Question and Answer with Joe's Jeans

This week our Question & Answer Interview with Joe Dahan, the Creative Director & Founder of Joe's Jeans

1. It's a new decade and you are rebranding Joe's Jeans. Would you please explain what you hope to achieve in this new era?
We want to deeply impact style and fashion.

2. Why did you decide to reinvent the Joe's Jeans brand and/or image?
I wouldn't say we are reinventing our brand or image. We've had success with multiple categories for a few years now, but they were separated into micro brands like The Shirt, The Pant, The Bag, etc. For fall, we are launching our first collection, which will present Joe's as a complete lifestyle brand.

3. Joe's Jeans is a very well-known denim brand worldwide. What is changing, if anything, from your prior branding to this new version?
For the first time, we are presenting a complete collection as a lifestyle brand to showcase how we interpret casual chic.

4. What are you focusing on for the Spring 2011 season? And for the Fall 2011 season?
For Spring 2011, we are focusing on casual, washed-down looks inspired by the '70s. This fall is our 10-year anniversary and in the spirit of this celebration our collection will be more sophisticated and fashion forward.

5. What has been your inspiration for your current collection? And for the Joe's Jeans brand as a whole?
This season, we were inspired by the '70s with an organic twist, and featured washed-down colors and super-soft fabrics--a very relaxed and comfortable look. As a brand, we are inspired by a casual, yet sophisticated, lifestyle.

6. Does Joe's Jeans have a muse?
Each season, an individual muse inspires each collection and piece. Our designers at Joe's are the first source for inspiration. Each designer has a unique style, and we look to them to highlight the trends and looks to feature each season. We are also inspired by everyday people: someone we spot on the street, a friend, or maybe even a blogger with a unique sense of style.

7. Are there any new styles that you are very excited about?
Women's--For spring, we have a few styles we are excited about: The Skinny Micro Flare,The Chelsea in Rouge and Blueberry, and The Studded Short in Valerie.

Men's--The Classic Fit in Easton. This white selvedge denim, featuring our soft, worn-down Easton wash, is a favorite. Imported from Italy, white selvedge denim fabric is both soft and strong.

8. Which style, cut and/or wash has been the most successful overall for Joe's Jeans?
For men, our most successful style would be the Brixton. This slim, straight leg fit gives guys a fashionable alternative to the traditional relaxed, loose fit or trendier skinny jean. It comes in a variety of washes including our latest, Costello.

For women, it's definitely our Skinny Visionaire. It's an elegant 9-inch high-rise that tapers at the ankle. It looks beautiful.

9. What is your personal "go-to" style of jeans? Since I was able to meet your lovely wife at Coterie, out of curiosity, what is hers as well?
My wife Ambre loves The Skinny Micro Flare in Brigitte. She has been wearing them with these great cognac-colored boots. It's very vintage, very cool.
My favorite style is The Brixton, with its straight and narrow fit. Lately I've been wearing it in our Skylar wash.

10. What sets Joe's Jeans apart from all the other multitudes of denim brands out there?
Our silhouettes and superb fits have always set us apart. Today, we find more and more brands creating unique fits. It is incredibly flattering to know that we helped pioneer this concept. We also work very hard to be at the forefront of using innovative fabric and finishing processes in our collection.

11. What design feature, detail or asset is unique to the Joe's Jeans line, if any?
Our back-pocket stitching is our signature. We use a tiny needle arch and JD logo on our back pockets.

12. How long has Joe's Jeans been in operation?
10 years. We officially celebrate this milestone in the fall.

13. At what moment (i.e., a celeb wore them or a cut/style blew up) did the brand really take off and become successful?
Over the past 10 years, we've had quite a few great styles do very well with celebrities. However, for the most part, Joe's is well known for our fits: everything from The Honey to The Twiggy. Pioneering denim fits for diverse body types is really what put us on the map.

14. How great an effect on your brand is there when a celebrity is spotted in Joe's Jeans?
We definitely see a spike in sales when a celebrity is spotted wearing Joe's. But, we have also noticed that our customer doesn't always just come in to buy the specific style worn. Our customer comes in to select the best Joe's fit for his or her own unique style.

15. Do you have a favorite style that you have created?
Our newest fit, The Skinny Micro Flare Jeans, in our vintage-inspired Brigitte wash, is one of my latest favorites for women.

For men, The Classic in Easton is a straight leg true blue, white selvedge denim with distressing and an extreme wash process. White selvedge is also found in details like the coin and back pocket.

16. Who do you imagine is the Joe's Jeans typical customer?
Our customers are cool, casual, sophisticated and sexy. They march to the beat of their own drum.

17. Is there any mere mortal, celebrity or cultural figure (living or departed, one male and one female) you would most like to see wearing Joe's Jeans?
Female: Jane Birkin in the '70s.
Male: Mick Jagger

18. How many pairs of jeans do you have in your personal collection?
I have several, but my closet is mostly made up of Brixton's in every shade of gray and black.

19. Why do you think denim is still so popular in this new style era--and for well over the last 200 years?
Denim is a staple piece in society's wardrobe. It's comfortable and can be dressed up or down, which makes it very versatile. Each season, denim, as we know it, is reinvented. New techniques and innovations come on the scene and change everything.

20. In your opinion, what is the worst denim crime?
Over-branded and loud denim.

21. What is the first pair of jeans that you remember?
It was in a "Clipper" jeans ad campaign, featuring an image of a rabbi and a nun in a back alley, walking away from each other while pulling up their jeans.

22. Who is your current favorite denim icon?
David Bowie

23. What is the Joe's Jeans slogan, philosophy and/or mission statement?
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

24. Does Joe's Jeans do any good works or favor a particular charity?
We work with various local charities in Los Angeles.

25. Who/what/where are your favorite denim retailers and boutiques?
Maxfield, Fred Segal, Maison Martin Margiela, and L'Éclaireur in Paris.

26. Collaborations are the new black. Will Joe's Jeans be taking part in this particular industry trend?
It isn't something we are actively pursuing. If something comes along the way that is unique and makes sense for Joe's and our customer, then certainly, we would explore it.

27. Is there anything else you would like Denimology's dedicated readers to know about Joe's Jeans?
I am in every fitting and personally pin and tailor each fit for you --from denim to collection.

Jessie: 6/04/11