Denim on the Runway: Elegant Jumpers and Trench Coats a'la Mode
Click below to see what denim creations designers are sending down the runways this season.
Continue reading "Denim on the Runway: Elegant Jumpers and Trench Coats a'la Mode" »
Click below to see what denim creations designers are sending down the runways this season.
Continue reading "Denim on the Runway: Elegant Jumpers and Trench Coats a'la Mode" »
Before I go into the details of the collection I must first openly apologize to Lee Jeans. I apologize because I loved you back in the day. That iconic leather patch was a symbol of cool in my New Jersey neighborhood and many kids made it a game of ripping off other kid's Lee patches for sport. But something happened between my childhood and the present where you just fell off my radar. The fact that I write almost exclusively about denim makes this fact even more pronounced. So I apologize, because after seeing the release of your 125th Anniversary collection, I realize how incredibly ignorant I've been and that will never, Ever, happen again.
Continue reading "Lee Jeans 125th Anniversary Collection is a Work of Art" »
Confession, I've never watched an episode of Esquire Network's Lucky Bastards. If it wasn't for my friend Bill Curtain of BPD Washhouse being featured in one of the storylines this episode, I probably wouldn't have even been aware of it. No disrespect to Esquire, it's just, I'm a woman, so why would I. Plus, I haven't been watching much reality tv lately anyway. Be that as it may, after last night's episode, I was reminded of how fun it can be to watch some of these reality soap operas. Especially when you've got a bunch of guys acting like a bunch of, well, guys and even if some most of the situations seem a bit contrived.
Below are some of the highlights from last night and believe me, you reaaally want to read this...
It's a mind-altering experience when chatting with a visionary person. There is this specific intensity that exudes from them that slaps you thoroughly out of a daze and sweeps you into their gravitational pull whether you want it to or not. Before you know it, you're nodding your head vehemently, taking notes furiously and waiting for the book to come out so you can be the first to buy it.
That's the best way I can describe what happened to me during my recent chat with Jeff Shafer. You've probably never heard of him, but there's a good chance you've heard of his brands. BC Ethic, Agave Denim and most recently Bluer Denim, though vastly different, are all representative of his unique approach to doing business. An approach that's based on the principles of the American dream, a personal philosophy of social change and the desire to produce quality apparel.
Although I describe him as a visionary, and everyone else would describe him as a businessman, Shafer styles himself as a Textile Denim Designer who's job it is to use finishing and washing "to bring out what's already there. [In other words] bring out washes that are natural, organic and compliment the fabric." That's true passion and when speaking to him you get a sense of how intensely he feels about producing quality denim.
This kind of passion is something that has been severely lacking of late in the denim industry. It seems we've become so absorbed with fit, that quality is often overlooked. This is most evident with the latest influx of denim brands. Many of them are just launching pads for full apparel lines. The lack of appreciation for the heritage of the fabric leads to overall quality issues, many of which I've discussed in the past (see QOTD? When Does a Jean Stop Being a Jean?).
Continue reading "The Most Visionary Man You've Never Heard of...Until Now" »
A few days ago I had the pleasure of hosting an incredible event, the book launch of Bluemasters: Innovation in Denim. The book was written by Fabiana Giacomotti, head of fashion and costume studies at Rome’s Sapienza University and celebrates the men and women whose work in the denim industry have transformed it from workwear into such an iconic garment.
The event was fittingly held in Soho concept store/denim atelier 3x1 and sponsored by denim supplier ISKO, one of the premium denim industries largest denim suppliers, and Archroma, a textile dye and finishing company. It opened with an introduction by yours truly and some remarks by Marco Lucietti, ISKO Marketing Director and Carl Fortin, Marketing Executive of Archroma. The two executives spoke of their companies' contributions to the denim industry, which are significant, and their satisfaction at having been a part of the creation of the book.
