Jomers El Dorado Pinwale Corduroy – $58.00
UPDATE: Check out the comments. A lot of guys have been pointing out just how close these really are to Bonobos. Even down to some of the text used on the Jomers website. And apparently Bonobos used/uses a slide lock style button? Interesting debate.
Forget the big brands for a second. They still do most of their manufacturing overseas. It’s the little guys, those baby-brands that seem to be pushing a made-in-the-USA revolution in retail. And a lot of it is getting affordable. Seems like it started with leather goods. Then shirting. Selvage jeans were next (more on that tomorrow). Now, this company called Jomers comes along, and they’re making summer weight, pinwale cord pants in Manhattan for under sixty bucks ($63 total if you count the $5 flat rate shipping).
From their better-fit mantra, to the patterned linings and pockets, to their all caps blocky blue logo, it’s awfully hard not to be reminded of Bonobos. But their founder, Meyer Dagmy, claims that he has no relationship with Bonobos whatsoever. Other than being a former customer. He says he made a bet with some friends about how he could make pants in New York City for an affordable price, despite having no experience in manufacturing or the fashion industry, and he set out to do it. These pinwale cords are the result.
Slide lock button is unique. Fabric is a super-soft, lightweight, khaki-color that can appear greyish in direct light.
The fabric is crazy soft and oddly light. They’re not flimsy, but they’re lighter weight than most if not all summery chinos. Think, air-weight without being tissue thin. The fabric is sourced from the Garment District in New York, and the only thing that’s imported is the unique, Italian, slide-lock style button.
Trim through the thigh, and against some backgrounds, gives you an ass that don’t quit.
They’re cut very slim through the thigh and leg (slimmer than a Levi’s 514), so if you’re hefty in the legs, you might find them to be too tight. They’re trim enough that sometimes you can see an outline of the front pockets (see the pic at the top of the page) as my thighs would shove those seams up against the interior fabric of the legs. Admittedly, I do have larger legs, but they’re not the most thunderous of thighs.
They all come with a 34 inseam with the expectation that you’d get your tailor/dry-cleaner to hem them to your desired length (thus, the cuffs in the photos above) And the one major drawback to this specific model is how the waist fits. It’s really big. But according to Jomers, this is only an issue with the El Dorados. I wear a 32 in jeans, 31 in most trousers/suit pants, and ordered a 31 from Jomers. They’re not falling off without a belt, but there’s too much room in the waist. Combine the roomy waist with the trim thighs, and if I were to order a 30 (I’m 165 – 170… I’m no 30 waist), my thighs would probably look like they were shrink wrapped. But at least they’d be shrink wrapped in luxurious pinwale cord.
So THIS is what Jared from Subway felt like. Guess the generous waist is limited to this color option?
The Bottom Line
Not perfect right out of the gate, and these’ll have to go to the tailor for hemming and some serious work at the waist… but these are keepers. And Jomers seems to be worth keeping an eye on. They’re currently only making these pinwale cords, and you should know that you’re on the hook for return shipping. But $58 for summer weight pants made from incredible fabric, in New York City, that are slim fit and workable (for most) after a trip to the tailor? Here’s to looking forward to what they’ll make next.
Proof that Jomers move well. Eat your heart out Moby
Six million dollar pants? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDM5MX60jik
Those are Bonobos pants if I’ve ever seen ’em. The button, the lining, the logo, I’ve gotta call BS.
Exactly what I was thinking, even the button is the same slide lock. They are cheaper than Bonobos but having to pay for shipping to and from, required tailoring (if your less than a 34 length) and limited options leave a lot to be desired. This will be more interesting to see how Bonobos reacts to this, maybe we will get more sales and 20% off coupons.
Not only are those bad copies of Bonobos pants, but they stole the whole website – even the logo’s font is the same as Bonobos.
