With new iPhones coming out, did Joe's Jeans inadvertently solve our pocket problem?

The #Hello Jean by Joe's Jeans

Now that the next generation iPhone is about to launch the talk is inevitably going to turn to the size of jean pockets. In summary, phones keep getting bigger, but pockets are not. Nowadays, it's not unusual for phone buying decisions to be partially based on how easily the device slides into your back pocket. It's not really an issue for men, but for women, where the size and placement of the pocket affects the bubble factor of the booty, messing around with the pockets can be a tricky sitch. 

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Don't Act Like You Didn't See It Coming; Levi's and Google Develop Smart Clothing

 

In it was bound to happen news, Levi's and Google have developed a technology called smart clothing. Smarty pants consumers won't have difficulty figuring out what this is all about -clothing that interacts with their devices. duh!

The official name is Project Jacquard. Google, believe it or not, is the lead and has developed conductive yarns that consists of metal alloys mixed with natural or synthetic fibers. The yarns are woven together to create a fabric that has multitouch panels. Essentially, those panels would allow users to control their devices through gestures such as hovering over a sleeve to silence a phone or tapping it to play a song. 

Believe it or not, this technology has some practical applications. Consider those uncomfortable moments when your cell phone rings at the most inopportune time; a class lecture, a planning meeting, hell, the movies. Instead of fumbling in your pocket with panicky fingers you can just swipe your pocket and boom! silence. 

It's good right?

See more about this smart clothing after the jump.

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Do Yoga in James Jeans?

James Jeans' "James Twiggy Dancer"

Sport denim is officially the new normal. James Jeans is the latest brand to come out with their own version of the hybrid jean -a crossover between the basic jean and athletic wear.

The seamless jean called the "Twiggy Dancer" is reminiscent of the jegging with it's super-slim fit and legging-like flexibility.  Unlike the jegging though, this jean is supposed to be more durable, or rather, as durable as a yoga pant. The yoga crowd will love the body-skimming fit to show of their lean muscular curves as well as the benefit of wearing something that's acceptable to go out in but feels like their regular yoga pants. 

Their available now on James Jeans' e-commerce site and come in basic washes with no fancy finishes or abrasions. 

 

RE/DUN REworks Vintage Jeans and it is AMAZING!

RE/DUN relaxed straight and straight skinny

 

 

This is the third time in a matter of days in which I've talked about recycled jeans. That leads me to believe there's a movement or trend emerging in which old jeans are repurposed and sold. But that's a topic for another day. In the meantime, the brand that started me on this line of thinking is Los Angeles-based denim brand RE/DUN.

RE/DUN sources jeans from "vintage rag houses" that have those particular qualities that can only be found in well worn jeans. The jeans are then taken apart and resewn into two popular silhouettes, a relaxed straight and a straight skinny that I must admit channel the most endearing qualities in a great pair of jeans -at least from a purely visual perspective. For example, take the straight skinny (above). Vintage jeans are 100% cotton denim and are able to give the skinny that perfectly faded, but durable look. Not only that, those white yarns that streak across rips and tears aren't always possible with too much stretch. Those authentically denim qualities make this high-waisted skinny unique in more ways than one. 

Because of the nature of the design process each version has a limited run, but there is a waitlist for each style sold. A quick check of their site and almost everything is waitlisted save a few styles. So if you're interested you'd better get on it now.

SOURCE 

 

 

Christopher Griffin, President of WWDMAGIC Talks Denim

Christopher Griffin, President, WWDMAGIC and SOURCING at MAGIC

 After writing about jeans for so many years, I must admit that I reached a point where I thought I knew anything and everything there was to know about denim. There was very little that surprised me and I felt confident in my denim-centric world, oftentimes forgetting that there were other sportswear categories like, you know, knits. Then I interviewed Christopher Griffin, President of WWDMAGIC and Sourcing at MAGIC Tradeshow, and discovered what should have been obvious -I don't know everything.

Without quite being aware of it, as I constructed these questions for Mr. Griffin, I already had his responses in mind. I assumed they would be in lock-step with what I thought I already knew. Therefore, I found myself humbled, and rightly so, when they weren't. Case in point, I always considered denim a leader in innovation when it came to eco-friendly processes, but Mr. Griffin pointed out that the adoption of things like organic cotton and vegetable dyes has been in practice long before the denim industry began its own initiatives. It goes to show, being denim-focused is great but having a more well-rounded, comprehensive view of the textile and apparel industry as a whole is better.

Read the rest of the interview below and if you're attending MAGIC, I'll see you there.

 

 

Consumers have an undying love of jeans and it’s been over a decade since denim has been considered a premium product.  Why do you think it’s still important for tradeshows like MAGIC to promote denim? 

