Regent's Perfect Chino
We have been selling chinos for a long time, longer than Jason would like to admit. Pretty much since day one to be honest - which Jason doesn't like to admit is over 20 years ago! But whether he likes to admit it or not, the decades long experience in chino retailing has brought something great.
Over that time, many chino brands have come and gone, and in some cases come again and gone again. All had their strengths, flaws, charms and quirks, but each style and each brand taught a lesson. After frustrations with the fit, consistency, quality and the maddening decisions by some brands to stop making their line of perfectly good chinos (We are looking at you Edwin ED-55 and YMC Déjà Vu!), it was time to develop our own.
We had dabbled in making our own cotton, and denim jeans before, but this time it was different. So dissatisfied with what was available and knowing he could do it better, Jason set out to combine the best elements from his favourite chinos from days gone by. The result is something we are very proud of.
Jason started with getting the fit right. Many chino trends had come and gone in 20 years - some good, others genuinely terrible. Taking the best of these, and refining the cut over numerous samples we have refined our block to a subtle taper below the knee to the ankle, a loosely tapered thigh, and a medium rise. This has created a chino that has a contemporary silhouette but is smart enough for work and formal occasions.
Sympathetic to the frame of the larger gentleman, the block is also scaled with the waist size. This means the leg shape is proportionately bigger as the waist circumference increases. Not all brands bother with this, as it is time consuming to develop a different block for each size in the scale, however it results in a much better fit across the range.
Jason also knew that many customers favour a turn-up on their chino, so has ensured a slightly longer leg length to accommodate this. It is only slight, but makes a huge difference - and as tailors we can of course finish them to any length if a turn-up just isn't your style.
The next step was to select the perfect material. After sifting through dozens of sample swatches Jason found what he was looking for. A 320g per metre cotton chino with a just a little stretch (97% cotton, 3% elastane to be precise). This weight of cotton was essential, and founded upon many worn out pairs of sub-par chinos. This weight is a touch heavier than the average chino but enhances the durability of the trousers and holds its shape for longer. The 3% elastane ensures that the look is still tailored and lends a little extra comfort.
Finally we had to find the best place to get our perfect chino made. After many discussions with various manufacturers we found the perfect place. A family business in Portugal who have a reputation for manufacturing cotton garments to an exceptional standard. They are also experts in garment washing, which results in a little fading on the fabric, and a softer more comfortable finish on both our navy and khaki chinos.
With their help, we have been able to finish the chinos to an exceptional standard in a five-pocket design with belt loops. More intricate details such as slanted side pockets and subtle front pleats only elevate the Regent chino further.
Fear not if you cannot find your size. These chinos are well and truly part of the Regent collection and we are currently in the process of having more chinos made. We are expecting a delivery in December - please get in contact if you would like to reserve a pair.
