Category: Agave Denim
The Dirty Dozen
| January 6, 2013 | Filled under Agave Denim, Bergdorf Goodman, EDITORIAL, Gary's, Mario's 3.10, MENS STYLE TOPICS, Mitchell's, Supima Cotton, The Independent, VIDEOS, VK Nagrani, Wilkes Bashford |
The Dirty Dozen
What’s a sock? If you were to ask Vivek Nagrani, he’d tell you “everything, a sock is an accessory that distinguishes a gentleman from the masses”. I had the opportunity to catch up with my favorite sock whore over a drink and get the dirty details of the Dirty Dozen.
Nagrani — who was born in India, moved to Brooklyn as a young child, and graduated from USC in 1994 with a Business degree but didn’t just toss his hat and dive into the sock business. I mean who are we kidding- in 1994 did denim really matter? To me yes, but the average Joe only thought was his shirt. Times are changing and frankly, if you’re sock drawer still consists of white athletic socks, black dress socks, and random mis-matched grey’s…. Hunnie, it is time to evolve and take life a little less seriously and your sock drawer a little more seriously! It’s the small things in life that can give you the greatest rewards.
Why socks? “because of jeans” with the rise of full-time casual dressing, the high-low concept V found himself uninspired by his sock drawer. We’ve got amazing options for sport jackets, signature shirts, cool jeans, denim belts, and casual shoes made for jeans but then you guys have been left with shitty athletic socks or black dress socks that bunch up in your shoe.
“Why, I ask, can a man be put on the moon, but we cannot make a sock that stays up?”-VK Nagrani… and so it all began…. Vivek designed and produced his first 312 pairs of socks; why 312… it was all he could afford at the time. Today, staying true to his heritage he only creates 312 units of every each color. So, if you like a design you’d better snag it.
VK’s favorite jeans: The Levi’s 501 tweeked by a tailor to trim the leg….
When are you bringing the Casanova Sock back: … HE STILL WON’T TELL ME!
You can find V with a great bottle of wine and an assortment of colored pencils designing the next season’s collections that men will be fighting over to feed their new found addiction. “A man will match his sock to his trousers; a gentleman will match his sock to his mood.” VK Nagrani
V is passionate about socks.. and underwear He is proud to have “changed the way men view a product they never really thought about” and he has changed the way the industry, stylists, and brands view a sock as well. From playing with toys to playing with your style, life should always have a playful touch. There is a reason why it’s called a Lifestyle! There are two sock collections that he produces. One is part of the VK Nagrani Collection and the other is a brand new Collection that is for the tastefully absurd. Ugly Vix; good style gone bad! When the fear subsides and you feel the power you’ve gained by taking this sartorial adventure and begin buying items that move you and YOU actually like; you’ll enjoy a little bit more of your day. If yu are willing to to sport something more tastefully absurd Ugly Vix is there to carry on; with an assortment of forward designs playfully priced so you don’t kill the bank; playing. His “basic” socks start at $30.00 and up from there. You and I both know that you need a sartorial kick in the pants.
Did you know that Fred Astair had a thing for orange socks? What is your style? Your wife or g/f shopping for you is not YOUR style and you are doing yourself a huge injustice by letting them choose for you. Find your style and then let them re-fill the closet with YOU in mind, if you must. Finding your style is not an easy task, it take some getting to know yourself and you have to learn what the options are. Everyone is overwhelmed when walking into most stores; thankfully that’s why specialty stores exist. They offer a small assortment of great product with a specific perspective and they come along with a stylist to help guide the way for no extra charge. Vivek is one of the few that have more style than the average Joe, and can get away with wearing a table cloth as a cape because he’s just that…. je ne sais quoi. Thie difference: he owns it and rocks it with a kick in his step and you know he’s not gay. So, I don’t want to hear it. If a man can wear a sock with some personality…still be professional and successful; so can you. I know plenty! There was a day when a man wore a sock up to his knee where it kissed their trousers buttoned just below the knee. Could you imagine what the Aristocrats would have done if they could have gotten a hold of these babies… I’m sure Michelangelo would have had a bit more fun!
The sock trend started by the fashion aristocracy that frequent the menswear shows each year in Milan, Paris, and New York. You guys don’t have as many choices in menswear as women do but your ability to execute flawlessly and express your style and personality through your wardrobe has a higher success rate than it does for women. Socks are in the same category as a tie and pocket square and what makes it so versatile is its heritage among dandies and rebels alike. Socks are a subtle way to add a bit of personality into your wardrobe. They should never be a statement piece; these are accessories not sportswear. If you are just now becoming curious about this steez you should let VK Nagrani sock it to ya; because it is just not the unique design, it’s a better sock; that will actually STAY UP!… and the ladies will always take notice.
