Beams Plus Bandana Shorts

01

Images

—01. Patchwork bandana shorts.

Words

Beams Plus bandanas have been extremely popular over the last year, but this spring they decided to do a little more with the nice, soft, cotton fabrics. The patchwork shorts are a great way to throw some pattern into an outfit, while still keeping it wearable, blue and not too crazy. Patchwork blazers also can look nice in the spring, but shorts are a little more manageable, since you don't have as much of the pattern, and it can be partially covered by a shirt.

—Available at Inventory Stockroom

Comments

[J.S]

Shhhhh don't blow these out! The best item I've picked up from the Stockroom so far. Chopped some length off and I was all set. These have been worn daily (around the house!) since they arrived. Just need the weather to cooperate now...

[Tim]

yikes

[William]

Heroine, but TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!? Can we reign this in just a bit?

[Ryan Willms]

^I wish... however if the shorts were priced like most things, they would actually be $50 more, they are reigned in! The Yen is very strong unfortunately for us.

[J.S]

I'm curious, and this comes from a person who suffers this same predicament regularly: why do we find it easy to spend the same amount on certain items of clothing and not on others?

When I say easy, I mean relatively.

You could argue about the amount of fabric etc, but cost of garments is all about construction, not so much fabrics. Or so I'm led to believe. So shorts cost the same to make, pretty much, as pants.

Most of us will spend on shirts, and tops, even pants, but we look at shorts like they should be cheaper. It's a garment of clothing, if you like it and are going to wear it I feel like it's worth the same amount as any other item.

I mean, within reason.

None of this is to say $200 is an appropriate amount to spend on anything.

[Headless Hawk]

I just bought some Monitaly shorts for £120. For me that was a lot of money for shorts (I had budgeted for £100, tops) but the quality is absolutely epic. They are so nicely put together and the colour/fabric is right on the mark. WAY better than the EG fatigues I sent back (not Inventory), which had a nice fit but loose threads and wonky stitching everywhere (I realise that such crumpled roughness is part of their aesthetic, but give me immaculate construction and fastidious detailing any day, especially at top prices). Where do Beams Plus fall on this spectrum? Are we supposed to assume that they're high quality just because of the name?

Ryan, it's sometimes difficult to appreciate the items you're showing because the pictures are too small and the you can't get an idea of the feel of the garments. Are they heavy? Light? What are the details like? How are they cut? What do they look like inside-out? What's the fit like? Your magazine oozes with a tactility that is largely missing on the blog. We can decide for ourselves if we're comfortable with a bold, fashionable print; where's the emphasis on craft and quality?

Thanks nonetheless for your insight and hard work. I'm really looking forward to seeing the new magazine.

[Sorrybut]

If you use quality fabrics, the difference in cost btw shorts and pants can be important. You need about 2m of fabric for pants and 1.20m for shorts (with a 115 roll width)

The cost of a high quality 5 pockets short made in a high cost country is 15$ imported material and hardware (ie. japanese shuttle loomed 12oz coton, nice riri zipper, genuine horn button) + 25$ manufacturing (same as pants) = 40$

Multiply that by 4 to get your honest retail price : 160$

When you talk about small brands making high value products (the type Inventory covers) each parameter, including material used can make a big difference on retail.

[Chris]

Good shorts are generally expensive. These will probably get snapped up because they're a nice distinctive pair and Beams Plus are only just becoming more available outside Japan.

If you have a high-paying job, no committments, live with mother, have a private income or simply really want the shorts, $200 is no biggie.

Otherwise you take your chances and wait until the sales like more and more of us are doing.