I just can’t get behind such a blatant ripoff, especially since they don’t look like they even fit. That much room in the waist but thighs that are that tight? For the purchase price plus tailoring fees you could just buy a decent pair of pants that fit without tailoring.
So worth a shot? Bonobos $90, Jomers $58. Never tried Bonobos due to the cost. The Jomers are tempting.
I ordered a pair to try, but a big selling point of Bonobos is the 365 day return policy and amazing service. Not sure if they’re borrowing that aspect too; certainly not the free shipping and returns. Plus, Bonobos go on sale for $58-$78.
Check this out; The pic of the pants in the order confirm didn’t load (I think because it’s archived) in the bonobos screen shot, but WTF?!? Yeah, I’m sure all of this is coincidence.
I honestly didn’t know Bonobos did a slide-lock button like that. But, admittedly, I don’t have many pairs of Bonobos in my closet (currently just one).
Like it says in the post, you’ve got to be reminded of Bonobos. But some would say Bonobos would remind many of Betabrand. Pants wars.
If they make my butt look like that I’m in for 3 pairs.
I wish bonobos and this company would stop putting visible patterns in the back pocket. It’s just gimmicky. The bonobos slim fit chinos fit me so well, but I can’t even try to use it in a business casual setting because of those pockets.
I’m confused about the comment on the waist, specifically “this is only an issue with the El Dorados”. When I go to the Jomers website, it looks like all the pants are the same, just different color. So the tan color fits differently than the rest?
That’s what they said. That the waist running large was only an issue on that run of that color.
Oooh. Nice detective work. “We’ll send you a tracking number as soon as it’s out the door.” Exact same wording. Interesting.
I’m not a big fan of that detail either. Sometimes it can look like boxers are showing through. Confusing.
Ok, I hesitated with saying this until I was sure I had read that correctly, but it seems to me they have a known manufacturing defect and they are passing the cost to repair (tailoring) on to the customer… I’d feel a little better about it if it at least said on their website that the El Dorado ran larger in the waist, so buyers could make an informed decision.
What is it with the big waists and narrow legs? I have the same problem with many slim fits, particularly the J.Crew 484.
Glad to see more stuff made in USE, but, no sizes above 33? I usually wear a 34. Seem like I would probably wear a 33 waist from these guys, but chances are it would not fit in the thighs since I’ve got very muscular legs. It’s interesting to me that they claim to be all about fit, and then only offer 3 or 4 sizes in one slim cut.
Bonobos knock-off or not, it’s great to see companies manufacturing goods in the US again, especially in a more accessible price range. I may have to give these a shot at some point, assuming the company turns out to be legit in the longer term.
They do seem to have a similar product to bonobos, but I don’t see why that’s an issue. It sort of shows that bonobos is ripping us all off. I’ve bought tons from them, and it’s really taken a toll on my wallet. I’d much rather buy these, and save the 30 bucks, since neither this company nor bonobos are such big names anyway.
Plus I prefer made in America, especially when it costs less.
Interesting. It was bound to happen I suppose. Not a fan of blatant rip offs but ultimately if it is a quality product at a good price it will stand on it’s own.
I”m a sucker for patterned linings and slide locks. I like the subtle things. But why does every brand need to move toward slimmer and slimmer fits. Some of us workout our legs and play soccer. My thighs and calves look ridiculous in slim cuts.
Agreed, want to check Jomers out.
I have a pair of the Bonobos “El Khakitans” (these are “El Dorados”… even copying the name, eh?) and they are the same pants with different interior detailing. Shade, slide lock, all of it. I also got them for less with sale and a promo code.
I’m a Bonobos pants devotee so I may have to try this. I don’t have a problem with a clear rip off if they do it well. My only complaint about Bonobos is the price.
Are they hemmed? I wear a 34 inseam so I’m wondering if I could wear them as is.
