Trade Your Suit for These Comfy Sweatpant-Khaki Hybrids

A few weeks ago, New York’s most prestigious bank, Goldman Sachs, sent an internal email to its employees with revolutionary workplace style news. The memo proclaimed that bankers can now wear khakis to the office instead of suits. Addressed to “All Goldman Sachs,” David M. Solomon, John E. Waldron and Stephen M. Scherr penned, “We believe this is the right time to move to a firmwide flexible dress code.”

While the employees most likely enjoyed receiving that update (along with a reported kombucha tap in their kitchen), none rejoiced more than Rhone, the creators of commuter pants that look like khakis but feel like sweatpants. With a company name taken from a river in Europe, Rhone is the men’s only equivalent to Lululemon, carving out a sizable niche in the activewear marketplace for guys on the go.

The sports apparel market is estimated to grow to $178 billion in 2019, and Rhone is capitalizing on that growth. A newly opened Hudson Yards location marks its first permanent New York storefront. “We wanted that guy to come in and feel at home, comfortable and excited about shopping. You can’t come to New York City anymore and not go to Hudson Yards,” said Nate Checketts, cofounder and CEO of Rhone.

Founded in 2013 by Checketts, an ex-NFL employee; Kyle McClure, a former NCAA lacrosse player, and two other founders, the company announced the closing of a $5 million Series A financing in September 2014. Since then, it has been growing online sales and has gotten placement in large retailers like Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom and Equinox. The clothes are high-end, efficacious and downright beautiful. Currently available in 12 colors, the commuter pants are “like the superhero version of your everyday work pants.”

The brand is also currently running an exciting challenge: At its pop-up shop in midtown between 46th and 47th streets, you can earn discounts for completing pull-ups, with ten pull-ups earning you 10 percent off, 20 pull-ups generating 20 percent off and 30 pull-ups garnering a 20 percent discount and a special gift.

Your employer is sure to appreciate your sharp-looking pants at the office. Little will they know that you’re actually commuting in sweatpants heaven, masquerading as a well put-together adult.