Another oldie but goodie, we’ve got V shopping with one of his clients that is open to the idea of taking his boring daily ensemble to the next level. He’s got some great pointers on how to put it all together, choose a sock and take that pink shirt you’ve worn twice and turn it into your favorite. Every day in a blue shirt and navy suit can get mundane, day in and day out without and real accessories. Add a pocket square with a hint of orange, grab a brown, tan textured tie and grab a killer sock that complements the palate and you might just find you have a more productive day. The best thing about V is that he tells you as it is; just like myself when I was working with my clients- we’ll tell you if its bad, absurd, not YOU or a disaster. When we say it’s good- own it! I ain’t shittin’ ya! Our reputations rely’s on the complements you receive!
VK started with 312 socks so you could wear them with jeans, the best underwear so you can wear the right jeans and now has launched a sportswear collection for all the times you’re not sporting your denim. His lounge wear is amazingly soft with a modern style. His suiting is impeccable and travels well.
SHOP NOW - don’t forget to you the coupon code “Golden Ticket” to make sure you get spoiled, because I’ve got a hook up for you.
——————————–The Dirty Dozen: Let VK choose 12 for pairs for you to get your sock drawer dialed in!
Passionately yours,
The Butt Therapist
FNO in the NW
| September 5, 2012 | Filled under Agave Denim, EVENTS, Mario's 3.10 |
You all know my ol’ stomping ground is P-town. Mario and Jeff are like family not a random post; I don’t post random so enjoy a Kai Vodka coacktail, some Agave denim and hang out with my peeps that I desperately miss kickin’ it with! This is one event I am bumbed to be missing for FNO and I am in NYC so I am making sure I share it with you, so you’ll be able to make it for me!
Portland OR, Aug 2012 – Agave Denim, the “Pure West Coast Luxury” company, headquartered on the outskirts of Portland, is celebrating its 10 year anniversary by partnering with Portland’s high profile, luxury retailer, Mario’s, for the nation’s biggest retail event night of the year, Fashion Night Out. The event will take place on Thursday, September 6th.
Agave Denim has much to celebrate like the fact that the company is still independently owned operated and designed by husband and wife team, Jeff and Lauren Shafer. Agave is “Designed in Portland and Handcrafted in California” as the Shafer’s are committed to manufacture in the USA whatever they can.
It was in August 2002 when Jeff hosted a launch party in Las Vegas during the trade show to celebrate the birth of a new premium men’s denim line that it all began. (The word “premium“ had not been coined yet) The Agave niche was the untapped luxury men’s denim market. For the first few months Jeff designed and worked from his living room in Topanga Canyon, California where the Shafers lived at the time. During first years Shafer did everything himself, designed, sold from the trunk of his car and did both production and customer service. The goal then was, and still is, to design, craft and produce beautiful authentic denim products using the best materials and produce everything possible here in the USA. As the brand grew Jeff moved to offices in Santa Monica. Then in 2006 he moved his family and most of the Agave operations from Los Angeles to Ridgefield, WA as he felt it was a better place for his two teenage sons to grow up. In 2007, women’s jeans were added to the collection. It was only when Lauren chose to end her job as stay-at-home mom and return to work full-time designing Agave women’s that the women’s business blossomed. The Shafer’s truly are the perfect partners and design duo, Jeff is a “denim head” focused on fabrics and color and Lauren masters fits, shapes and tailoring.
The Agave Anniversary celebrations at Mario’s will be part of the national event Fashion Night Out, or FNO as its now referred to amongst fashion insiders. FNO has become one of the fashion calendars sought after date, a retail night of fun across the country & the world when customers join with editors, celebrities, models, “fashionistas” and designers to celebrate and shop of course! Last year FNO featured over 4500 events in the US alone and events in eighteen countries.
Agave & Mario’s will celebrate the 10-year Anniversary with an extensive presentation of Agave Fall collection and new preview styles, a live DJ, tapas and more. The Shafer’s also have surprises up their sleeve for the night’s event as some of their special friends and local partners stop by to hello to give a hand in celebrating. More announcements to be made. The celebrations will run from 4-7.00pm at Mario’s downtown Portland store located at 833 Southwest Broadway.
About Agave Denim
Founded in 2002 by Jeff Shafer, Agave has become a must-have for the denim connoisseur looking for quality, luxury & authenticity. Designed in Portland made in Los Angeles California today Agave has expanded to include selvage denim, luxury knits & wovens, a whole range of non-denim jeans, casual pants and Agave womens collection, a full denim and knitwear collection for women designed by Lauren Shafer, Jeffs wife. The label has built a strong following is now sold in over 600 denim and specialty boutiques Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom’s stores around the USA, Canada and Europe.
For more information on the company go to www.agavedenim.com
About Mario’s
Mario’s is the leading luxury brand retail store in the Pacific Northwest for men and women, with stores in Portland and Tigard, OR and Seattle, WA. Owned and operated by President Mario Bisio, Mario’s is known for its impeccable customer service and for housing collections from the world’s most upscale, high-quality fashion vendors. As a merchant Mario’s goal is to find just the right balance between providing customers with what they want, and moving them forward to the next level, even in subtle ways. The brands sold at Mario’s have become more sophisticated with the aging of its clientele, but Mario’s philosophy is to always keep moving forward and to try new things in life and with style – inspiring the Mario’s mantra: Live with Passion. Play with Style.
