It was the fall of 1977, and I was 22 and "on the road" a journey of self discovery. A journey that was to become an 8 month trek, through Mexico, Guatemala, finally ending in of all places the backwoods of Arkansas. The plan was to drive across Canada with a friend of his in an old beat up oil eating 62 Dodge Plymouth, then spend a few weeks at his father's organic apple farm, then hitch down the west coast of the U.S.A. and into Mexico. Once Mexico was reached the plans became quite vague. Definitely some solid beach and sun time, a journey to Palenque to explore the Mayan ruins, and when money ran low, and considering my total bank roll was under $1,000.00, it would, sooner rather later, there was the possibility making some money on the road by submitting travel articles to the Globe and Mail. With no return date planned, it was going to be the perfect journey. I was pumped and ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

I had learned from earlier trips to Europe and Asia that a small light backpack pack meant a much more pleasurable journey.  To achieve this goal, one had to be ruthless. The clothes on your back, and one full change; something that could be used as a combination sweater, jacket, raincoat, minimal toiletries, a couple of books, and a camera. That was it, no more.

I carefully chose the items that would be held in my tiny canvas rucksack. I decided my shorts could easily double as a swim suit and that I would travel wearing my long pants . I considered taking my trusty levis jeans, as they were the most durable versatile pants I had but I knew in Mexico it would be damn hot, and I could already feel those jeans sticking to my body. I looked through my meager clothing closet and spotted my karate pants, leftovers from a couple of years ago when I had dreams of becoming the next Bruce Lee.

I had worn them occasionally out and about and had enjoyed their roomy comfort and the cotton denim they were made of was extremely durable, they even had slits in the side which allowed air in and an adjustable drawstring waist that could be set so that I never felt too much pressure on my somewhat sensitive stomach area. The only drawback to these Karate pants is that they were white, and white is the wrong color for traveling, the reasons being obvious. Still I decided they would be my road pants, I just would have to wash them more often.

The trip was everything I had dreamed of and more, sun, fun, and a whole lot more. Finally I made my way into Guatemala, and ended up a place called Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan. Even back in the late 70's this was a traveler's hangout, with a good variety of western food, and music. At the time there was also a thriving sewing industry where for a very reasonable price on could get any sort of garment. For me the timing was perfect, my karate pants were, on their last legs, so to speak. Torn, worn, and dirty beyond recovery, I knew I had to do something, and soon or I would be down to my shorts.

I approached a Guatemalan Indian woman who had her own shop about making me a pair of pants similar to my karate pants. These pants would be made out of the more practical blue denim,but would incorporate the roomy cut of the karate pants and the drawstring. We agreed on a price and two days later I picked up my new pants. I was thrilled . These pants were as comfortable as my karate pants but I looked a little more socially acceptable in my blue denim.

When I got back for my travels I found that I had become somewhat addicted to drawstring type pants. I found wearing button type jeans plain uncomfortable, and so I began to have a series of sewers make me various versions of my drawstring pants. Wearing these pants seemed to draw a lot of attention. I was constantly being teased by women who did not like the way these loose pants did not compliment my backside, and by friends and relatives who shook their head in amusement at my stubborn unwillingness to wear "normal" pants. After a while I became accustomed to the jokes and teasing and basically immune to what was thinly veiled social criticism. I began to rebut my critics by saying - "you'll see, one day everyone will wear pants like this, they are so much more comfortable than regular pants." This line of reasoning, of course, did not get me too far and most of the time, I was just labeled eccentric.

Then came the 90's and fashion began to change, all of a sudden tight was no longer cool, and pants became much looser, baggier, and we began to see expandable waist bands with elastic, and more drawstring type pants- mostly in women's clothing and yoga type pants. Still there had been a shift, an opening, a relaxing of the fashion mores if you will.

In 2005 I decided it was time to bring my vision of drawstring pants to market. I knew that if I loved wearing them, it was certain that other would as well. I also knew that my almost 30 years of experience wearing these pants gave me an insight into what it would take to make a great pair of drawstring pants, and so I began work on what finally became Veggies, my vision of the perfect drawstring pant; comfortable, practical, fashionable and fun.