bulky cargo pockets on them. I adored those pants. I'd love a pair of slim-cut black jeans with that kind of pocket on them.
- ddrt 6y agoThere are several designers already doing exactly that.
- kashyapc 6y agoI wear the kind of slim-fit trousers that this article shows at the end. I like this improved pocket idea; it's functional and elegant. (Although for non-black trousers, I wonder about the discreetness of it.) My 'workaround' when I'm on the bicycle -- which is everyday -- for phone has been this (rather expensive, but robust) every day carry-on backpack with a hidden-but-accessible phone pocket: https://www.abordage-shop.com/12240-thickbox_default/brooks-england-pickwick-cotton-canvas-12l-grey-gris.jpg https://www.abordage-shop.com/12240-thickbox_default/brooks-... Alas, OP, you say "no sales" ... perhaps I should start taking sewing classes, which reminds me, there's a hacker space (the only one in town) near me that also gives sewing workshops. Once the world fully reopens.
- dragonwriter 6y ago> So I made a pair of trousers with no pockets at the waist, and a pair of welt pockets at the side seams, right at that point. Weirdly, the pictures pants are not slim jeans, thought that was the motivating problem. They look like not particularly slim khakis. The pocket location is also quite similar to the low-profile cargo pocket location on some of the 5.11 Tactical pants that are designed for unobtrusive utility, addressing a somewhat similar problem space (useful pockets in relatively slim pants.) So, I'm not sure there is really an innovative solution here But, like most middle-to-upper class fashion for centuries, the driving force between the popularity of skinny jeans is the ostentatious sacrifice of utility because the need for useful clothing is a marker of proletarian status. And the signalling is as much to the wearer as outside observers, so I'm not sure there's going to be a mass market demand for this.
- renewiltord 6y agoJacket pockets solve lots of these problems. Very nice imho.
- gwid0n 6y agoPersonal anecdote: I've lost around 20kg 2 years ago and were able to fit into a nice pair of slim jeans I used to wear in high school (around mid 00's). I've always carried my wallet in a left hand pocket and my phone+headphones in a right hand pocket. I couldn't fit any modern smartphone into the right hand pocket - the pocket was too short and your phone sticked out of the pocket all the time. Kinda interesting, how the spread of modern computer devices changed a little detail in mass market fashion design.
- svd4anything 6y agohttps://tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/agent-xc-chino/ https://tripleaughtdesign.com/shop/agent-xc-chino/ For office appropriate. I use the jeans.
- Waterfall 6y agoThere are exercise pants for women that have a transparent tight netting/mesh on the legs that run the entire length, and are tight against the skin. I think they are much better for objects that are not rigid.
- eikenberry 6y agoI have Levi's and Dockers have pants that have a very similar pocket. Levi Denizen 231; https://www.target.com/p/denizen-174-from-levi-s-174-men-s-athletic-fit-jeans-231-153-black-36x30/-/A-17103165 https://www.target.com/p/denizen-174-from-levi-s-174-men-s-a... Dockers comfort cargo; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q8HM96 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002Q8HM96
- gshdg 6y agoThis is not exactly revolutionary. I have multiple pairs of bike shorts with slim elastic pockets in that spot. (Actually, a few inches higher, which is easier to reach without bending, and doesn't get in the way any more than the proposed location.)
- tomcam 6y agoI enjoyed his art greatly: https://sambleckley.com/art/ https://sambleckley.com/art/
- Dumblydorr 6y agoI like the idea but why only show photographs from one angle? This is a clothing item, give us more pictures so we can see it from all sides and judge its aesthetics.
- miguelmota 6y agoThese pants look awesome. If there was a Kickstarter for these I’d place an order for a few. I like cargo pants because of the side pockets but dislike the bagginess and the other useless little pocket, so these are near perfect.
- bazooka2th 6y agoMy Dickies work jeans have a pocket like the one described in the article, but at the back of the right leg, not the side. I'm pretty sure this is because if you're wearing a tool belt or safety harness none of the traditional pockets are accessible.
- nwah1 6y agoThere's a subculture around Everyday Carry (EDC) which has a whole niche market for products like this. This would be an excellent product for that market.
- bobloblaw45 6y agowhat I hate are those tiny change nooks sewn into the right trouser pocket so it's like a pocket within a pocket. In theory they're fine except I always put my keys into my right pocket because I'm right handed. My keys will fall into these mini pockets and get stuck. These mini pockets should really be on the left side.
- cbhl 6y agoThe tiny pockets are fine for holding a single key. Where they fail is the modern keychain, with a car key and a door key and a mailbox key and key to enter the gated community and a key for the office and a security key for a computer. Like, key chains the size of a tennis ball really could be anchored off of one's belt or waist on a retracting clip.
- throw7 6y agoHiking pants have these. I have a couple and it's great. They are usually zippered also. I think you don't see this on dress pants because "fashion".
- Lol_80005 6y agoI have shorts with these pockets. Seeing this thread is lol max. I like em. https://imgur.com/gallery/01bhkbp https://imgur.com/gallery/01bhkbp
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- asimjalis 6y agoWhy not have the phone in a pocket higher on the torso? Like a gun holster.
- peter303 6y agoPainter/workman jeans with a second set of pockets at the knees came into fashion when cellphones shrunk to pocket size.
