"When it comes to pants, my friend Bill knows what he’s talking about. We’ve been buddies for almost ten years, and this guy is a mad scientist regarding fabrics, cuts, fits, construction, and overall economies of cotton chinos. He’s been in the business for longer than he cares to admit (yes, that Bill).
"Pennbilt is a company that he founded and runs out of Pennsylvania. It is the culmination of his years of experience, mixed with today’s market demand for well-fitting pants. I’ve covered the company in the past, but wanted to touch on two of their more popular cuts: the Plainsman and the American.
"The Plainsman pants are an answer to the popular 5-pockets that are everywhere these days. The cut is what I’d call slim-straight, meaning they’ll work with just about everything: loafers, New Balance, Blundstones, and boots. They aren’t baggy in the backside or thighs and have reinforced pockets/etc. for the hard chargers. They are offered with even-numbered finished inseams for those ready to go off the rack.
"Where these pants shine is in the fabric. It is a 96% Pima cotton and 4% stretch, but they don’t feel ‘stretchy’ at all – it’s more of a give vs. a stretch. I love the way they feel, and treat them like a pair of jeans. I wash them inside out in cold water, dry on low for ~6-7 minutes, then shape and hang to finish drying. 7 times out of 10 they don’t need to be ironed; just throw them on and go."