Journal of Light Construction: 1620 Workwear in Massachusetts is one of the hidden gems of the construction industry. While I could begin by talking about how comfortable and durable the company’s pants are, I’d like to start with its warranty. The company backs its gear with a lifetime warranty.
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In the modern age it's so difficult to tell where clothes are coming from. And usually the answer is a sweat shop somewhere overseas, and as nice as low prices can be, morally it feels wrong to support companies that employ those sorts of labor practices. However, this company seems to be the antithesis of that, it's impressive that they've managed to keep their factory in America instead of trying to raise profit margins by outsourcing somewhere else. I also really like that this company repairs clothing rather than just replacing it, that feels like the sort of thing more companies should try to do, not just because it is more sustainable, but because I personally feel a deep connection to articles of clothing that I enjoy and would much rather sew up a seam rather than getting a new uninitiated piece of clothing. So, despite being $300 this person does seem to think these pants are worth it.
Working in theater and dealing with the amount of tools and hardware that you need to carry around I know the importance of have some good cargo or tech pants. I sometimes struggle to find ones that have the right pockets, fit me, and are durable enough for the job. From this article it is clear to see that I have been given a more than decent choice that satisfies all my qualifications. Unfortunately though this is at the cost of price. The tech and cargo pants I have now are good enough to get the job done without breaking the bank, but I have had them tear on occasion. The ones I have now are around thirty to fifty dollars, and maybe putting in more of an investment isn’t a bad idea. The issue is I don’t know if I can justify dropping three hundred dollars on one pair of pants as a college student.
These pants actually seem really cool and really useful considering their durability and the pockets they have. They’re also dark in color which matches with usual technician or stagehand attire, so it is also appearance-wise useful, though I do wonder if the come in full-on black since they look a bit brown in the photos. However, I must say that the stuff about durability is a bit difficult for me to relate to. I don’t know if I’ve just been absurdly lucky, but I have worn a variety of pants to crew calls, load ins, tech weeks, strikes, etc. I have never really ended up breaking or ruining these pants during these work sessions at all. The only time I feel as if I had ruined a part of pants while working is while painting, but that was due to paint staining my pants rather than any rips. Maybe I’ve just been really lucky though. However, I must say, I rather keep pushing that luck for now considering these pants are $300 and that feels a bit absurd to pay for when what I’ve been working with has been fine for years.
Construction workwear seems to be a continuous debate as to who makes the most durable and withstanding clothing. But as many workbrands are, this one is meant solely for men. Through looking at their website several of the clothing items they sell could be adjusted and bought by women but each piece would still fit slightly differently when worn by a woman. It's still disheartening to attempt to find brands and companies that value all bodies. High end workwear brands tend to have a much higher price to attest to the increased quality but if you are a woman the commitment to the price tends to be harder as adjustment will already need to be made to the garment if it is to fit properly. In the end it becomes easier to buy and go through many cheaper pairs of pants if adjustments are already being made to the clothing item.
I have long struggled with finding pants which meet the criteria of fitting my admittedly small stature, not totally falling off of me, lasting long, having sealable pockets for all my random technician stuff, and looking good enough for me to want to wear them. In high school I was spoiled by getting to wear my dad’s old Pranas, which were both soft and very functional (with zipper closures!) and even had an adjustable waistband in addition to belt loops. Nowadays, I’m more of a Dickies kind of guy, owning 3 pairs of the exact same pants in different colors (I even bought a fourth pair but didn’t like the color so I don’t wear it often). I have definitely come across 1620 as a brand before, doubtless on tech theatre forums where people have come asking for pants recommendations. The pitch of fabric that is both comfortable and made to last eternally is certainly appealing, but admittedly I think I’m not yet at a point where I could drop $300 on one pair of pants even if they were particularly long lasting.
This article had a nice sales pitch. It’s refreshing to hear about sustainable practices and durable clothing. Not much is made to last these days. It’s frustrating to me to hear about (and witness) how so many products used to be made to last and now very few things are, because they just want to keep us spending money. To find a company that will even repair your pants rather than sending you a new pair is also incredibly rare nowadays. I definitely wouldn’t drop $300 on a pair of pants right now, but I can see how at some point it could be a cost justified investment. But at the same time, if you wanted to have more than one pair, it would be really expensive. Either way, it’s good to see that there are still people making products that will last. I hope that kind of craftsmanship starts to make a comeback and that people realize how much it’s worth it.
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