Looks like they just saved a Bonobos email and upgraded the logo, changed the background color from blue to gray while deleting the dating video bullet point. Rest of the layout is pretty much the same (incl. the contact info in the top right and the order details). That coupled with no sizes above 33, ripped off product names, jegging like fit and a bad return policy means Thanks but no thanks for now.
A lot of Bonobos pants go for sale around 58-68 (khakis and jeans at least) with free shipping, free returns for up to a year and top notch customer service. You can find them for cheaper (if lucky) at a Nordstrom Rack. Unfortunately, sizes and colors are rather limited there, as expected.
As far as “knock off” goes, Bonobos does not actually manufacture anything, much like most every clothing brand out there these days, so if you contract with the same factory for a similar product, chances are you will indeed get a very similar product. In this way, most of what we buy today is more marketing than product. Are Banana Republic, and J. Crew, and Lands End really so different from one another when they are all manufacturing similar products in the same factories? At the end of the day, Fit, price, durability and style are what matters most, not necessarily in that order The label matters not at all, but it may matter to you who you prefer to do business with, and if two companies are offering a very similar product at a very similar price, it may become the deciding factor.
Wow. You weren’t kidding. Will not buy, I have leg muscles and a slim waist.
Yep, they are hemmed.
I used “ripoff” in my comment above to refer to the entire Jomers brand. Yes, a lot of what you pay for is marketing – on some level, pants are pants. But it should be up to each company to come up with a competitive edge – whether it’s in marketing, cloth, or customer service, or something else. Bonobos has theirs, and Jomers is stealing it.
Here, Jomers is not just (seemingly) contracting with the same or a very similar factory to make pants that are very close to Bonobos, they are trying to steal much of Bonobos’s brand. Look at the logos. Look at the fonts. Look at the wording. Look at the pants. It’s blatant theft.
Dat. Ass.
It’s the same with iOS and Android. They’ll settle it in court, while the customer wins. Nobody patents pants or website design. I think you’re being a bit ridiculous.
When your logo is your name in all caps in a simple font on a white background, that’s not really leaving much to steal, and when half the men’s brands out there are doing it it sort of begs the question of who is stealing from whom. It’s not really theft, it’s just following the prevailing fashion, which I guess is what the men’s fashion market has pretty much always done. it’s pretty tough to stand out in a room where everyone looks the same, so I’m not sure I’d even call it marketing, let alone good marketing. If it were me I’d want to do something to stand apart from the crowd a little bit.
Tell us how they are when you get them. I’d be interested to see if they’re worth it.
(finger guns)
Except that Android didn’t copy Apple’s logo, fonts, website, writing style, and features, but in a way that looks to be worse on every front.
Dude do you work for Bonobos or something? It’s just a tiny startup. Nobody’s forcing you to buy.
Nope, I’ve only ever bought one thing from them and that was a pair of shoes.
I just think it’s crappy for a well-respected and well-known site like Dappered to give all this free press to a brand that is purposefully trying to confuse themselves with an already successful company.
The logos are both all caps, and a san-serif bold font, but they are not the same color, nor are they the same font, and the kerning is much wider on the Jomers than the Bonobos logo. While they may look similar to you, to a designer with typography knowledge (which I am not) they don’t look similar at all.
Yes, they have a similar look, but they are not the same, and when your logo consists of your name in a very basic font, not only shouldn’t you get upset if someone else comes up with a similar logo, you shouldn’t be surprised.
I get where you’re coming from, I just think you should understand that this isn’t the first – and it definitely won’t be the last – startup to copy another more successful company.
People will decide with their wallets if this company should exist or not. And you can very well do the same, without bashing on them.
That seems the weirdest thing to me. 34 inseam but only 30-33 waist sizes? What? It like they bought a whole bunch of remaindered bonobos cordoroys in unpopular sizes for a steep discount and are now selling them. Weird
Capitalism 101: Whoever is more efficient at giving consumers what they want wins.
