Cut me some slacks!

Buji's been a busy bee lately. Juggling time between architectural design, client meetings, trips to the beach for surf get aways, and recently with his new found passiion--designing simple clothes. He's been spending late nights drawing plans, not for houses, but for clothes he can use the new fabrics, buttons, zippers, and what ever he was able to get his hands onto to try and create some articles of clothing that he's thought of or dreamt about the night before.

Here's me asking him about why his desk is turning into some sort of makeshift haberdashery. 

Me: Are you turning into a tailor Buji Brownlegs?

(Note: Buji's answers are translated in English)

Buji: Haha! I wish! I'm just really having so much fun designing clothes for you and me Niks! Maybe I'l take up tailoring classes in the future? 

Me: What got you into this exactly?

Buji: I guess I've always been fascinated with design, style, and fashion. Yes…fashion! Back in the 90's when I was in high school, I'd sometimes save my lunch money to have my own clothes tailor made. I'd show up of for school walking around in my custom denim bell bottoms and other blast from the past trousers or jackets.  I couldn't find these in stores so I'd just have them custom made. Of course I'd always get picked on for being the guy with weird clothes who looked like he just came from a 60's flick. But I didn't care. Those were the kind of clothes I wanted to wear and if I couldn't find them, I'd find a way to make them.

I've been surfing for quite some time and I've always found it really difficult to find the perfect fitting board shorts for myself. I'd find a pair that looks really cool and all but it'll end up being too long or too loose so I'd always have to make alterations. Perhaps because I've always been fond of the way they dressed during the good ol days, I really like the classic fitting shorts. Since I'm a long boarder,  I really want my shorts above the knee so they don't get in the way. 

So I decided to try and design my own shorts from scratch, with the style and fit I've always looked for in a pair of boardshorts.

Me: Do you find the same satisfaction in designing houses and in designing clothes?

Buji:  When I draw up the plans for a house based on what the client wants and then see the structure being completed, up to the point when the family moves in and enjoys each and every space in their new home is one of the most satisfying feelings for me. It's funny because similarly, I sort of get the same feeling when I get to try the pair of shorts that I had drawn on paper just a few days ago and actually go for a surf in it, knowing that along with the piece of foam beneath my feet, the piece of cloth, thread, and buttons that I put together allow me to be in the ocean, to glide on water, and to enjoy what I love to do the most.

Me: Senti mode Buj? Just cut me some slacks! Kidding! But seriously, what can we expect from your new collection?

Buji: Nothing hi-tech. We won't be having any space-age 10-way stretch micro fiber boardies and stuff like that. I really don't know how a 4 way stretch boardshort that looks more like a space suit or a tire interior can be more utilitarian than a pair of simply cut, above the knee cotton shorts. What we'll be having are just basic fabrics and local materials hand crafted and tailored to a classic fit. Old school trunks the way they used to wear them. Like a pair of trousers they chopped up and surfed in.

I don't mind hanging out at the beach in a pair of wet shorts during a quick lunch break or something. However, I'd like to be comfortable during the 5 hour car ride to the beach. I'd like to be sitting on that vinyl car seat in a pair of cotton shorts and with all the pockets I could stick my wallet, my 2 phones, my ipod, my handkerchief, and toll change in. 

That's why I thought of designing tailored walk shorts that are also sea worthy enough for me to surf in. I'd like to be able to get off the car, check the surf, grab my board, and run straight to the beach with out having to towel change anymore.

I also did a few pairs of boardshorts in quick dry fabrics. Basic surf trunks cut above the knee, stylish enough to wear even with your favorite boat shoe and with enough pockets for a bar of wax, a fin key, a wax comb, some candy, and that GoPro. (I think a fresh green Mango to munch on would fit too.)

Me: Cool...Thanks for my new shorts by the way! I see you've also made some pairs of pants and jackets?

Buji:  Of course I made some for you too.  Then I went on to design some chinos and jackets for us to wear during our frigid bus rides to the beach. 

Me: When can our friends expect these to be out? 

Buji : Soon! These are clothes I designed according to what we like and to our needs as city dwellers who travel to the coast ever so often.This is a collection of garments that make you look sharp enough for that casual client meeting yet comfy and snug for that long commute to the beach. I hope our friends also like what we've made.

On the bright side, in case they don't, we'll have a bunch of new custom clothes to wear or give away this holiday season :)

Coast Thru Life Limited-Edition Back to Basics Collection.
 Coming soon.

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