Q&A: MAVerICK
| July 8, 2012 | Filled under Agave Denim, MENS STYLE TOPICS, Q&A |
Question:
Dear Denim Guru,
Cabeza my Chino
| February 17, 2012 | Filled under Agave Denim, Agave Nectar, MY WANT LIST |
Agave denim is winning in my book season after season. While other denim companies are cutting corners and increasing their core collections Agave and Agave Nectar is increasing their fashion, denim alternatives and using the absolute best raw materials and creating better look books and ad campaigns then I am seeing from any JBRAND stool, AG Jeans wall or 7 fam spread. People you gotta make sure you are supporting the companies that are keeping you close to their heart. My dollar will always be earned at Agave!
<————-MY SPRING MUST HAVES!
“Jeff and Lauren Shafer took inspirations for Spring 2012 especially color from Sea of Cortez and trips they made to Baja during the sixties and seventies. Spring is packed with color reminiscent of those sunny trips and beautiful vacations. Spring Agave style is “West Coast Luxury” and is not defined by age but by ones inner confidence and ability to enjoy the simple beauty of life.
Husband and wife owners/designers, Jeff and Lauren Shafer, always regard designing an art and fabric as their canvas. They are both extremely passionate about finding the most innovative luxury fabrics every season. They feel this determines every element of their design details and fits. Jeff spends hours hunting and scouring boutique mills for the best. Lauren is truly fanatical about fit and as designer and fully trained pattern maker she typically makes her own first set of samples to see how they look. The Shafers use only the finest Japanese, Italian or USA-made Supima cotton denims and luxury fabrics and work with select boutique mills to design fabrics exclusive to Agave. All Agave jeans and knits are cut, sewn and hand-finished in Los Angeles, California.”- Agave
Jeff and Lauren’s top picks for Fall are:
- Men’s and women’s – colored denim - Color is a hot trend in men’s and women’s denim for Spring 2012 in addition to indigo. There are two Spring color palette for guys true brights or more subdued. For Agave men’s Jeff chose more subdued tones in natural whites, gray, olive, khaki, browns and rusty orange (look book page M28 M38). For women’s Lauren shows vintage brights in colors such as garnet red, beach glass and citrus (Page W4, W16).
- Men’s and women’s -denim natural looking washes – No tolerance for washes that don’t look natural. Whether rinse, slight abrasion or heavily distressed (vintage) all must look like it happened naturally over a long period of time Page men’s M26, M34 women’s Page W20).
- Men’s and women’s – luxury lightweight Italian yarn dyed cotton linens vintaged and washed like denim in variety of colors and fits (see men’s look book page M32 and women’s page W18)
- Men’s only – Selvage is now understood and appreciated by men with a more “true blue” point of view. Slim and classic fit button fly jeans in raw, rinse and vintage . Agave Gold label selvage is limited edition numbered and signed the new fit is Maverick( slim with button fly) Jeff has added more innovative selvage weaves like white selvage and selvage chambray and in lighter weights ( see men’s page Cover/M24, M28, M30).
- Men’s only- Casual woven shirts with tailored detailing take on a new life at Agave with a wide choice of options for Spring: chambrays, Oxford indigos calvary twills and linens all with additional tailored details . Jeff’s favorite is page M40 of look book “Craftsman” a selvage chambray.
- Women’s only- Truly the perfect denim skirt called the “Dolce”. An in-house favorite is the paneled pencil skirt with high waist A truly flattering style that elongates the body. This is available in indigo blue and colors for Spring see page W8)
- Women’s only- Luxury & drape for Spring. Fabrics which flatter with drape are key for Spring. The “ Nancy” shirt is a hit with everyone who sees, feels or tries it on (pageW1 and W3). Also the “Patrona” trouser in “Cabo Stretch”(page W6) Lyocell/Cotton/elastane) has been nicknamed the ultimate luxury pant perfect for vacations and warm Summer days ahead
- Men’s and Women’s Luxury Supima cotton knits & sweaters in rich Spring color palette
PREVIEW the full collection at www.agavedenim.com
JOIN THE agavedenim Facebook page!
Love,
Jeff, Lauren, Zoe, and me… the Butt Therapist!
Q&A: 30×30 nah…
| February 17, 2012 | Filled under 7 for all Mankind, Agave Denim, MENS STYLE TOPICS, Q&A |
It’s Q&A time… trust me I am diving in my inbox.. thank you all for your patience- I love that you are asking! Q: I was hoping you could help me select a premium jean. I’m 52 but I run so I’m in pretty good shape with no gut. I am a professional and I’m looking for a good dress jean. The issue I have is my waist is a 30 and inseam is also a 30 and I’m 5’6″. I’m a bit thick through the thigh and butt. Any suggestions? -Kevin
98% Cotton, 2% Spandex-Made in the USA—>
My second pick is by Agave Denim in the Pragmatist fit in a the Enlighten Flex made in The Cone Mill USA using 10 oz denim, 94 / 5 / 1 cotton / poly / spandex, 3×1 right hand construction, hand sand, pocket edge grinding, abrasions, resin whiskers and knee patterns, potassium spray, stonewashed to a medium light indigo finish.