Denim is still a staple item in every man, women, and child’s wardrobe, so we have to have a broad offering of it at MAGIC.  We actually don’t promote it separately, unless we have some brand celebrating a milestone of some sort.  As it turns out, our SOURCING AT MAGIC show has as its focus – ALL ABOUT DENIM. We’ll have denim factories from all over the world, as well as Cotton Inc*. and Jeanologia, both coming to talk about new eco-friendly denim processing techiniques.

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Jeans That Smell Like Fruit are a REAL Thing!

 

Salsa's Fragrance Jeans in Lemon, Strawberry and Orange

 

 

Portuguese retailer Salsa has launched a line of jeans called Fragrance Jeans. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that with a name like that, little explanation is needed to explain the pull. As for myself, I can't figure out if this is the next big thing or innovation run amok.

Salsa claims to have created an innovative technology that embeds fruity smelling microcapsules into denim that release a specific scent over time. They don't specify how much time or how many washes it takes before the scent wears off, but they calculate that if you wash your jeans every three days (which I don't) the scent would last almost three months. If you round it out to laundering twice a week over three months, than that's roughly 24 washes. 

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A 3D Printing Pen to Customize My Clothing. Yes, Please!

 

 

We are living in an age where we are limited only by our imagination and that is most evident in the area of design which encompasses architecture, interiors and technology. There is something about design that I find so fascinating and I am constantly amazed by the steady stream of innovation from these areas. The fashion industry, though design-oriented by nature, is most forward-thinking and progressive in the area of wearable tech, often looking for ways to merge the two. So it was only a matter of time before the latest buzzthing in the area of design, 3D printing, found it's way into fashion. 

Joe's Jeans Water Proof White Jeans Stand Up to the Test

 

 

Joe's Jeans has been getting a lot of mainstream press over its latest offering – a collection of stain repellent white jeans. The line is fittingly called Spotless and utilizes "an innovative wash treatment that repels spills". In other words, a water repellent. When friends ask my advice on how to keep white jeans clean, I always recommend Sof Sole Water Proofer. It's a water repellent spray sold at DSW. I've used it on coats, jeans, canvas sneakers, you name it. It's a highly effective water and stain repellent. Therefore, when I was tipped off about Joe's Jeans Spotless I had two thoughts -one, why has no one thought of this before and two, at just under $6.00 wouldn't it be cheaper to just buy the spray?

Joe's Jeans boasts on their e-commerce site that the jeans can resist liquids like soda, coffee, wine and water which various media outlets have been happily putting to the test. Online videos from the Daily Mail and the Today Show feature staffers happily pouring all manner of liquids on the white jeans. My favorite reaction so far has been that of Tamron Hall of the Today Show who had to be coaxed repeatedly into pouring a cup of coffee on Natalie Morales. Her reaction was spot on because that's how many of us feel about stains on white jeans or anything white for that matter. Just one little speck can send a person into a whirlpool of Tide pens, vinegar and bleach all so you can drop it off at the dry cleaner anyway.

There will be none of that with these jeans. They really do repel liquid effectively. Test after test showed liquids beading up and running right off the jeans like glass. In some cases the liquid was sopped off with a paper towel, but still the same result. I have to admit, water repellent spray although great, will not have such a drastic effect, nor will it last as long. The treatment Joe's Jeans uses is supposed to last up to 20 washes. If you consider that with this technology you won't need to wash as often, that could turn out to be quite a long time.

Now can we find a way to add this treatment to all our clothes?

Click below to see the Today Show and Daily Mail staffers go to town. 

Kutay Saritosun of ISKO Talks Innovation in Denim and Branding

Kutay Saritosun (right)

Denim has been the talk of the town this spring. Literally, not a day goes by where I don't see a magazine or blog covering the best denim for spring or the best places to shop for denim. I seriously need to step up my game. With denim on everyone's minds this season it's a wonder consumers don't speculate on why that is. What differentiates one brand from another? Why do premium brands like J Brand and Diesel sell at a higher price point than jeans from Gap or American Eagle? What is it about those premium brands that entice us to continually shell out hundreds of dollars for them even during a recession? Of course there's the obvious, fit. Nevertheless it takes more than butt-lifting technology to make a good pair of jeans. So what's the answer? Well there are several reasons, but one that is undeniable is the denim supplier. Just as all jeans aren't created the same, all denim fabric is not made the same and the quality of denim produced by a supplier has a significant impact on the overall product.

We're Obsessed: Skitch App for iPhone and iPad

image from the D-iD Jeans Spring 2014 lookbook

 

So every once in a while, usually when I'm bored, I'll browse the App store just to see what's new. I find a lot of new apps that way. Some I keep, some I discard, some I use for awhile just to forget about later and others turn into true lifestyle game changers. Those are rare and I can only name a few that have made it into this category. 

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