Naked Truth About Denim

It’s almost the weekend, the sun has been shining and the days are getting longer and longer. Perhaps it’s due to the relatively warm weather and the brightness of the light, that all of us at lifeiscarbon® took a rest from our ubiquitous black outfits today and by pure coincidence we’d all had the same fashion thought: it was time to wear one’s favorite and most comfortable pair of battered old blue jeans. Even more interesting was the fact that a quick survey revealed that most of us were wearing the same brand – Nudie Jeans.

Why are they our favorites? Simply because of how well they age. Of course, most jeans age relatively well but there’s something about the way that Nudie jeans reflect their usage and so clearly show the character of the wearer (what you keep in your pockets, how your body is shaped, how you move etc). We have to confess that we strictly follow Nudie’s guidelines and don’t wash them for at least the first six months…..sometimes never (if that sounds unhygienic then it’s worth pointing out that dry-cleaning is permitted). One day, when we have time, we’ll have to explain the Scandinavian fashion phenomenon of Snus rings on the back pocket of jeans.

Nudie Jeans Co is the creation of Gothenburg-based designer, Maria Erixon and is the result of her rather extensive career in the denim industry: three years as the European creative manager at Lee, ten years as an art director and clothes designer for the retail store JC and prior to both she was the proud owner of her own denim store.

At Nudie, it’s all about the details and the attention to detail verges on the fanatical. At least that´s what it sounds like when you listen Maria Erixon talk about her designs:

"The crotch is made with two-needle stitching, one thread being blue and the other colored. It is a traditional way of sewing that these days has more often been replaced by cheaper methods. The same thing goes for the insides of pockets, which are often made from cheaper materials. Instead, Nudie have gone back to using a more sturdy material."

There are yet more details: a blue seam inside the zip, chain-stitches on the inside of the hemline, and an enlarged pocket for coins (which actually makes it usable), oversized hip pockets to flatter behinds etc. Equal attention has been paid to the choice of materials. Nudie have chosen to use a more expensive, less broad denim from Japanese textile factories so that the edge of the material can be used as the side seams of the trousers (so called selvage denim). Nudie’s decision to produce a limited range seems to paying off, as it’s their attention to detail that has got them noticed by jeans connoisseurs.

Take a look here to see the latest Nudie lookbook.

Nudie Jeans

Comments

[shawn]

Yeah i would like to know what wash that is also ? Thank you

[will Kunkel]

what wash is featured in the close-up in the header of the article? thanks.