Classic fit, Straight Cut, Zipper Fly
10″ front rise, 15″ back rise, 17″ knee,
16.5″ bottom, 35″ inseam
Now, the MOST IMPORTANT information in this blog post. ALTERATIONS are IMPERATIVE! Your denim just like your slacks should ALWAYS be tailored for YOU! Your jeans should hang 2/8 of an inch from the floor in your average shoe.
Now the cost of tailoring is nominal but not something that is MANDATORY to all premium clothing. Your inseam may be 30 but when you put on your shoes and measure 2/8 from the floor it will most likely be longer than that. This is why you want your denim to go that low. It lengthens the leg line and makes us look taller. Most tailors will do it for less than $20.00. Sure is a lot cheaper than having your legs stretched and less painful than wearing high heels like us girls. Damn you guys have it easy!
Shame on me…
| February 9, 2012 | Filled under 7 for all Mankind, Abercrombie & Fitch, Agave Denim, Agave Nectar, DENIM TECHNOLOGY, Diesel, EDITORIAL, Marc Allison, Paige Premium Denim, Replay, Supima Cotton, VIDEOS |
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““By: Casey Golden aKa The Butt Therapist
Shuffling to and from work you see a lot of #denim butts in a NYC subway. Not only am I searching out my train route but cataloguing every pocket detail and brand stamp on passing derriere’s. There was a girl holding hands with her bf walking up the stairs in front of me with great pocket placement and a killer wash. The word Maj was lightly under dyed on the right rear pocket. It went in to my notes of things to research… 3 days later I got a twitter message from Marc Allison Jeans. When I pulled up the website there was the Maj logo. My curiosity got the best of me… as usual; I had to get them on!
Shame on me… for not searching out Maj Denim before they found me; Thank you twitter! I’ve got radar finding people making jeans in their living room to passionate production on tiny tropical islands. A textile mill in LA turned to denim brand… how could I miss it? I wish working ridiculous hours a week was a good enough excuse! Passionate denim heads have a way of finding each other if not to just talk shop with someone who gets it.
Marc Allison Jeans introduced a revolution in premium denim. The collection is made of a completely new fabric that no other brand offers – “a four-way X-FIT stretch denim infused with Supima cotton that makes for a stunningly flattering fit, extraordinary movement and comfort with great recovery. Based in Los Angeles, Marc Allison Jeans was co-founded by textile veteran and premium denim expert, Marc Flashberg and his wife Allison. The duo set out to design classic and sophisticated jeans with an emphasis on fit and comfort that naturally complements every woman’s individuality and sense of style. A 30-year veteran in the textile business, Flashberg developed a driving passion for premium denim at the onset of the denim explosion. After spending years introducing innovative products to top premium denim labels, it became clear to Flashberg that there was a void in the market. Until now, the belief was that fit and comfort was achieved primarily through the pattern. Flashberg realized that the pattern alone cannot offer fit and comfort. Jeans need to be able to move with the body, retain their shape and look good. He concluded that this level of fit and comfort can only truly be achieved through the fabric, which then complements the pattern. Pulling from his early experience in knits, five years ago Flashberg came up with the revolutionary idea of creating a four-way stretch denim to provide the ultimate in fit and comfort for denim aficionados.
Through further exploration of the concept, the mill Marc represented learned that Invista, a global integrated producer of polymers and fibers, had already begun research on the creation of a yarn that would allow denim to stretch in the length as well as the width. Working together with Invista, the XFIT was born and the first generation of fabric that offers fit, comfort and recovery was introduced to the market. Every pair of Marc Allison Jeans features this T400 technology — authentic ring spun yarns containing unique fiber memory that sculpts the body and maintains its shape day after day, wash after wash. Marc Allison jeans have been sold at Theory, Fred Segal Girl, Lisa Kline and other specialty boutiques in the United States, Canada, Dubai, Lebanon, Israel and England.” BUY NOW
With the rising cost of cotton many brands have been blending synthetic fibers like polyurethane, spandex and elastane to compensate for cost and improve their fit retention in the past 3 years. Fit aside, it doesn’t take a genius or a skilled eye to create a nice dark jean. Wether it’s a mercer wash or saturated in indigo the skill comes in the ability to wash the garment beautifully. This is what has made Diesel stand out in the market for decades and one of the reasons they use 100%, 99% and 98% cotton blends. It gives them the ability to manipulate the indigo shades and process wash treatments when using a higher natural fiber percentage. In contrast, most Paige Jeans are currently made with 40% polyethylene and focused on pretty basic washes. I dare Mrs. Geller to make the Hidden Hills in a Medium light wash again. xox
Dying synthetic fibers naturally or chemically treating them to look naturally faded is not the easiest task. So, when Marc asked me which pair of their Fall 2012 collection jeans I was most interested in seeing I chose the Selly in the powder wash. Impress me with a stretch fit in a unique shade and killer wash treatment. Impress is just what they did. Having a light washed stretch jeans with a unique wash treatment is not easily accomplished and not many brands are trying these days. When brands are focused on marketing budgets, material costs, production locations vs brand dilution you are seeing a lot of skinny dark jeans trending... p.s Miss Fashionista, this is the most cost-effective to produce. It says a little bit about your brands priorities… get a techy addicted to denim and he’s gonna find a way to re-create the denim not just the pattern. Marc has some major props in my book as he and his wifes initials will be stamped on my ass; because Marc Allison Jeans are sexy… easy as that.
Personally, I am a tough fit. I grew up as a gymnast and have the lower body that still reflects a solid frame. I am a 150 lbs size 4 (27) with a VERY short rise. A high rise jean on me grazes the bottom of my bra; comedy. Since I have been a size 2-14 all in a matter of weeks I have had the opportunity to know first hand how my body changes from a size 6 to a size 10. Living in denim everyday it required weekly purchases as I dropped a large amount of break-up weight. That’s a whole other story. This is how I was able to use my body as a reference to fit my clients. I’ve been a size 12..I get it and I’ve been a size 2 I understand! That combined with personally fitting over 5,000 butts effortlessly, men or women continue to come to me for my denim picks- I can save a lot of time and sometimes a few tears.
My personal best fitting jean as a size 27 is Abercrombie & Fitch and Hudson’s Couture Collection (hard to find but retails around $305.00). However, being a denim connoisseur A&F dosen’t offer the quality and details I prefer but damn they fit me like a pair of jeans should. That is until my left leg falls off when I get out of my car. Being addicted to denim I have favorites that I will wear day in and day out purely because my jeans are works of art not because they fit the great or give me the best toosh… I am over what my toosh looks like in a pair of jeans- pocket placement will not detour me if the jeans are badass! We are Replay are coveted in my closet; one day they will be framed. The second I buttoned the Marc Allison Jeans I knew they had done it; they have created the RIGHT fit for me. Finally, I get a pair of jeans that fit the way I want them to while not having to sacrificing on quality and production value structures. I spend all my energy helping other people find their perfect fit and here I was still looking for the perfect mix of quality, passion, and fit for my go to jeans. I know I will not get everything I want for me and you in one collection… but I am getting closer to creating the GOLD BAR my picks for all the attributes that can make a pair of jeans coveted.
Marc Allison Jeans run about a size big. Don’t lie to yourself BUY THE RIGHT SIZE! If you are a STRONG 28 in 7 for all Mankind by a 27. If you are a size 30 go ahead and buy a size 30 in the regular rise and a 29 in the mid-rise; my adjustment should correlate properly. The Selly is a lower rise, with a curved-waist band that slopes in the front just enough to graze my hip bones and keep my lacy whites under cover when I sit. They look like REAL jeans… and feel like jeans not jeggings! They move with me while keeping my pockets where they are supposed to be- 3/4 of an inch below the bottom of my fanny. With all this stretch in the market place your pockets are dancing behind you moving all over the place while you walk… have a friend video tape it… it’s interesting! I have thighs. Generally they pull jeggings and high stretch jeans down off my toosh and I am continually pulling them back up-giving my pockets placement no permanent home on my toosh. Maj jeans stay in place while you walk, do not provide Shar pei wrinkled legs or smiley face butt cheeks. They are a winner in my book…
Marc Allison Jeans is made with a unique Supima Cotton (Made in the USA) overlay to create a soft hand. Only a few denim brands use it in their fabric blends because it is more expensive to use. Agave Jeans is another company that supports Supima Cotton “it’s the best!” Your knowledge as a consumer is the key to your closet! Know what you buy, who you are buying it from and make sure you LOVE every piece. You have been shopping for at least a decade for yourself… if you can not grab 12 items in your closet that you LOVE “you’re FIRED! It is in your best interest to outsource the service. Find a pro, you will find yourself with a better wardrobe, cooler pieces, more style and a lot of saved cash by buying only a few AMAZING pieces a year. You choose who makes it and who doesn’t in this industry… choose passionately!
All my denim love,
The Butt Therapist
Q&A: My butt is disappearing…
| January 20, 2012 | Filled under 7 for all Mankind, AG Jeans, Agave Denim, Cone Denim, Diesel, Matias Denim, MENS STYLE TOPICS, Paige Premium Denim, PPD, Q&A, RRL Denim |
QUESTION: Hi – thanks for your expert advice and website. I’m 65, 6’ tall 185 pounds and wear jeans every day. I have a variety of diesel jeans washes but mostly Shazor style. I like the low rise but I have a hard time keeping them up. My butt is disappearing. I’ve been wearing 32X32. I think it’s time to venture into a different brand but know little about the others. I like to dress with style, and with a bit of an edge. I wear sports jackets, sweaters, vests, or just a dress shirt or T-shirt. Can you offer any suggestions on brand and style of jeans that will look age appropriate but with style and pizzazz? No grandpa jeans for me, please. Thanks.
All the best,
David
ANSWER: …. David, Thank you for your email… I can’t tell you how nice it is to still be slinging #jeans and not having to worry about inventory availability, an open to buy, or juggling multiple clients. I get to tell you what is the BEST for YOU not sell what I have! I think this is what they might call freedom! 32×32 is a pretty easy fit… and Diesel is one brand that has a part of my heart personally as it’s one of my “toosh’s” preferred fit!
However, YES!– there are more options. Let your mind be at ease; the disappearance of your behind is not entirely you. The waist band of Diesel jeans has changed slightly over the past few seasons and very different from a few years ago. The circumference of the waistband and yolk have become closer to the same measurement… meaning you may find that they are falling down not that your ass is on strike! Have a tailor take in the waist of your Shazor jeans.. you should be able to get it done for about $20 bucks.
Because you wear jeans everyday and they are acceptable work wear in your profession I have given you more than 3 options to ignite your denim addiction. I can tell that your collection is strong and you are not scared of a little experimenting, I know you own it! So, here are a few fav’s that I think could take your days into evening and freshen up your entire wardrobe and maybe adding a little bit of a punch when it comes to your business casual style. p.s Agave has the BEST @SupimaCotton shirts! I love them!!!!!!! Again… MADE IN THE USA!
Matias Denim
When you want something that isn’t on a billboard but made in a studio try on my friend Matias’s denim… cool cat and has great vision. I am happy to say he finally made it in to my old #denim store right before I left… I hope the sell-thru is treating him well. Well deserved success.
RRL by Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren is one of the 5 men in the Industry that I admire greatly…and would give him my career. If only I could be a part of his succession plan. The RRL line is STRONG these #jeans are masculine, hearty, well-made and have good ol’ American grit! I am going to guess that your denim is all blue… Next to Yellow blue is my favorite color, however, from my experience your shirts are also mostly blue. So, how about throwing some brown denim into the mix and pairing it with your grey, black and blue shirts and plaid sport jackets. Don’t be scared to mix your warms and cools aKa STOP MATCHING! OWN IT!
Hudson Jeans
When you’re meeting the guys for a game of poker or watching the game at home these jeans are like pajama’s… not that I am saying we should be wearing pajama’s all day or that RAW denim isn’t worth earning but at least they are disguised and help out the #NoAssAtAll syndrome everyone is sweat pants suffers from.
Langport Five Pocket Slim Straight $178 in the Smithfield wash
- Front rise: 9.75”
- Inseam: 34.5”
- Leg opening: 16.5”
- Fabric Weight: 9.75 oz
- Fabrication: 98% cotton, 2% Elastane
- Made in the USA of imported Italian fabric
- M235DHA-SMF
Agave Denim
TRIPLE INDIGO FLEX NO.: 12-478
Made in the USA made by Cone Mills USA; the oldest denim mill in the country still operating with a mission for original human perfection. “This 10 oz, 72% cotton 28% Elastrell, blue/black T400 stretch denim is AWESOME for dressing up with a blazer to make a statement out on the town! It is minimally processed to a dark, rich indigo with a slight resin shine”- AD. I adore Jeff the owner of Agave, he is the most denim passionate person I have had the pleasure of meeting. He takes pride in every stitch and each indigo dip. His mission “to make the best jeans in the world” he uses only the BEST textiles, the oldest family run mills in the world. Not only a CEO but is also the head designer… he takes it personal.
Classic Fit, Straight cut, Zipper Fly
10″ front rise, 15″ back rise, 17.” knee,
16.5″ bottom, 35″ in seam
AG JEANS
The Protegé Cord in Super Black
MFGSKU:1049VTC-F $176.00
When your closet is bursting with indigo it’s time to explore your denim alternatives… I have explored and AG makes my favorite washed chords for men AND WOMEN… they are sexy as hell! Dress it up or dress down. p.s Agave also makes killer denim alternatives. BUY A 31!!!!!!!
The Slim Khaki Pant also by AG Jeans- Mr. Woo you’re killing #7Fam!
Mineral Grey Basic
MFG SKU:1137EST $138.00
The Geffen
MFGSKU:1109USF $235.00
If I am not pivoting on the heel of my Manolo for a pair of @DieselUSA jeans walking by- I am spilling my coffee over this 10 years soft @AGJeans is a live in that rarely is folded in the closet- it can easily be found lying on the ground. A slouchy slim that is loose in the hip and streamline the leg line giving the illusion of an extra inch in height (relative to your choice of shoes). David I trust your choice of foot wear…I did my research =-)
Thank you for your supporting this passionate pain in the ass and submitting your denim dilemma… I hope I was able to offer you some alternatives to the “same old thing” rut and have helped you tame duplicate purchasing. As a product junkie there are so many options that I could never imagine buying multiples of much! Enjoy your denim shopping and playing with your style. 2012 is a new year and its the best season to load up on denim. If you have any problems locating a retailer near you let me know and I’ll see what I can do.
p.s I think you would like PPD by Paige Premium Denim but I didn’t like any of the washes they offered this season same with Earnest Sewn.
All my denim love,
your Butt Therapist
Agave Denim F11 “just for the men”
| January 14, 2012 | Filled under Agave Denim, MENS STYLE TOPICS |
Some may say that it is too late for Fall ’11; but it’s never too late to highlight greatness and this is just a little reminder that if you were late on getting there a season early… hurry up and get your #denim!
Designer Jeff Shafer focuses on fabric and fit. He considers designing an art and only works with hand- picked luxury fabric from boutique denim mills in Japan and Italy. He chooses U.S. Supima cotton for his knit wear in both the men’s and women’s collections. In the Fall 2011 collection he has created new finishes with vintage washed t-shirts, merino wool sweaters and launched leather jackets to complete the look.
-The Agave Gold Label are limited edition selvage jeans that are numbered and signed. This seasons dark 1930’s rinse is Cone White Oak made Selvage.
Jeff top picks for fall are:
Vintage black denim and colored yarn dye denim in muted Autumn
Denim and cord with some stretch for comfort without losing the authentic denim look or feel …stretch for guys. Most fabrics Shafer uses 98/2 percent cotton elastane as this gives comfort and yet retains shape.
Cotton moleskin and flannel blend add a unique denim alternative
Italian vintage washed cords are a fall must
Supima cotton long-sleeved t-shirt’s come in a wide color range with contrast stitching
Honeycomb merino wool cardigans
Chunky knit alpaca blend cardigans
DENIM-Made in the USA
| October 18, 2011 | Filled under 7 for all Mankind, A Tailored Suit, Agave Denim, Agave Nectar, Cone Denim, DENIM HISTORY, EDITORIAL, GAP Jeans, Hudson Jeans, Levi Strauss, Loomstate, Lucky, MENS STYLE TOPICS, Paul Smith, Real Men Real Style, Roy Denim, Self Edge, True Religion |
PART I: pub. 10/17/2011 #denim
The denim market is one of the most aggressive growing apparel markets in history that has directly affected our social normality; running parallel to that of computer electronics. Cotton prices have risen to an all time high; causing the denim industry to adjust. Demands for consumer price stability and margin maintenance have become two of the most important business aspects that are causing all businesses to refine their strategies during our questionable economic times. Thus, sending many manufactured goods overseas to be produced in order to keep companies in business and consumers happy with the prices they are used to. Denim has been coined an “American thing” however, are we loosing that “nickname” as more denim is being produced outside the USA. I would hope that the USA will retain its position as the largest denim consumer market (2010) and become the denim production Mecca of the world. Real Men Real Style and The Butt Therapist have come together for a little denim education and highlight a few denim addicted Americans designers that are making an industry statement by communicating their personal integrity through their business operations by producing denim products that are Made in the USA. “You can support your country one jean at a time.”
From the beginning of Levi Strauss in 1869, the work man’s functional uniform, to casual Friday’s, and denim debuting on catwalks across the globe. Denim has gone beyond the borders and the social benches to create global social unity or as I like to refer as “the blue universal language”. When it comes down to spending your dollar wisely more people are making it a priority to find out where the products they buy are produced and an increased number of consumers are taking the company’s mission into consideration when deciding who to support before they hand their hard-earned dollar over the counter. The level of competition with-in various Jeanswear segments are at war with each other as they have been required to rethink their business and operation strategies to become most effective and streamline their manufacturing and distribution processes. The top three challenges companies are trying to prioritize are:
- Achieving Consumer Price Stability
- Maintaining the Brand’s Heritage
- Increasing Market Growth
Today a single product can visit as many as 8 countries before achieving product completion and being sale ready. To help you figure out where your dollar is going and decide where it will be going for future purchases we’ve broken it down to US denim mills, denim manufacturers, independent denim designers, and even a few retail stores that focus on selling only Made in USA products. It all starts with a piece of cotton and 25,000 farmer-owners that are committed to continually improving the denim manufacturing process.
American Cotton Growers (ACG) has a total capacity of 38 million yards of denim produced annually which is approximately 26 million pair of jeans; making them a major supplier of denim fabric to the jeans market for 35 years. Plains Cotton Cooperative Association is a farmer–owned,cotton marketing, warehousing, denim manufacturing and jean production cooperative headquartered in Lubbock, Texas. All from Littlefield, TX SafeDenim is “Sustainable, American and Friendly to the Environment”. Owned and operated by The American Cotton Growers—or ACG—and its farmer-owners are focused on developing high quality denim fabrics for our customers with minimal impact on the environment. American cotton literally created from field to fabric. For them it’s a multi-generational commitment to ensure our children and grandchildren can farm the land. We’re protecting our ecosystems for these future generations by remaining good stewards of the land, air and water. We value doing the right thing, in the right place, in the right way, at the right time, and it requires the use of new technologies.” -SafeDenim/ACG
Denim North America is the most modern textile plant in North America and committed to their manufacturing process to be 100%.
