The folks at Franklin+Gower were nice enough to send me a pair of pants and asked me to check them out. This is my unbiased review. As a disclaimer (I prefer transparency in all my writing), I was not compensated for this review, other than with the sample they sent me. I didn’t purchase it myself.
Who is Franklin+Gower?
Franklin+Gower is a company that started out of a love of bold prints and the desire to make a statement through clothing. They’re all about injecting fun and personality in each piece. Additionally they seem to be very involved in their local community, keeping all manufacturing within LA’s city limits. I love this and can totally relate, as Katie and I are doing the same thing with Fifth&Brannan, keeping all production in San Francisco. Anyway, you can read more about them at their site.
Detail
I was sent a navy twill sample with blue and white plaid that lined the interior and ran down the piping of the leg. The piping is a nice touch, though not my personal style. It gives the pant a much more casual, laid-back vibe, and if that’s your thing, these are your pants, for sure.
When you order your own pair on the website, you have several choices of contrasting fabric to choose from. Additionally, you can decide whether you want a detailed pipe or a wider stripe down the leg of your pants. I’m not sure if they give you an option to just have that contrasting fabric on the interior (and not down the leg) but I don’t think they do, since that’s their signature detail.
I also like the trims of this particular sample; they used what seems like a silver button closure, zipper, and hook and eye. They’re eye-catching because of their shine, which works for a pair of pants such as this. I don’t believe you have the option of choosing different trims, but maybe later on that will be a possibility.
Construction
Construction of this particular pair seems decent, though lacking in some areas. I think the quality control folks could have paid more attention to the pants during the final phases of manufacturing, as it seems many of the threads weren’t clipped. Not a BIG big deal, but if I were paying premium prices for a custom pair of pants, I’d expect my thread trimmed. Perhaps I’m just being picky, but at the same time, I’m a stickler for the little things.
Overall, however, I’m pleased with the quality and I love knowing these are made in Los Angeles instead of some far away land.
Fit
The fit of these pants are similar to a straight leg. They hug in all the right places and the leg (in my opinion) is neither too slim nor too baggy. At the same time, it’s a tad wider than I’m used to, though I don’t mind it. The waistband hits slightly above my hips, so keep that in mind when you’re considering the rise. I was surprisingly pleased when I threw these on, and can fully vouch for their great fit. Keep in mind my legs are a little more muscular, so if you’re walking around on sticks, this may fit a bit differently.
Final Verdict?
Franklin+Gower provides several customization options for clients that can make a pant (or pair of shorts) unique, and they certainly have some nice combination possibilities. Depending on the particular style of trim you choose, your custom pair of pants could lean toward a more dressy or more casual vibe. They’re definitely a “nice to have” pair of pants as opposed to a necessity, like if you had the disposable income (be prepared to pay $185 retail for these) and the desire for something quirky in your closet.
The ability to customize your look is the biggest selling point and if that’s something you’re looking for to take your look to a place you don’t normally take it, Franklin+Gower is a good brand to explore.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
About Barron
Barron is the founder and editor of Effortless Gent, a site dedicated to helping dudes figure out what looks best on them. He also co-founded Fifth&Brannan, a menswear label based in San Francisco. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Hey fellas, I'm Barron, head dude at Effortless Gent.
