Weapon-friendly attire: New $65 gun-concealing Chinos

 20

hours

ago

Woolrich

Clever or concerning? Woolrich's Concealed Carry Chinos and Elite Discreet Carry Shirt feature a hidden chamber pocket and velcro flaps to help hide and easily access a weapon.

By Jada Wong, Styleite
Have you ever thought to yourself, “Self, why don’t more brands design gun-friendly apparel?” Because if so, Woolrich can solve all your sartorial woes! Introducing the latest in “covert fashion”: the Elite Concealed Carry Collection features pants and jackets with specially designed pockets to conceal your gun and your plastic handcuffs.

 Nope, not a joke.

New York Times reports that the clothing company started selling $65 chinos with additional pockets and stretchable waistbands to hide firearms because of an increase in people with permits. Currently, 49 states have laws that allow people to carry firearms in a concealed manner.
Instead of trying to explain what Woolrich’s gun-concealing pants look like, here’s the full product description for the Concealed Carry Chinos:

These pants are ideal for situations where discretion is important. The Elite Concealed Carry Chinos have the clean profile of a standard pair of pants with no external cargo or utility pocketing, but offers the added advantage of of a hidden chamber pocket strategically constructed to reduce printing. It is made of 7.8-ounce 98% cotton/2% stretch twill fabric.

Comfort waist with elastic side panels.
3-Ply, dual chamber pocket bags.
Inner chamber is accessible through invisible zipper and allows for discreet carry option.
Outer chamber provides conventional pocket function and additional benefit of reduced printing.
Two knife openings.
Reinforced crotch.
Easycare: machine wash, tumble dry and cool iron as needed.
Even waist sizes 28"-48". Inseam even sizes 30"-36".

 

But the gun fashion doesn’t stop at your lower half; there are shirts with Velcro slits! As per the product description:

The Elite Discreet Carry Shirt may become your favorite everyday casual shirt simply for its comfort, but we think you’ll also appreciate the features that make this far more than your average shirt. What sets this shirt apart are the “breakaway” side vents and false bottom button, for easy rapid access to essential gear on the waist. Back bi-swing venting with polyester mesh for a relaxed feel, even on the hottest days.

Jennifer Silverberg for The New York Times

Bruce Larimer inspected new chinos by Woolrich at a recent National Rifle Association meeting.

Shawn Thompson, 35, who works at an auto dealership in eastern Kentucky, bought two shirts last month from the Woolrich Elite Concealed Carry line. Both, he wrote on his blog, are a step up from more rugged gear.(ALERT: Blog contains guns) (I have put this alert in for those who go to the blog and see lots of different guns and ammo. I do not want any surprises. I am not a gun person, and hopefully there are some people out there like me. )

“Most of the clothes I used in the past to hide my sidearm looked pretty sloppy and had my girlfriend complaining about my looks,” he wrote, adding in an interview, “I’m not James Bond or nothing, but these look pretty nice.” 

The shirt has a barely discernible side slit with Velcro through which, he said, he can yank his Colt 1911 from his waistband holster. Depending on circumstances and mood, he might also carry a folding knife and, at night, a flashlight in a pair of Woolrich chinos his girlfriend bought for him. 

But on a more-serious level, why is there even an increase for gun-concealing attire? According to the Times:

Gun experts suggest that there are many reasons for the growth in the number of people with concealed-carry permits. They say it is partly due to a changing political and economic climate — gun owners are professing to want a feeling of control — and state laws certainly have made a difference. 

After a campaign by gun rights advocates, 37 states now have “shall issue” statutes that require them to provide concealed-carry permits if an applicant meets legal requirements, like not being a felon. (A handful of other states allow the concealed carrying of handguns without a permit).

And we thought crop tops were the scariest trend of the season.