Mott & Bow’s Alejandro Chahin

It’s always fascinating to “meet” the entrepreneurs behind the story of a travel brand we’re big fans of. It’s why we’ve chosen to learn about one of our favorite denim companies, Mott & Bow, directly from the founder himself: Alejandro Chahin.

Mott & Bow is a jeans brand that focuses on high-quality denim in a whole slew of styles, and in inclusive sizing. With quite a bit of stretch in a lot of the company’s styles, it’s a main reason we like Mott & Bow pants as our travel jeans when we go away for a trip!

In this interview, learn about company founder Alejandro’s personal history with travel, how he got inspired to start Mott & Bow and his experience in growing the company to a massive direct-to-consumer online retailer that we dive into in our Mott & Bow brand review.

Here’s our question and answer session with Alejandro Chahin.

Tell us about your personal history in travel. What are some of your favorite experiences?

My favorite place I visited recently was the South of France. Stunning landscapes, rich history and culture, and delicious cuisine! It’s a place where every moment seems like a scene from a postcard.

What was the first inspiration for the Mott & Bow brand?

I grew up in a family that had a manufacturing facility specifically for jeans and shirts. When I came to New York for my studies, I saw the direct-to-consumer movement up close, and noticed that many people were figuring out the marketing side, but their product was not as good.

I wanted premium jeans, but didn’t want to over-pay for the brands that were making them, so I decided to start Mott & Bow: to deliver premium jeans at a fair price.

How did the needs of travelers inspire products like the Mott & Bow travel jeans?

I’ve experienced the dilemma firsthand and I understand the frustration of trying to find the perfect pair of jeans that seamlessly merges comfort and style.

That’s why, when designing Mott & Bow jeans, we focus on key factors such as comfort, durability, easy maintenance, style and versatility. “Premium quality without the premium price tag,” as we say.

We don’t want you to settle for uncomfortable jeans that make you feel like you’re suffocating in denim while traveling. We want to offer you a solution to enhance your travel experience.

What are some of the biggest challenges in starting an apparel company?

I’d say sizing in the clothing industry (more specifically, in the denim industry) is always complicated.

We’ve solved this issue by offering a variety of options for everybody, including different inseam lengths, and we strive to deliver the right guidance on how to find the perfect pair of jeans.

In addition, the fashion industry is fiercely competitive. Standing out has been a long journey that requires continuous learning and adaptation, to offer our customers a unique value proposition and a strong brand identity.

What has it been like to watch Mott & Bow grow to become a leading travel apparel brand?

With the wide variety of options available on the market, we are proud to offer jeans that check all the boxes that people look for when shopping for denim. We are happy that our customers themselves have named our jeans, “the perfect travel jeans,” after testing out so many brands out there.

Seeing our brand achieve such success is undoubtedly rewarding for everyone involved, and it’s a testament to the hard work and passion poured into creating something exceptional.

Are there future plans for Mott & Bow’s expansion? New things coming next year?

Yes, there are very exciting plans for next year! We have a few new product categories we’re adding in Summer and Fall, so stay tuned for a great 2024 with Mott & Bow arrivals.

You can find Alejandro on X (Twitter).