I didn’t see it that way when I bought (remember, we don’t take freebies) these pants. Plus, the only pants I’ve ever put on from Bonobos was their chinos. So these cords seemed different. I know they (Bonobos) did cords, but were they summer weight? I honestly can’t recall.
That and these are made here in the US, for a less expensive price than Bonobos. It really seemed like something most of the readership would be interested in. Do they cut a little too close to Bonobos, now that Dennis L. has pointed out the word for word replication with their checkout/confirmation? Yeah, they do.
There was no intent to do anything “crappy”. There honestly wasn’t. Dude from Jomers said: “Hey, we’re making these pants in New York.” So I bought a pair, reviewed them, and asked him a few questions to get some clarification. I even pointed out in the post that they look and talk a lot like Bonobos.
And as far as this website being “well-respected”… well, I’m sure plenty would disagree with you there. But thanks.
That’s the first time in recent memory that someone has said pants in a pic on Dappered should fit looser. Usually it’s the opposite.
I wish I could “like” this comment
I have to stick to standard straight fit as well – things progress quickly downhill to nuthugger territory otherwise
Considering Bonobos’ continuously high prices and increasingly sparse sales, I welcome competitors. I can’t make myself pay more than $60 for their pants.
This company looks interesting and is retailing for $60 out of the gate. Made in the USA is just a nice kicker.
He’s just a little thief. Pay him no mind…
LOL. “Upgraded” the logo by typing out a word in Arial?!
As a graphic designer, I am dying inside. :'(
Here’s the proof of the Bonobos slide-lock; hope it comes out.
Top to bottom: Black Calcuttas golf pant, Navy Midnight Blues twills (circa 2010, maybe?), Grey Lead Honchos cords.
I very much disagree with your point on “competitive edge,” as it doesn’t make much sense. If there is a competitor within a certain market that is doing very well because a specific competitive advantage, you can bet that every competitor that has the means is going to try and replicate that competitive advantage; it’s called “business.”
Haha.. Good catch. I meant “updated”. Concurrently, I was writing a specification that talked about upgrading systems and I ended up tying it here.
FYI: The El Dorado and Curacao are sold out in size 31.
Meyer (from Jomers) emailed me today and said they can’t fulfill the order (Knickerbockers 32) he offered a $10 store credit or free shipping and return on another pair. I don’t need more pants in the other colors and his offer wasn’t enticing enough for me to buy more navy pants. I know, who really “needs” bright blue pants, but I don’t have anything like them. I’ll check the next run and see what happens.
That’s to the point exactly, though. Dappered doesn’t give a crap who is making what or who they’re (according to you) stealing from. What Dappered — to me anyway — seems to be doing is taking my side. I want pants. I want to pay as little for good pants as possible. Here we have reviewed a pair of pants with relevant information and both subjective and objective analysis. It’s up to me to decide whether I like the business ethics of the brand, if that’s what I want to base my purchase on.
Your stance reminds me of people who got pissed off at the Patriots when they swiped Ballard from the Giants. Legality is really the only test. If you don’t like the ethics, don’t buy the pants.
I love it when the nuthugger starts going downhill…
Some of you may want to check out The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation by Christopher Sprigman & Kal Raustiala.
Thanks for sharing. I guess selling out shows that people found interest in a lower costing product. Anyway 10 bucks for not getting Bright Blue pants seems like a fair deal. If you do get something in the next run, I’d still be interested to hear how it goes.
Thanks for keeping me posted.
I bought these. Wore them on a date. They looked great. Took girl home. Watched Crazy Stupid Love. Lost channel changer. Bent down to look for channel changer. Pants ripped between the seam and back right pocket. 2 inch rip. Was sad. Butt too big. But customer service was amazing. Very fast reply. El Dorados now sold out. But I will get full refund as well as a $15 credit extra. Tailor may be able to fix. I’m a size 33 and I bought a 30 based on advice here.
JOMERS.com looks suprisingly similiar to MASHERN.com