Bonobos

As I entered my senior year of college, most of my friends were starting the law school application process of were applying for jobs at consulting groups and investment banks. But I, a lifelong lover of classical music, knew that I wanted to devote my career to something of more personal significance to me, and also that I wanted to make a different kind of contribution to our world. Following this dream, just two years out of school, I have now found my way to the Metropolitan Opera, where I work in the Artistic Department as the Assistant to the Artistic Administrator.

The Met is one of the largest arts organizations in the world with an annual season of 220 performances of more than twenty-five operas! Along with my boss, I am responsible for planning this season, designing our complicated rehearsal and performance schedule, and casting all of the singers. I spend my days working with devoted colleagues to produce the highest level performances for our audiences night after night—a task that is made only more challenging given the current economic situation in the world and the increasingly pinched budgets of not-for-profit arts organizations. I believe that the salaries we forgo are worthwhile because of the privileges we gain; I work extremely close to the production and dissemination of extraordinary music—music which has an exciting impact on the life of our city and on our broader society.

My job does not save lives, but I think there is truth in the adage that art makes life worth living.

Despite the pervasive view that opera as the most elitist of art forms, I think that the Met’s contribution to our society is more significant than simply providing entertainment for the wealthy and erudite denizens of the Upper East and West sides of Manhattan. Under the leadership of our new General Manager, the Met endeavors to inspire ever-broader audiences with our music. From high definition telecasts to movie theaters around the world, to discounted rush tickets for students and seniors and training programs for aspiring opera singers, the Metropolitan Opera is not solely in the business of serving the wealthy, but rather of perpetuating opera—at the very highest level—for the next generation, and of bringing this magical art form to new audiences.

Despite the pervasive view that opera as the most elitist of art forms…. the Metropolitan Opera is not solely in the business of serving the wealthy, but rather of perpetuating opera—at the very highest level—for the next generation, and of bringing this magical art form to new audiences.

The Band of Brothers space on your web page identifies teachers, nurses, and firemen as ideal candidates for the discount—these are the kinds of people who truly sacrifice their own earnings and even take personal risks in order to make valuable contributions society. My job does not save lives, but I think there is truth in the adage that art makes life worth living. And I think my work, and the work of the Met in a broader way, contributes significantly to the cultural life of our city and of our world. I am tremendously proud of my work for the cultural life of New York, and hope you will agree that this work makes a worthwhile contribution.

On a personal level, I would be grateful for the discount in order to augment my wardrobe! A part of my job is to attend operas and to interact with patrons and singers at nightly performances, and also at special openings and galas. As one of your colleagues recently wrote in the Bonobos blog, dressing to impress at the Met is a challenge! On my limited budget I am grateful for any assistance I can get to dress both fashionably and affordably; I know Bonobos will help me with the the former—I also hope you can help me with the latter.

I am a physical education teacher, originally from New Zealand but now working in Qatar, at the American School of Doha. This is a school that provides an American curriculum to the expatriate kids who come to the country because of their parents’ jobs.

We recently had parent-teacher conferences, and though most days I am fortunate enough to wear comfortable athletic clothes to work, there are times such as these when I am I prefer to look more formal. On these occasions I do like to dress well—many of my peers have this odd notion that all I have in my wardrobe are shorts and sport polos, and I enjoy proving them wrong.

I have enjoyed sports and being active my whole life, and I love that my job that allows me to encourage others to enjoy being active.

I was fortunate enough to be able to play my chosen sport, volleyball (both indoor and beach) to a relatively high level. However, playing a sport dominated by people a lot taller than I am, I had to work very hard to improve my jump skills. This meant a lot of work in the gym on lower body strength. The obvious side effect of this was the development of my gluteus maximus; it was with great amusement then that I read the sizing guide and saw the term Bubble Butt. It is a term I am very familiar with and one that causes my friends and family lots of laughter.

My wife and I chose to move overseas and teach as a chance to travel and work at the same time. We had not planned on ending up in the Middle East but this is the school that had jobs for the both of us. Shopping here is not too bad, especially if you have money to spend—there are a lot of people here involved in the oil industry doing very well, but for a teacher, buying the nicer clothes takes a chunk out of the wallet.

(I really like the look of Bonobos pants, especially the anti-taper sentiments!)

Stereotypes should be limited to audio categories. I purport that daily in my US History course. My name is Barry G. Hayes and I teach in a district where constant physical confrontations occur between the Hispanic and black communities. These students are worried weekly about wearing colors based on gangs. There is a stereotype that they dress to their ethnicity and the limits of what they have been exposed to in the scope of a violent world.

