Denimology

Momotaro - Hand Loom

Momotaro in Japan have put this interesting video on YouTube of their wooden hand loom that they have in one of their stores in Okayama. With a retail price near $2000 USD, these jeans are for denim purists. The labor involved in the process is amazing, it also makes for some really interesting viewing. You can grab a pair of Momotaro at Blue in Green.

Steve McQueen - Style Icon

Steve McQueen, born March 24, 1930, is a style icon. After interviewing a fair few menswear labels over the years when asked the question "who is your denim influence," 90% of designers reply with "Steve McQueen." There is no doubt the man is a legend not only for his movies but his style. An avid motorcycle and car racer, Mr. McQueen also lent his hand to inventing, having designed and patented one of the first car racing bucket seats.

We at Denimology thought we should bring you some images of this the man himself to both take inspiration from but also to give you a reference on how fashion is one big circle and all looks and styles get recycled in time only with a little bit more of a modern twist. Might encourage you to keep those 90's torn stone washed jeans you threw out in 2000. How handy they would be now....

Levi's Vintage Clothing + J.Crew

Levi's has brought back their original techniques used back in 1873 to create Levi's Vintage Clothing. Produced in extremely limited quantities, these true collector's items are now available at J.Crew in New York. The two men's stores will be carrying five jean styles and a denim coat. Check out some of these amazing pieces!

Mastermind JAPAN 2009 Fall/Winter Lookbook

Following up on an extravagant showcase in Taiwan, Mastermind Japan unveil the lookbook for their upcoming Fall/Winter Collection, featuring lots of denim. The Japanese fashion label is also known for for incorporating several skull motifs into their apparel and have not failed to do so here as well.

Billionaire Boys Club Denim Chukka

Some guys are as into their raw denim as they are their sneakers. So to appease their fans, as part of their Fall 2009 Collection, Billionaire Boys Club combines the two with their chukka in denim. The upper comes in raw denim and an all-over logo print. They hit BBC stores this month for a mere $230.

J Brand Gallery Launch

J Brand founders Susie Crippen and Jeff Rudes went back to where it all started by opening the J Brand Gallery last night at Ron Herman in Los Angeles. I was fortunate enough to attend the event. The brand launched at Fred Segal exclusively five years ago and today J Brand is one of the top selling lines of denim. The Gallery has the first pair of J Brand jeans as well as design items from a ballerina that inspired the now famous clean J Brand silhouette, to a bag that was given to Susie and she loved the fabric so much it inspired her to make a unique pocket lining for her jeans.

Celebrities in attendance included Cristina Ricci in J Brand "910" in Oil Slick, Jaime Ray Newman, who is on the upcoming Eastwick tv show (can't wait) in J Brand "Babe" in Hightide, Sarah Jane Morris of Brothers and Sisters in J Brand "Love Story" in Ink, Nelsan Ellis who is my favorite character on True Blood, Lafayette and Jason Gray Stanford of Monk in J Brand Denim Co. "Kane" in Colt

I had an opportunity to speak with Susie about the upcoming trends on the horizon, "Denim Leggings will be a continued trend and people are really getting into washes in a much more sophisticated way".

It is always worth the trip to Fred Segal and it's great to see the full line which has expanded to include the classic J Brand, J Brand Boutique, J Brand Denim Co. Men's Collection and the brand new collaboration with Hussein Chalayan which is perfection. (See Susie and Hussein sit down and chat here). The tie-dyed OZ jean in Kurabo denim is artwork and has made it to the top of my wish list. Susie and Jeff couldn't be nicer and invited me to come down to their design studio to do a special behind-the-scenes piece on them and I can't wait!