Here at Ernest we’re currently rather obsessed with these new trousers from Spoke. They’re calling them Bulletproof Chinos – we’re pretty sure they’re not actually bulletproof, but as far as we can see that’s the only thing wrong with them. We had a word with Ben Farren, founder and director of Spoke, to find out how they were managing to do trousers, only better.
“At Spoke we spend many hours feeling, washing, wearing and blind testing the fabrics that we cut, so we are turning into real fabric nerds. It was only a matter of time before we ran across this remarkable cloth, milled in Switzerland. It’s a 97% pure cotton drill, blended with a touch of elastacene for just the right amount of stretch, and they’ve coated the surface with nano-tech to repel water and dirt. It looks and feels like an ordinary, soft, cotton drill fabric. But liquids just roll off.”
Coffee Bulletproof Chinos, £129
This, we are happy to admit, sounds ideal. Are there any activities the chinos are especially good for?
“It makes a great, durable chino under any conditions,” says Ben. “But for folks who cycle a short distance to the office, it’s the ultimate bike-to-work pair. We’ve trimmed it with a set of hi-vis features that make you a beacon on the road at night, but tuck away discreetly when they’re not needed.”
Navy Bulletproof Chinos, £129