I push that misguided notion back with force. Students in my classroom are exposed to music from Argentina, Japanese anime, and wound dressing techniques of on-the-fly care in warfare. In America we come from a diverse background with a history of making something of ourselves. These kids appear stuck in a cycle of gang warfare, poverty, and lack of opportunity. As their ambassador, their teacher from a culture and world they have not experienced, I want to constantly give them license to enter a lifestyle outside their own.

Fitzgerald wrote of stylish men and disaffected women struggling to understand themselves. Men were starving in the streets in the Great Depression but had enough self worth to wear proper trousers and braces. Dueling was a gentleman’s sport, and there were rules for murdering your friend. Americans have long understood the need for style under pressure, we are a nation begun through war but founded on the most beautifully written documents imaginable. My students have not had experience with classic American style. They know violence and pressure but not the calm servitude that a backbone in American style can lend.

A modern American understands the world around him is dangerous, yet he strives to add grace, knowledge, and style where he can.

These students have not laid eyes on a proper pair of Bonobos. With admittance to the Band of Brothers, that hurdle of showcasing a world outside the gangs and guns comes closer.

(Attached is a picture of myself and a student demonstrating the difference between fisticuffs and flat-out brawling. Gentlemanly conduct always, sport.)

I am an individual and family counselor for people in Oklahoma City who have issues ranging from depression and anxiety to more difficult and severe problems like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Many of my clients are homeless, and so much of what we work on is how to get their basic needs met (food, clothes, shelter, medication). For others, my work is home-based because many of my clients either do not have access to transportation or are not able to get out due to their disability.

My hope of being included in your Band of Brothers isn’t so much for the financial component… but more for the solidarity that I feel with men everywhere who sacrifice their comfort for the comfort of others.

Oklahoma has the highest incidence of mental illness per capita in the United States—nearly 11% of the population suffers from some form. Unfortunately, Oklahoma is 48th in spending for mental health services, so funding for our programs is difficult to find.

In our nation’s current economic crisis, the people I see are more concerned with having food to eat, staying off drugs, and having a warm place to sleep than how much their 401(k) is down. I am humbled and amazed each day to be invited into the lives of people whom society seems to have forgotten about. It’s heartbreaking to speak with children who don’t have shoes that fit or even know where their next meal is coming from, and yet so often the kids just want to know that someone cares about them.

My hope of being included in your Band of Brothers isn’t so much for the financial component (though I am tired of relying on discount retailers for my professional attire), but more for the solidarity that I feel with men everywhere who sacrifice their comfort for the comfort of others. My wife, who is also a child therapist, can easily find well-fitting, attractive, professional clothing almost anywhere… and she also finds ample reason to be saddened by the fate I face when shopping for trousers. She would also like me to note that I do not currently own any khakis because of the unfortunate “KDB” effect.

Thanks for the consideration. I’ll be spreading the word about Bonobos here in OKC.

Dear Band of Brothers,

I currently work for UNC-Chapel Hill on a research study to prevent type-II diabetes in middle school-aged children. The schools that we work with are in low-income, rural areas. Our program goal is to help each student pursue a healthy lifestyle in three ways: educating the student on what it means to eat healthfully and exercise, increase physical activity during physical education class, and improve the quality and nutrition of the food available on school grounds.

…long hikes breed tree-like legs that require relaxed, baggy fit jeans and khakis rather than anything remotely stylish. I have seriously considered switching over to sarongs completely and calling it a day. Hopefully your pants will make that unnecessary.

My main responsibility is to travel to the schools, assist in the physical education classes, and report on the relative success of each lesson plan used in the class. In doing so I interact daily with the students on a personal level, helping to teach the day’s lesson and giving encouragement along the way. It is this part of my job that is the most enjoyable for me, since it involves having fun and building relationships with the students and helping them to accomplish things they may have not thought possible. Since I began working on this project I have been amazed at how big of a problem childhood obesity is in our country. I heard the news reports prior to working with this study, but to see it firsthand was certainly an eye opening experience.

Prior to working with UNC-CH, I worked with troubled or at-risk teens at two separate facilities in Virginia and Utah. Both of these jobs used the wilderness to provide the students a challenging environment to reflect on their past choices and develop a plan to change the track of their lives in order to meet their life goals. The activities included hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, and others. Each of which gave the student the opportunity to push themselves and gain confidence in their abilities.

Since I began working with children and teens back in 1998 I have witnessed no greater tool to teach than the outdoors.

In the coming fall I plan to attend graduate school to begin working towards my Masters Degree in Outdoor Education with the goal of directing an outdoor adventure program to help young people in their quest to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Having worked in these areas already gives me the experience necessary to achieve this, but so far it has not helped me to look good doing it. Wilderness Field Instructors may have one of the more enjoyable and satisfying careers, but they do not bring home much (soy) bacon. The other detriment is that long hikes breed tree-like legs that require relaxed, baggy fit jeans and khakis rather than anything remotely stylish. I have seriously considered switching over to sarongs completely and calling it a day. Hopefully your pants will make that unnecessary.

First and foremost, I would like to thank you guys for your great product and your willingness to support your customers who work for the public good.

I have been working as an HIV prevention researcher and public health worker in New York City for the last 6 years, since I completed my undergraduate degree. As I’m certain you are aware, HIV continues to be a major public health concern in the USA and internationally.

Though the annual total deaths due to HIV/AIDS are less than causes like cancer and heart disease, HIV/AIDS disparately burdens African-American and gay communities and is one of the highest causes of morbidity and mortality that we currently have the tools to prevent.

Though HIV treatment has made major strides in recent years there have not been any equivalent breakthroughs in prevention, which remains both the most effective way of preserving health and the most financially feasible.

Last year’s failure of a promising HIV vaccine candidate leaves prevention workers like me with only the tried and true methods to try to prevent HIV infections: promoting safer sex and hard work.

I am very lucky to be involved in such important work, but unfortunately funding in this arena is limited and any resources available are first and foremost used to improve the lives of our patients. I knew going into this kind of work would not grant me great financial rewards, which I happily accept, but if I am fortunate enough to be included among your Band of Brothers I can at least look good doing it!

My name is Jordan Ferraro, I’m 23 years old, and I am a music teacher working in the Detroit Area of southeastern Michigan.

Or rather, I should be. Allow me to explain. I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher. I can’t imagine a career that would be more rewarding, intellectually stimulating, and above all, fun. I graduated from college with a bachelors in music education and turned all of my energy toward applying for jobs. I was excited to be doing what I wanted to do: I believe that music not only satisfies a creative desire that is natural to all people, it also helps unlock a student’s full potential, whether it be socially, intellectually, culturally—or just giving them more self confidence.

I believe that music not only satisfies a creative desire that is natural to all people, it also helps unlock a student’s full potential, whether it be socially, intellectually, culturally—or just giving them more self confidence.

The problem, as you may have guessed, is that those few music jobs that were available went to teachers who already had classroom experience. Simply put: there were no jobs to be gotten. Oh sure, I got several interviews. I even got called back for a second or third round more than once, but nothing stuck. Because of the poor economy (which is at its worst in Michigan, where the auto industry rules all), I have been substitute teaching for a year.

I don’t necessarily mind. I get a lot of experience and I am still teaching, so I at least feel like I am making a difference. However, now that I am working I have discovered a new problem: my wardrobe.

[The pants] had it all. Combine this with an extremely fresh business model and an amazingly forward-thinking philosophy and I was hooked: I had to have some of these pants.

I’ve always been a pretty sharp dresser. I know how to coordinate colors and styles, and I know more than anyone should ever know about how to properly wear a suit, but business casual clothing has always been a challenge for me to find, especially pants. If they fit me in my seat, they were too big in the waist and too loose in the thighs. If they fit my waist, my butt looked like it was trying to escape from prison. And the leg openings—GOD the leg openings. Even the ones that are marketed as having a “straight leg” still tapered to the ankle, giving me the dreaded clown shoes.

I often wondered why I couldn’t find pants with a subtle boot cut and a comfortable fit, and I had resigned myself to the idea that I wasn’t going to be able to do so without spending a fortune on designer labels. Then I stumbled across your website.

I was immediately struck by how GOOD the pants looked, and it was only reinforced when I read the story and fit articles. The curved waistband. The slight boot cut. They had it all. Combine this with an extremely fresh business model and an amazingly forward-thinking philosophy and I was hooked: I had to have some of these pants.

And so, here I am. Content to go from day-to-day, school-to-school, classroom-to-classroom until something more permanent comes along, because I know that, in the meantime, I am still making a difference in my student’ lives. When that full-time gig finally comes along, you can bet I’ll be wearing my Bonobos the whole time, secure in the knowledge that I not only help kids make great music, I look good doing it too.

Our newest member of the Band of Brothers may be the first one to serve tirelessly on two continents. Meet Darin Branson, who might have to swap his cargo shorts for a comfortable and stylish pair of sand dollars, though the Nicaraguan clime might just necessitate the jungle kings instead. Read more about Darin:

I am from the New Orleans area, and since the year 2000 I have been an Emergency Medical Technician. After graduating from college in 2005, I have planned and organized many efforts to send nursing and humanitarian groups to work in the missions of Granada, Nicaragua (here is a photo of me with a family that we built a house for in Grenada). After attending a few of the mission trips, I lived in Granada helping the poor, and discerned a vocation for the priesthood.

We are all called to the service of others–but to love the service is what makes the difference.