The highlight of the evening was the Q & A I had with denim legends and true Bluemasters Adriano Goldschmied and Scott Morrison. Among the questions I asked were topics related to past and present changes in the denim industry as well as what innovations they imagined in the future. Adriano imagined a denim industry where sustainability was the norm and not a novelty. I was especially moved by his genuine concern for the effects past production has had on the environment. With denim being the most prevalent item in most everyone's wardrobe, just changing one part of the manufacturing process would have a significant impact on the environment. Scott's focus on connecting on an emotional level with the consumer surely is the key to his success, especially when dealing with a fabric that already elicits such an emotional response from the wearer. He spoke of this as the inspiration behind 3x1, which he hopes to expand to other areas, and the importance of continually pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Adriano is a great storyteller with a larger than life personality that complimented Scott's more humble demeanor. Many of us, Scott and I included, were left in stitches with his tales, one of which was the total destruction of a washing machine while attempting to stone wash jeans using real pebbles. It was a great night and the event organizers did an amazing job highlighting the Bluemasters book and the sponsors, with ISKO's logo spelled out in denim and excerpts from the book on the walls.
With so much of the fashion media covering denim this spring, it is great to see what has become a garment industry in its own right, being recognized.
Click below to see the Bluemasters: Innovation in Denim and other photos from the event...
Old news. Yes. Rihanna's latest foray into fashion has been news for 24 hours already. It's rare for me to cover uber-luxury brands, expensive gowns kinda don't fit with the whole DenimHunt thing, but I couldn't help but notice Rihanna in a high fashion, and super edgy take, on denim on denim in one of the campaign ads for insanely overpriced luxury brand Balmain. Looking at the images, at first glance I thought, love her hair. At second glance I thought, who would wear that?. At third glance I thought, I think I would wear that.
Continue reading "Shamelessly Overanalyzing Rihanna's Balmain Spring 2014 Campaign" »
The luckiest girl alive, Victoria's Secret model Behati Prinsloo, is collaborating with THVM to create an exclusive ready-to-wear denim collection based on her everyday street style.
No photos are available yet, but there are a few products I'm looking forward to seeing based on description alone. Those are the patchwork boyfriend jeans, the high-waisted skinny and a slouchy black and white striped trouser with zip closures at the ankle which is supposed to be Behati's favorite.
"Behati has great ideas and was very hands on in the creative process, so her personality really comes through. With this collection, you get to take a little bit of Behati home with you."
-Brian Kim, THVM Designer
You know, I'd rather take the Sexiest Man Alive home with me, buttt since he's taken, his fiance's jeans will do :-)
Keep watching this space for pics...
Through the din of EDM music, PHHHOTO booth gif bomb distractions and buzzing types sipping champagne admiring the #DIESELTRIBUTE collection, oh and a sighting of The Man Repeller herself Leandra Medine, I was able to chat with Diesel' Artistic Director Nicola Formichetti about the inspiration behind #DIESELTRIBUTE, his unconventional marketing campaign and his plans for the brand.
I know that you went through the archives for inspiration, but what specifically in the archives inspired this collection?
My big fashion show is in March and that's what I've been working on, creating a really big show. But that's in March and I couldn't wait for it. So I did a little teaser. I really wanted something denim because that's what Diesel is known for. It's their DNA. That's what I remember about Diesel from the '90s and late '80's. The first [#DIESELTRIBUTE] is denim and the leather one comes out in February. They're small capsules, very unisex and basically I just went into the factories and found old patches.
Who can't go anywhere nowadays without hearing about Kickstarter. The crowdfunding site has capitalized on the zeitgeist of the millenium by cultivating that entrepreneurial spirit that has spread like wildfire with Millennials; a group which has been famously forced to think outside the box due to the Great Recession. So far the most famous Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is aimed at rebooting Veronica Mars, ironically a Millennial favorite. With electronics, movies, video games even board games all seeking funding, it was only a matter of time before a denim brand jumped in on the action.
RPMWest is a startup men's brand that is using Kickstarter to bring their collection of selvage jeans to the world. And from the looks of the video, they're a pretty well-fitting line of jeans. Now with their pledges at over $50,000, the brand is able to offer a purchasing model that allows you to buy one pair of jeans and have three pairs sent to you. You pick your favorite and send the other two back free of charge. Pretty cool, huh? Not only that you're getting the premium jeans at wholesale prices. So what would cost over $250 in stores you get for under $100. Now we're in pretty awesome territory.
Check out the video as founder, and Matt Damon lookalike, Manuel Rappard walks you through the brand's mission. With such a sincere vid, you will be hard pressed to not want to invest. Especially when you can literally pledge as little as $1. I pledged. I have to admit it was pretty cool investing in a company outside of the impersonal stock market.
I'm going to keep my eye on RPMWest as I'm curious to see how it all plays out. In the meantime denimhunters, if you decide to purchase a pair of jeans from them, don't hesitate to let us know of your experience.
