Designer Q & A - True Religion Brand Jeans

This week's Designer Q & A is with Jeff Lubell, Founder of True Religion Brand Jeans.

1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
After all these years, jeans have become iconic. They are a casual wardrobe staple, just like the black pant is a dressy wardrobe staple.

2) Last time I counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
We don't follow trends. We make innovative, trend setting product every season. Our jeans don't look like any other jeans out there in the market. Everything about our jeans is special: from the fabric, to the wash, to the stitching, to the hardware. We pay attention to every little detail. I always say "it's all about the product!"

3) Who do you imagine is a typical customer?
That's a hard question to answer. We are in 50 countries around the world and we sell everyone from toddlers, to girlie girls, to tomboys, to soccer stars in Europe and celebrities in Hollywood, to older gentlemen (like Larry King).

4) Where do you get your inspiration from?
It comes from within. I'm still living in the late 60's early 70's - I love that whole era. I still only listen to classic Rock n Roll from that time.

5) Which style and wash of your jeans are flying out of the shops the quickest at the moment?
For women, our shorty shorts (jean cut-offs) in all washes from clean to vintaged, and for men, the Super T's are selling very well.

6) Are there any essential jeans that everyone should have in their wardrobe?
Everyone should have a pair of jeans for every mood: when you are kicking back and relaxing, you wear a pair of vintaged, worn in jeans, when you are going out, you need a dark, clean pair, when you are going to the beach, you need a pair of jean shorts, and so on.

7) What are the first pair of jeans you remember?
Levi's 501

8) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have owned and why?
True Religion Joeys (see above) - one of the first pairs of True Religion Brand Jeans I made

9) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have produced and why?
True Religion Jacks - recently my mood has changed from Joey to Jack - it's a narrower version of the Joey jeans with the back pocket flaps we have become known for.

10) How many pairs of jeans do you currently own and which are your favourites?
I own over 100 pairs of jeans. My favourites are probably my 801 Tommys - one of the first jeans we ever produced - they were like Joeys but the seams twisted the other way.

11) Are you a "wash your jeans after each wear" person or a "wear your jeans for six months before you wash them" person?
I'm definitely a "wash your jeans after each wear" person.

12) Do you own jeans for different occasions (for instance I have work jeans, smart jeans, weekend jeans, holiday jeans, jeans for going to concerts in, jeans for gardening in) if so what have you got?
Yes, I have over 100 pairs of jeans - I pick a pair based on what mood I'm in. I have a pair for every occasion.

13) Which is your favourite jeans shop?
Any True Religion Brand Jeans store.

14) Which celebs are currently wearing your jeans?
Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox (see above), Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen, Cindy Crawford, Colin Farrell, Jonatahn Rhys Meyers to name a few.

15) How important big an effect does it have on your sales when a celeb is seen wearing a pair of your jeans?
It has a very big impact. Recently Megan Fox wore our tye dye t-shirt and jeans shopping, and wore the jean cut-offs in the film "Transformers" - all three items were best sellers.

16) Who is your current favourite denim icon (male & female). I am thinking the person who has the most denim style?
I would say Gisele Bundchen (see above) - she has great denim style. She is a natural beauty who is always wearing jeans and looks great.

17) Which person living or dead would you most like to see in a pair of your jeans?
Jimi Hendrix

18) What is the worst denim crime?
Bad fit, bad styling, and bad washes are all criminal.

19) If jeans had not been invented, what would we all be wearing?
Twill

20) And finally, any predictions for denim in 2010
You'll have to wait and see!