Meet the Departure 2.0

When we launched the Departure Jeans in January of this year, I was so excited for our first pair of travel jeans. The fabric looked and felt amazing, and we designed them with a traditional aesthetic, so no one would think “travel pants” when they looked at them.

As I continued to wear them and hear your feedback, we saw some places where there was room for improvement. However, there were plenty of elements that so many of us loved about our premier pair of high performance denim. 

So we decided to enhance our design, keeping key features and refining others to give you the best of both worlds. I’m excited to introduce the Departure Jeans 2.0 — upgrade is an understatement.

(Ready for your pair? Get the Departure Jeans 2.0 now.)

Meet the Fabric

• Machine washable
• Moisture wicking
• Breathable and lightweight
• Soft, with stretch

We used the same amazing high-performance material as in the Departure Jeans 1.0 because we love how it’s technical with the appearance of a traditional pair of men’s denim jeans. 

If you’re not familiar with this fabric, know that it’s soft and comfortable, yet durable enough so your jeans can go the distance and still look great. I can’t have it any other way. 

Our premium fabric is a blend of cotton with just the right amount of stretch, so it can adapt to your movement without losing its shape. At 11 oz fabric weight per yard (compared with a standard 14 oz denim weight), our lightweight jeans are packable and comfortable, without sacrificing the durable cotton feel. 

On long travel days or a warm afternoon exploring the city, I hate feeling hot and uncomfortable. So we made these jeans both breathable and moisture wicking, thanks to COOLMAX polyester. Problem solved.

Meet the Pockets

1. Phone pocket
2. Hidden zippered pocket
3. Concealed passport pocket inside
4. Two standard patch pockets

Our approach is to innovate on a known style and create our not-so-basic basics. Strategic pocket placement is a huge part of what we like to call the Bluffworks Benefits. 

We started with the traditional five jeans pockets — two traditional scoop pockets in front, one coin pocket, and two patch pockets on the back. 

But there’s so much more to it than that. The Departure Jeans 2.0 have a total of 10 travel-friendly pockets for easy everyday carry and secure storage. So where are the other five?

Below the front right coin pocket, we added a place to store a small multi-tool (like our KeySmart). In front left, there’s a hidden pocket with a zipper for cash and cards.

On the back, we added our signature phone pocket on the back right waistband. We heard your requests for this pocket, and now you can store your phone in the same spot on every pair of Bluffworks pants.

The last two in the back are great hidden pockets for travel – the first is a zippered pocket in the yoke (which is the stitching on jeans under the waistband), and the second is a concealed passport pocket inside that.

Meet the Details

We heard your requests for more belt loops, so we added two more (for a total of 7) on sizes 36 and above. Smaller sizes have 5 belt loops. 

While I love to innovate on classics, I also want to make sure I’ll like the way a product will look for years to come. So we kept the metal rivets, dual stitching, and paper label of traditional denim, so our jeans look and feel like an old favorite. 

With the 2.0, we’re releasing them in two colors — the same Medium Wash as before, plus launching a new Black Dark Wash. The Black Dark Wash jeans feature stitching and rivets that coordinate with its color, while the Medium Wash jeans have the contrasting bicolor yellow and orange stitching.

Ways to Wear Them

I like to have choices in my capsule wardrobe, but I also need clothes that coordinate easily. These two colors provide you with the options you need, while effortlessly pairing with the rest of our Bluffworks products and the rest of your closet. 

At a glance, the Medium Wash is a true blue jean. It’s easy to dress up or down. Our twist was to add a subtle color variation that would provide visual depth for a not-so-basic pair of denim blues. As you break them in, they’ll begin to fade into a personalized patina that’s all based off how you wear them, which I think is a requirement for real jeans.

The Black Dark Wash is our answer to the request for a sleeker look. It’s not a solid black, with a similar color variation effect that the Medium Wash does, so it will also fade as you wear them. This wash is versatile — easily reading a little dressier than blue jeans, and pairs great with a grey blazer for a nicer outfit.