Texans Zach Redington and Andy Archer are sick of sweatpants. Why is it, they wondered, that women have a plethora of stylish options that also satisfy their need for comfort, but men are limited to sweats and pajama bottoms?
No more, say these business-minded buddies and founders of Lounge County, who have created a pair of lounge pants based on their favorite piece of loungewear: the robe.
"We took all the features that we liked — the fabric and texture from a classic robe, comfort of sweats, the fit of a nice pant — and the Robie was born," says Redington, who lives in Dallas. "The feedback we got was overwhelming, and things went from there."
"We are also targeting men who value their relationships enough to ditch their sweatpants and send a signal that they haven't completely given up."
Redington says Robies are better than sweatpants because of fit, fabric and focus. They have what the duo calls the "everyman fit," which is not too baggy (like pajama pants) or fashionable (like skinny jeans). The guys spent more than a year searching for the right waffle-weave fabric. The brand is focused solely on relaxation, so don't expect polos or chinos at Lounge County.
"Our ideal customer is a guy who is looking for something great to wear after work and on the weekends," Redington says. "We are also targeting men who value their relationships enough to ditch their sweatpants and send a signal that they haven't completely given up."
Some men enjoy wearing them on coffee runs or to walk the dog, and many customers have reported that they make amazing travel pants for international flights.
"The Robies were originally created for lounging around the house," Archer says. "But we aren't going to limit the places where our customers want to relax."
The $86 price tag may seem steep, but consider that if a guy wears these pants every night after work, he's paying less than a quarter per wear. Because of the premium American-made fabric, the pants should last a while. They are available in sizes S-XL tall, and in black, blue or gray.
As far as future growth of the brand, Lounge County plans to release Robie Lights, a lightweight option, within the next two weeks, just in time for chillin' during a Texas summer. This fall, look out for a new lounge pant that is made with your favorite hoodie in mind.
Robies are made with a robe-like fabric made in the USA.
Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard