12/14/09
Jeans arrived. Came wrapped in tissue inside a calico(?) tote bag. -nice touch. These Jean Shop jeans at 32×32.5 are just a hair looser than slim round the waist/pelvis, but that leaves some wiggle room for a wash or two. The length is enough for a substantial 2-3” turn-up. The inner orange label reminds me of old rental uniform labels (gas station shirts etc). Rivets are stamped on reverse with a pig impression; a nod to the first Jeans Shop being based in the Meatpacking District I imagine. Date written inside is the date of completion.
12/15
Ran cold water over the jeans for about 60 seconds and hung to dry, just to take off the slight shine of the resin coating and to crumple them a bit (I read on http://www.denimgeek.com that laying them flat is better… no harms seems to have been done though). Probably just made the purists cringe there, but at least I turned them inside out… they are now 2 wash/rinses away from a fit that I would not like to get too much slimmer…i.e. pretty damn near perfect. When I took them off the line they had really stiffened up again, I had them standing up by themselves for a second. The jeans are described as having a “medium rise” which is a lower rise than my usual, slightly looser jeans (Carhartts or 501s again) though I wear those on my hips anyway so really just 6-of-1.
I probably shouldn’t have worn these out sledding and dibbing around the barn, but after a good 3 weeks of wear they are just now starting to soften, and basically have no discernable creasing or wear to show… would highly recommend as travel clothing as they seem bulletproof so far and have kept their bottomless blue color. Again as a noob to the world of selvage denim this seems fairly standard, but I’m enjoying the hard work.
2/26
Knee’s and button-fly loosening up a bit. Knees getting scratched (fun dad… lego scratches I guess…). Didn’t notice the wallet mark until I looked these photos. Otherwise still crisp and dark blue all over.”
I REALLY like these, the color is gorgeous, but I think they would look better hemmed, rather than cuffed up that much. Otherwise, the first time you was them, you’re going to have a nasty line across the bottom of the cuff, happened with my Nudies.
@Ben; i’m thinking after the first real wash they will shrink up a bit… i may recuf a half inch down. may sound odd to some but that would leave a nice clean line at the bottom… funny you mention cause i had been thinking of this… by the end they will be knocked around a good amount i bet and i wont stress about it but yes, that first time may recuff it down a touch to keep it clean….yup.
Nice pants James! I like it a lot. Calico is nothing more then a rough woven cotton. I used it at school to make prototypes of garments I had to make, since as a poor student it was a cheap fabric. Keep up the good stuff and wear those pants down!
Ciao