Discovery
The initial idea for the QuickDraw pants was simply to design a better way to carry my pocket knife. I planned to add a pocket between my front and back pockets on the pants I wore to work everyday, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I could do more. Firstly, I noticed that my seemingly lightweight pants failed to truly be lightweight. Granted, I live in Texas where there is no escaping the heat, but I still figured my legs didn't have to be drenched in sweat after a short walk. Secondly, I knew if I was going to be paying $128 for a pair of pants, they better get me through any day, no matter where it might take me. Being an outdoorsy guy, I wanted a pair that I could wear while on the water, on my bike, or on top of things (climbing). More importantly, I really wanted pants that would look and feel great at the end of the day.
Problem Definition
Throughout the discovery process, it became clear that the following problems were prevalent.
Lack of organization - almost all my items could be found in a single pocket once the other 3 were filled
poor breathability - almost impossible to stay cool throughout the year
lack of durability - fabric & stitching would tear too easily over time or from extraneous activity
long dry time - no ability to go from the water to the next event
no functional fashion sense - designed only to look good, no usability in mind
Ideation
Following the discovery phase and problem definition, I outlined specific use cases for my personal use and others.
Use case #1 - Parker, an avid fisherman who works a 9-5, wants to be able to go directly from work to the water and then straight to dinner. With little time in between each, going home to shower and change is often not an option.
Use Case #2 - Brett, a young professional, carries a pocket knife everyday to work but doesn't want to draw extra attention or have it get in the way.
Use Case #3 - James, a world traveler, packs light to ensure his bag doesn't ever restrict his adventures. He needs a pair of pants to last him for weeks on end and work in a variety of situationsThese three use cases cover a broad range of scenarios users might encounter.
Preliminary Sketches + Tech Pack
December of 2020, I began sketching my first draft of the QuickDraw pants. After countless hours of market research, comparing and contrasting the best men's pants available, I landed on a design that incorporated the best features and left out the worst. Optimized for adventure, these bad boys go where most pants never dare. Best of all, they look great while doing it. In order to craft a pant with all the necessary features, it was important that I optimize the "carry-ability" while minimizing the technical look and feel. They needed to be stylish enough to accentuate any aesthetic. Here's what I came up with -> quickdrawpants.com
Prototyping
While the original goal was to design the very best pant for any activity, the truth is, that's nearly impossible. After receiving the first prototypes and doing an A/B comparison between our top two fabrics (I had already sampled over two dozen others), it was pretty clear that we couldn't create a pant that was both water-resistant and quick-drying. The two qualities opposed one another and we ultimately decided on the quick-drying material. After a year of hard use, they are buttery soft and even better than they started. I've now used them across the country, testing them while fishing, hiking, surfing, and even snowboarding. Not wanting to limit the feedback, I've had friends and family take them on their own adventures to report back their own findings. With those small concerns now being addressed, it was time for the launch.
Kickstarter Launch
Kickstarter, if you're unfamiliar, is a fundraising tool used to help bring projects to life. Through the donations of backers, projects raise money in an all-or-nothing sprint over the course of 30 to 60 days. This method of crowdfunding allows supporters to select a reward, in our case QuickDraw pants, and watch the project come to life. Over the course of 45 days, we raised just under $17,000 and just recently filled all the orders. They're now available for purchase on chiefprovisions.com if you'd like to check them out and see what all the hype is about!
as seen on
