Although most men swear by their jeans as the ideal casual and weekend wear, chinos or ‘khakis’, as they are commonly known, are gaining popularity at a rate that threatens to dethrone denim as weekend wear of choice. Chino cloth, made from fabric that is a blend of cotton and synthetic fibre was first used on military uniform since it has ideal for hard wearing like denim. The blend of cotton and synthetic fibre gives chinos a light and comfortable feelChinos are mainly khaki, but one can also find them in other colours such as cream of cyan. Chinos distinctness from cargo pants is in their narrow cut legs and the way the bottoms are tapered. Like denim or jeans, chinos are worn by both sexes, with ladies preferring them to be more figure hugging. For the older generation reluctant to wear denim jeans, chinos come in handy as pants for casual wear. Chinos should be worn with T-shirts and button-down shirts, tucked in or out. They are perfect for any casual or slightly more formal occasion like Dress Down Friday. When wearing them only one rule has to be followed, make sure you match them properly with the rest of your outfit.Previously, chinos came only in khaki, leading many into calling them ‘khakis’ but nowadays they are in many colours, which is ideal for people who would want to match them with their outfit.Maria Mukaruziza, a clothes store owner who sells both ladies’ and gents’ wear, says chinos are ideal for people who prefer a semi-formal look. “Chinos come in handy for people who do not want to look very official and at the same time don’t want to don jeans to the office. The beauty of the pants is that they go well with, leather shoes, sneakers, canvas shoes and even sandals. They give the wearer freedom. In Kigali, chinos are largely preferred by ladies since the pants easily take the shapes of their bodies,” Maria says.Chinos are also preferred by youth who want to pull a mature look that jeans at times fail to provide because of the commonness of denim. “Chinos are fast gaining popularity amongst a breed of youth who want to come off as unique and seeking uniqueness that is hard to find in jeans.”In Kigali, chinos can be found in second hand stores as well as in clothes storesthat stock brand new clothes. A pair of second hand pants cost between Rwf6,000 to Rwf10,000 and a brand new one goes for about Rwf14,000.
