Mountain Khakis came into being 20 years ago in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. “We were founded on the vision of simply building a more durable pair of pants – something we still proudly do to this day,” notes Jeremy Hale, company president.
The company has been headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina for five years. “We love the Carolinas and Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.A, right now,” Hale notes. “We love our ability to play our role in the local community. We’re surrounded by mountains, lakes and not too far from the ocean. It’s the ultimate playground.”
It’s in the context of that environment that helps inform the company as to what is needed for optimal outdoor apparel. The brand’s line has expanded beyond pants to include shirtjacs, wovens and shorts as well as an outwear collection for men and women.
It has positioned itself as a complete outdoor outfitter, much like Columbia Sportswear, The North Face and REI Co-op, for example.
“We cater to the people who value all-American owned durable and trusted apparel,” Hale points out. “We specialize in mostly natural fibers like organic cottons and we do add a hint of stretch for comfort and durability. If we’re adding any synthetic materials to our blended fabrics, we prefer nylon rather than polyester. Nylon is durable as well as oleophobic, which resists oil – including body oils that cause odor as well as grease and anything else you might run into on a job site.
Designing Construction Workwear
The company’s apparel is designed and engineered to appeal to a wide spectrum of people – including those working on job sites as well as men and women pursuing outdoor recreational activities in extreme hot or cold weather, says Hale.
The brand builds products in outdoor and lifestyle categories.
“Outdoor is a functional outdoor product with durable fabrics engineered with function and versatility in terms of storage – such as pockets – and other features,” Hale points out. “Within the outdoor collection, all our pants feature mudflap reinforced heel cuffs, triple-stitched seams, and an action gusset crotch for comfort and flexibility.
“The fit is consistent across all outdoor models in our classic fit. The leg opening accommodates the boot and every pocket has been thoughtfully crafted to function securely and offer optimal all-day storage.”
Lifestyle products are meant for more casual occasions for those who are not on outdoor job sites, but may be heading into the office for the day, Hale notes.
Hale says while pants are the company’s specialty product, he personally gets excited about the company’s shirtjacs.
“If I’m working outside, I go for the Anderson ShirtJac and if I’m looking for something really classic, the Moleskin ShirtJac is my absolute favorite,” says Hale. “I’ve given at least three of them away right off my back!”
Mountain Khakis Workwear Products
For durable work pants with plenty of storage, Hale recommends the Alpine Work Pant, one of the brand’s best sellers.
“Tough as nails, you’ll be able to trust that pant for a long time,” he adds. “The Camber Original is a little lighter than the Alpine, so it’s great for this time of year. Its thigh pocket and canvas weave with a hint of stretch and knee articulation is why it’s been one of the best sellers for a few years now.”
The Mountain Pant is the brand’s all-time classic.
“This pant is the reason why we got into business,” Hale points out. “Most of our customers buy more than one pair. People love them and they come back time and again. It’s a 10.4-ounce canvas that’s a real fan favorite.”
Hale says the Mountain Khakis brand is continuing to grow.
“We’ve recently brought in quite a few new employees here in North Carolina as our team keeps growing,” he says. “This gives us even more time to keep focusing our attention on all the details as we continue to build great products.
“Additionally, we are working on our 2024 designs now and have a few great pants for the spring coming out. I’m excited as the team keeps developing more products with our rich traditional fabrics of organic cotton canvases and moleskins. We have more wax cotton canvas products coming later in the year.”
