Attention programs:
If you are looking for an affordable and cool alternative to leather pants, I may have just the thing. I was thinking about different materials and their finishes when I remembered a waxed cotton jacket I once had. So, I thought, why not black wax a pair of pants? Denim is cotton after all.
I went to the store bought a cheap pair of waxed jeans and polished them up. Turned out great!
Hit up your local dept stores, like Macy's etc and pick up a pair of waxed denim jeans. They don't need to be high grade or shiny. Any kind will do even ones that are not black, though black is less work. Take them home and polish them with canned wax (not the liquid kind) just like a pair of shoes. The end result is a very "on the Grid" look without the price of leather. They are much more breathable, too. You could even start with plain old black jeans, or cargo pants, but its a lot less work if they are already a little waxed.
Here's a pic of the finished product. The photo doesn't really do them justice. Trust me, they scream "Grid".