I went to study in a major seminary for two years and then decided with much prayer and self awareness that God was calling me to other things. I am now a nursing student in Houma, Louisiana and I will be an RN in the spring of 2010. I will be married June of 2009. This a brief summary of who I am and what I do–it is not extraordinary, but it is what I have done and am doing to serve others and make the world a better place. We are all called to the service of others–but to love the service is what makes the difference.

I work at a community college in Cicero, IL, just outside Chicago, in the academic advising and admissions and records office. I have the privilege of helping out our students with their academic careers. It’s so nice when someone comes into our office uncertain, confused, maybe even a little scared, and I can send them away knowing what they have to do to get on track.

It’s so nice when someone comes into our office uncertain, confused, maybe even a little scared, and I can send them away knowing what they have to do to get on track.

The vast majority of our students come from overcrowded, underfunded public high schools. Many are first generation Americans or new to this country, and a lot of them work and take care of their families in addition to coming to college. We make a concerted effort to do our best for them, and go to great lengths to give them the service they need and deserve.

We are located in a land-locked college district, so we cannot expand, and we do not receive much money from property taxes, since the towns which comprise our district are not wealthy. The State of Illinois is not helpful financially (thanks for nothing, Rod). We still have to provide the best services for our students that we can, strapped for cash or not.

…once I had on a pair of Land’s End chinos. They fit my waist great, but the legs were HUGE, it looked like MC Hammer on holiday in Maine.

Finding pants isn’t a walk in the park, either! I have a somewhat odd shape. I’m only 5′8″ but my legs are muscular and, I think, rather long for someone my height. So, when I’m going to buy pants, if the pants fit my waist, the legs are so roomy it’s like I can rob the store, or play host to a family of squirrels in there. For example, once I had on a pair of Land’s End chinos. They fit my waist great, but the legs were HUGE, it looked like MC Hammer on holiday in Maine. On the other hand, since I still have athletic legs and rear end, I don’t want them disappearing into what you gents would call “khaki diaper butt.” But if I try on a pair of pants that might be slim enough to flatter my legs and gluteus, guess what, the waistband won’t close, my big ol’ thighs are busting out, and I look like an aged emo kid or some kind of male prostitute.

Chinos are, by nature, supposed to be neither too formal nor too casual, with the result that they often come off as bland and indecisive.

The only dressy pants I’ve ever found that fit me well are a certain line of J. Crew chinos that are cut differently from the rest of their pants, they are called “classic fit.” They are my favorite, “go-to” pants. They aren’t perfect for all occasions, though. Chinos are, by nature, supposed to be neither too formal nor too casual, with the result that they often come off as bland and indecisive. Furthermore, I ain’t too crazy about wearing 6 different colors of the exact same pants during the week. Seriously, I have 6 pairs of the same pants, in 6 different colors. I had no choice, they’re the only thing that fits right! I could use some other pants, to say the least.

I’m really looking forward to trying on Bonobos. I have a feeling that they are designed with practicality and style in mind. I sincerely appreciate being admitted to the Band of Brothers, without which I could not have gotten my hands on these pants. I have never heard of a clothes company that offers a discount for public servants. Actually, I’ve never heard of ANY company that does this. It’s unheard of! You guys certainly are, pardon the obvious pun, cut from a different cloth!

I am a licensed clinical social worker at a community health center in southwest Idaho. I provide mental health services to patients without insurance or with low incomes. Fortunately, our non-profit agency is able to provide counseling services at a nominal fee and, therefore, bringing services to people who need them the most. Therapy is not something that only the affluent or privileged should be able to afford. Like medical services, it is something that we should all have access to. It is wonderful working for any agency that cares for the less fortunate and providing health care services to everyone.

Being a social worker means being “in the trenches” sometimes. Therefore, wearing durable, comfortable, yet classy clothing is essential. That is where Bonobos comes in.

I also value fashion, quality clothing, and looking professional. Being a social worker means being “in the trenches” sometimes. Therefore, wearing durable, comfortable, yet classy clothing is essential. That is where Bonobos comes in.

I have been a social worker for more than 10 years. I love working in a helping profession. I have worked as a school social worker, deputy probation officer, child abuse investigator, and now as a clinical social worker providing therapy to people whom couldn’t otherwise afford it and/or don’t have health insurance. I guess I could get another job to afford more expensive clothing, but instead, I would rather spend my spare time as a volunteer in my community: I am a mentor for an elementary school child and I have taken various humanitarian trips to help orphaned children abroad. For example, I went to Sri Lanka after the tsunami and provided psychological first aid to children whose parents died. Last year I went to Peru to help at an orphanage for street children.

I love what I do. If I didn’t, I would have changed careers and found a different job a long time ago. But life is not about making millions of dollars and buying expensive toys. Life is about enjoying what you do and making a difference in the world.

Michael Benjamin, MSW, LCSW, RPT
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Registered Play Therapist