Remember when cargo pants were just for hiking? | Fashion Design Ideas

Joel Hunt · 2026-03-10T05:50:12.008035+00:00

Back in high school around 2005, cargo pants were the thing. Big pockets, baggy fit, everyone had them. Now I'm seeing them in the fashion district, totally different. Slimmer cut, better fabric, even silk versions. The change happened over maybe 15 years. Streetwear brands started using nicer materials. Then high-end designers put them in their shows. It went from purely useful to a style choice. I saw a pair last week for $300, made from linen. Who would have thought? What's the next old workwear item you think will get a fancy makeover?

seanjackson7mo ago

Do you think the price tag changes how people feel about wearing the old workwear style? It feels weird paying a lot for clothes that were meant to be cheap and tough.

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janarivera7mo ago

Watched my cousin try to explain Dickies work pants to his kid. Kid found a pair in the closet. Thought they were some new fashion thing. Cousin had to tell him people actually used to work in those. Got all faded and stained. Now you see them in streetwear shops for like eighty bucks. Clean and new. Kinda funny how that happens.

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anthony1297mo ago

That's wild about the Dickies. Makes you wonder what the actual workers are wearing now if their old gear is in boutiques.

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