- Groxx 6y agoThese kinds of lower, often-slanted-up-and-back pockets are somewhat common in exercise wear. And they're great for the most part. Though your legs move a lot, they don't often move in a just-vertical up and down path, so as long as you have horizontal stability (very easy here as your leg curves) nothing really jostles. They do have a nasty habit of losing their contents while driving (knees often higher than waist), or sitting cross-legged. Buttons / zippers / etc combat this of course (magnetic closures are my favorite), but they are also a bit more visible and sometimes uncomfortable :)
- Balgair 6y agoI just checked, I already own a pair like this. The pocket is horizontal, not slanted, and the pants are dark grey slacks. The pocket is only on the right side. It fits a smaller sized cell phone or a money clip. They were bought at a thrift store for maybe $10, so I've no idea on retail prices. I can't say I ever use that pocket, but more than a handful of times maybe. When I put my keys in there, they bang against my knee and make a weird bulge when I sit down and cross my legs. Fit is super important here. Either that or very lightweight and small objects. I'd rather just have deeper 'normal' side pockets. What am I missing here?
- gmays 6y agoMy favorite pants have a similar feature: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZHFNG5J/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZHFNG5J/ I got them for taking my son on hikes, but liked them so much I got more and started wearing them to work too. I don’t even use the standard pockets anymore, just the thigh pockets for the reasons described in the article.
- jedberg 6y agoWhen I worked at my first job my mentor, the lead sysadmin, had a vest that his mother in law had made for him. It had a ton of pockets of all different sizes, including one large one for his Newton. He always had enough pockets and could reach everything standing or sitting, and even while driving. He was all about efficiency. He also had shoes that you could clip wheels to and turn them into roller blades, so he could snap those on and be at the datacenter in seconds, as long as no one was in the hall. :)
- saagarjha 6y agoHeelys before they were cool ;)
- thelightthat 6y agoThese kind of pockets exist already particularly in workwear
- asdfk-12 6y agoMountain Hardware, Mission Workshop, Lululemon, Outlier and Arcteryx all have some variety on this theme. I love the lightweight zip low-hip pocket as there's no jostling when running and your phone/wallet lays to the side if you're sitting. It's true that there is space for innovation, but it's difficult to get below the $100-200 range for 'technical' (ie non-traditional cut) officewear.
- laurex 6y agoThis was such a promising article until it became apparent that, despite the intimation of early paragraphs, the author had no real answer for the pocketlessness women are subjected to...
- shaklee3 6y agoThis pocket appears to be identical to the ones in my wife's yoga pants. I thought it was a good idea when I saw it, but it's certainly not original.
- swayvil 6y agoChest is a good place for pockets. Like the breast pocket on a tshirt. Or the multipocket on overalls. Back pocket is fantastic as long as you don't sit down. And to take that to the next level, a finish carpenter's toolbelt. A back pocket big enough to fit a cantaloupe. With partitions. And you can slide the whole thing around to various places on your butt and hips as the situation requires.
- justnotworthit 6y agoRegarding the limitations of the fashion industry... Learning to sew clothes is like learning to cook after eating fast food all your life and not even knowing it was possible to combine ingredients in any way you wanted. The possibilities are endless, empowering, overwhelming, and terrifying.
- ComplexSpidey 6y agoAgreed to lack of innovation and creativeness in this world of mass production. Even women receive a great level of innovation with changes in sizes and some fundamental changes but for men, it's the same 3 pieces of clothes which are important (because that's what is available) - jeans, shirts, tees. Pockets is a good way to start but this definitely needs to expanded to the fundamental core.
- yosito 6y agoWhen is the Kickstarter happening? I'd order a pair.
- smileypete 6y agoTangentially related, but relevant to some of the discussion here, and a good read: Christopher Wylie: can fashion save the world? http://www.archive.is/hoUbT http://www.archive.is/hoUbT https://www.google.com/search?q=Christopher+Wylie+can+fashion+save+the+world https://www.google.com/search?q=Christopher+Wylie+can+fashio... >'Wylie started work as a fashion trend forecaster, before switching roles to help the Liberal Democrats update their voter targeting. He saw the potential for harvesting Facebook data to help build psychological profiles of its users, which could in turn be used to target them with political ads. It was an idea that, in 2013, got him hired at the SCL Group — the parent company of Cambridge Analytica. ...Fashion and music, Wylie says, are among the best predictors of political orientation. And as such, they have the potential to help shift the political conversation. The following is an edited and abridged transcript of a conversation he had with Imran Amed, the BoF founder, and the FT to explain how fashion is in the perfect position to make the world a better place.'
- kwhitefoot 6y agoJust take a handbag.
- pcl 6y agoI have a pair of shorts that are just about to wear out that have a pocket like these, and I love them! Sadly, Patagonia stopped making them years back, and I can’t find any back stock with them. These trousers look great. I wonder if he’ll make me some...
- beezle 6y agoTFA notes that people take their phones out of pockets. I believe the real reason for that is phones are now so large that they are uncomfortable to have in any pocket while sitting. Also, idk - if your pants are so tight that you can't make use of the pockets you are definitely risking a Tom Brady moment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAMUArVQtks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAMUArVQtks
- jangrahul 6y agoI once had a levi's that had a chained pocket in lower back thigh. Awesome place to store phone. I miss the jeans though
- dleslie 6y agoThese are present on my carpenter pants; I find them invaluable for holding my phone, some rags (I have kids) and similar need-to-have-near-always things.
- BradyDale 6y agoI like these. They are cool. They are definitely not cargo pants. Neat solution with the angled pocket. Sadly tho the world has ended and no one will ever need office slacks again.
- antonyh 6y agoThe only time I've ever lost my wallet was out of cargo pants because the pockets were too big and loose. I'd definitely try a pair of these trousers as I hate sitting on my phone, but I'd still want regular front pockets too for keys.
- simonebrunozzi 6y agoSo funny that I thought precisely about this solution for a long time; but never even considered trying to "build" it myself. Kudos to Sam for doing it. Bravo.