Designer Q + A: Doctrine Denim
1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are one of the most popular items of clothing?
Jeans have evolved over the time with cultures and with people's needs. Denim was first made for the workers in mid 1800s because of its durability. Now it has become a staple in everyone's closet - not only for its sustainability but now as an integral ready-to-wear piece in our daily lives. With a variety of fits and washes it has truly made the transformation from work garment to fashion item!
2) Last time we counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
At Doctrine we truly believe that patience is a virtue and also plays a crucial role in what separates our jeans from the pack! We start our designs with thorough research of the markets and then shop for trending fabrics. Here patience is key as we always strive to get the most out of each chosen fabric after its numerous tests and processes here in L.A.'s best laundry houses. It is important to determine the best fit for each particular fabric and then be meticulous about the design process. We feel this extra effort is essential to keep consistency in our fits and comfort for our customers - which ultimately is the most important thing!
Additionally this patience extends to our attention to detail regarding all aspects of construction including the hardware, core- spun custom sewing threads and particularly our unique, authentic pocket designs and embroidered details.
3) Who do you imagine is your typical customer?
Our customer is a guy or girl who knows how he or she wants to feel in a great fitting pair of jeans and also appreciates the feel, style and craftsmanship that can only come from a pair of jeans produced in Los Angeles. Our customer loves our fits and comes back for more of his or her favorite fit in different fabrications and washes.
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Designer Q and A - Big Star
We are kicking off 2011 with the return of our Designer Q &A section and the first interviewee is Miki Flores of Big Star.
Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
Denim is so versatile & classic. It's been with us throughout our lives. And each jean has its own story to tell.
Last time I counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
Big Star is known for our amazing fit, that comes in great fabrication, completed in great wash. All packaged in a great price point, that does not neglect what it takes to create premium denim.
Who do you imagine is a typical customer?
Confident, smart & independent. Someone with great style of their own, who does not fall into short-lived trends.
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Designer Q and A: David Kahn Jeans
This week our designer Question & Answer is with Bryan Boone, Designer for David Kahn Jeans.
1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
Denim was worn with a completely different approach than how it is now. They were not trying to make a fashion statement in the early 1900's, they just needed functionality. The versatility of denim today and its new incarnations creates aesthetic diversity along with function and comfort. All the new developments in denim keep the public wanting more and more.
2) Last time I counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
David Kahn Jeans have a great fit. I'm taking this fit and broadening our customer base by adding new fabrics, exciting washes and a great variety of styles. My background in art and in denim processing definitely creates an edge in the current marketplace.
3) Who do you imagine is a typical customer?
The David Kahn customer is definitely a modern confident girl that relishes comfort and loves style. Her jeans are always part of her everyday ensemble.
4) Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get inspired by a myriad things; photography, pop culture, furniture, art and vintage shopping definitely tops the list.
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Q and A: Pray For Mother Nature Denim
This week's Designer Q & A is with Chip Foster, Founder and Designer of Pray For Mother Nature Denim.
1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
Because they're durable, stable, and dirty... They're cool.
2) Last time we counted there were over 200 brands of premium denim jeans in the market. What makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
There are over 2,000 denim brands and 480,000,000 clothing brands worldwide. With Chip and Pepper, we got into that top tier of well known brands out of the 480,000,000 and we were cool and never sold out :)
3) Who do you imagine is your typical customer?
Brad Pitt and Zooey Deschanel
4) Where do you get your inspiration from?
Travel
5) Which style and wash of your jeans are moving the quickest at this moment?
Well Pray For Mother Nature launched with a motorcycle skinny in black denim, the 'Action Jackson'. That was picked up by Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Hudgens. That was also our best seller for that season and still has unbelievable sell through.
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Designer Q and A - M2F
First off, I would like you to know that I personally saw M2F jeans when I was at Coterie. I can say unequivocally that there is a visible distinction in the color texture between M2F's colored denim fabrics and those of other manufacturers. M2F is giving us a REAL pair of pink jeans or green jeans with that characteristic blend of white and color yarns that makes jeans, well, jeans. And not a pair of pants shaped like jeans and dyed a solid pink or green. Jessie's recent post inspired us to make a closer examination of the M2F claims about the uniqueness of their colored jeans.I got an interview with Terry Siegel, co-founder and designer of M2F, who explained their process and gave me some comparison pictures (below).
Q: Terry, you say that your proprietary yarn technology allows white yarn to show through the dyed yarn and gives your jeans their characteristic appearance. Can you amplify on this briefly and in lay terms for Denimology's readers?
A: We are the first brand in the history of fashion to produce an unlimited range of colored denim that looks like indigo dyed jeans when stone washed, sanded, whiskered or grinded.This includes the color fading, highs & lows and white yarns that make blue jeans so unique. If you examine a pair of colored jeans from any number of brands around the world, there are no white yarns, fading or highs & lows. No matter how many times ordinary colored jeans are washed, they will always and forever be a solid colored pant. Until we invented Made 2 Fade™ yarn, which all of our denim fabrics are made from, it was impossible to produce colored jeans that replicate the true vintage look of stonewashed jeans.
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Hello! SkinnyJeans Q+A
Does Hello! SkinnyJeans really make jeans that are "thigh-slimming, stomach-flattening, buttocks-shaping, and leg-lengthening"? Can they really make a woman look less "full-figured" as they claim? Being a little skeptical, I said, no way, this is NOT possible. So I went ahead and asked Catherine Hart, the founder and designer of this brand a few questions:
Q: Catherine, there are a lot of desperate women out there who have a big problem in finding jeans in a larger size and/or that make them look better - be this thigh-slimming, stomach-flattening, buttocks-shaping or leg-lengthening. Does your company propose the ideal solution for all of these requests?
A: Yes. We specifically incorporate design solutions in SkinnyJeans(R) that address ALL of these common problems:
(1) thigh-slimming-- thighs are 'scooped-out' to slim and separate them and the high-performance stretch denim compresses and slims the legs; the inseams are drawn very forward on the leg to trick the eye into seeing less 'real estate' on the front of the leg; and the inside and outside of the thighs are darkened creating an optical illusion that the thigh is slimmer.
(2) stomach-flattening-- we use non-stretch pocket lining to create a panel across the front of the jeans to flatten the entire stomach area; additionally, the mid-rise cut of the jean falls at the hip which pushes the stomach in at the most effective place, avoiding a 'pooched-out' stomach with a too-high cut or a little 'pot-belly' from a too-low cut; and the stretchy, bias-cut waistband avoids 'muffin-top'.
(3) buttocks-shaping-- using optical illusion shading, the sides of the hips and under the buttocks are darkened for a shaping and slimming look; the design of the yolk shapes the buttocks; and the pockets are shaped and placed precisely to make the buttocks appear smaller and more shapely.
(4) leg-lengthening-- we use optical-illusion shading to trick the eye into seeing the leg-break higher than the natural leg break and the shading down the middle of the leg is drawn all the way down to create a long, unbroken line.
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