Wearing Blue Jeans in the Philippines
Written on Apr 7, 2026
I've never bought a single pair of blue jeans (or any other trousers) in the Philippines. I brought some with me when I moved to the Philippines in 2006, and I've brought more with me every time I've returned from the United States.
Before two new malls opened near me in 2012, there weren't many choices available. Honestly, I don't even know if those malls carry any clothing I would want to buy. I haven't shopped for anything other than dress shoes.
Buying Blue Jeans
Once, when I was on my way back from Manila, I stopped at a rest area where American brand name blue jeans were being sold in bulk, out on the sidewalk. I have no idea if they were the real deal or counterfeit clothing.
Usually, the counterfeit clothing looks and feels like the real thing, but the name is misspelled. These were Levi's, with the name spelled correctly. The prices were about half the price you'd pay anywhere in the United States when they weren't on sale.
I've seen plenty of people wearing counterfeit Dickies blue jeans, misspelled as "Dickees" or "Dickeys". The logos look the same except for the spelling. Perhaps I haven't paid attention enough because mostly what I've seen are non-American brand names.
Wearing Blue Jeans
I always have blue jeans in my wardrobe cabinet. I wear them randomly, even in the hottest months of the Philippines. I sometimes wear basketball shorts around home when it's extremely humid. The high humidity causes my legs to sweat when wearing anything else.
If you read about what to wear in the Philippines, when dining out or other formal activities, you're always cautioned not to wear blue jeans. I've seen hordes of people wearing jeans, without holes and heavy fading, even in the finest of dining establishments.
Just like in the United States, there are places in the Philippines where wearing blue jeans is unacceptable. You wouldn't wear blue jeans to a wedding, would you? I have dress slacks and dress shirts that I've probably only worn three times in 20 years.
I always wear a belt, regardless of what type of trousers I'm wearing. Blue jeans tend to loosen up while I'm wearing them and can easily start slipping down my torso. I hate having to pull my trousers back up, especially while walking.
Stocking Up
I don't care what brand name jeans I wear. I don't even care where they're made. Unfortunately, it seems like most clothing being sold in the Philippines is for short, skinny people. It's odd, of course, because there are plenty of people (even Filipinos) of my size and stature.
I have some blue jeans one size too small for me. If I can find any more that will fit me when I shed some belly fat, I'll be sure to snatch them up. It's probably silly of me to think about it considering my age, but I can hope.
I had more blue jeans than I could count when I moved to the Philippines. The last company I worked for in the United States was a trucking company, and they didn't care what I wore to work. I have fewer now, but not few enough to make me intentionally look for more.
Image by HeungSoon from Pixabay