‘Soft and comfy’ jeans for this tough guy

President Duterte in denims and barong

DAVAO CITY—They’re not your ordinary jeans. They’re President Duterte’s.

“But the President wants it as simple as possible,” said designer Bobby Castillo of Chardin Davao, a high-end fashion house here.

Making that “simple, no frills” jeans for the country’s chief executive is not that easy, he said.

Because of his sensitive skin, the President is known to hate wearing “itchy” fabrics like jusi for his barong Tagalog.

“It’s the same with his pants,” Castillo said.

Another designer at Chardin, Richard Pulatche, said they have to send the fabrics for the President’s approval before they start working on his jeans.

“He has to see, touch and feel it first,” Pulatche said. “The fabric has to be soft,” he added.

Sometimes the designers have the fabric machine-washed several times before sending it for approval to make the fabric softer, Castillo said, adding that  “even denim should have that cotton feel.”

Chardin Davao makes jeans for the President using denim, corduroy and twill, and makes sure that the jeans won’t look too rugged. The jeans should be straight cut, not too loose, nor too tight so that the President can feel comfortable without being too informal, Castillo said.

Mr. Duterte wants his jeans “soft and comfortable,” Pulatche said.  “Even the lining for the front pockets should be cotton, he added.”