Made in the USA. They are developing and distributing innovative fabric to premium denim companies for global distribution. The newest innovation is the release of EverFlex (6/1/2011); a denim fabric that may be found as the next pair of jeans you buy. What this means is that any jean that has the patented EverFlex label is Made in the USA; even if the denim company chooses to constructs it’s denim outside the USA you can find comfort knowing that the fibers and production of the fabric are 100% USA Made. The EverFlex fabric is projected to hit the premium denim market that may include brands such as: True Religion, Lucky, 7 for all Mankind, Hudson and possibly Gap. So, EverFlex… is a NEW patented stretch denim fabric that retains its shape better than any other cotton based denim blend on the market to date. This means no more bagging out, stretching out, break in period or droopy butts.
White Oak Denim Mill (Greensboro, NC.) has been manufacturing denim since 1905 making jeans for a plethora of denim brands that put quality first. Cone Denim offers a denim companies to create collections that are 100% USA Made. Denim Brands like Loomstate, True Religion, Agave, and Paul Smith’s Red Ear are just a few examples.
“I walked in-between a web of 350 strands of cotton dancing in the air across a 100 year old wood floor that united each organized chaotic piece of thread into a rope the width of a silver dollar that was slapped around a ball warping machine. It looked like a giant friendship bracelet being made. Tchaikovsky would have been inspired for a melody and the orchestra would follow the rhythm of the 30 original shuttle looms that weave in unison and send an unduplicitable vibration through your bones; I could have stood there for an eternity. Possibly one of my most beautiful experiences confirming that I am a Denim Dork!”-The Butt Therapist
There are employees that have worked at White Oak for over 30 years. The stories they have of the process changes that have happened over the years through technology advancements and industry innovation with blends, dye, finishing treatments, and trends have warped through the decades makes for its own story. Making denim as an art itself; a magnificent creative process from a single cotton fiber to your favorite jeans on your toosh. Right-hand twill, Left, Flame woven, blends, slubs, and weaving patterns. Even with over 100 years of producing some of the best quality denim in the world even they are feeling the pinch with the economic changes that have forced more apparel brands to find manufacturing resources overseas in order to keep the COGS down as consumers are becoming less likely to pay premium prices for denim made in the USA. Every business that produces a product must retain a certain amount of margin to self-adjust and absorb changing production costs: cotton, fuel, shipping, labor, innovation, and quite frankly to keep them in business while the economy stabilizes and sales projections can begin to be more accurate. “We feel it comes down to education and passion” Lawson Nikol is a passionate denim head that is interested in a Blue Revolution. Co-founder Nikol of All American Clothing Company (based in Arcanum, OH) discovered on a retail floor that the company he proudly worked for by distributing USA Made Denim had been outsourced. This marked the beginning of him launching his own company to attempt to keep some denim Made in the USA to “support the heritage of jeans, American families and the American Dream.”- AAC. All American Clothing Company is the only listed denim manufacturer listed as Made in the USA Certified. Each jean is given a “Certificate of Authenticity” that allows you to trace the exact location your jeans were produced. You can buy All American Clothing collections online and in selected retail posts from California to New York City. The Nickol family prides itself on producing products patrons can be proud to wear. The family and the employees believe “The USA label will always stay on our jeans because you and we understand the importance of USA Made. When you buy a pair of All American Jeans our label also means; Thank you from us, our employees and the people in our country who still have good jobs due to folks like you. Thank you from all of us.” -Nikol
Handcrafted Denim from an artist to a collector; the process is worth the penny…
Roy Slaper is a single man handcrafting each pair of jeans Roy Denim available to buy only at Self Edge for around $275.00. Beginning in his apartment teaching himself how to sew; he now has one of the most impressive sewing machine collections and jeans in the USA! Roy feels that jean making is a lost art. It is not often enough that we think about our clothing as someone else’s work and trying to measure how much “work” went into the design and construction of our favorite shirt let alone our favorite pair of jeans. Roy experimented with many garments but made a business by designing and creating custom jeans. He learned as he went, taught himself a craft and refined it to just one thing; Denim, available in 2 styles, made perfectly by hand in Oakland, CA. He uses only the highest grade denim fabric that is he believes in and has worked with Cone Denim on several occasions to produce his ideal denim fabric.I wrote a 31 page article about Denim; Made in the USA however, overwhelming you with information is not my goal. Consider this PARTI of the Denim Saga.
All my denim love,
The Butt Therapist
———————————–Don’t forget to check out Antonio with Real Men Real Style
Answer:
Hey Rick,
DETAILS:
MAVERICK SLIM STRAIGHT SELVEDGE
Slim Fit, Straight Leg, Button Fly Jean – 10.25″ front rise, 17″ knee, 16″ bottom, 36″ inseam.
Each pair of jeans are signed and numbered.
7 YEAR SELVAGE
Your denim fabric is from the Kurabo Denim Mill, Japan; one of the absolute BEST This 12oz Selvage denim is 100% cotton with a 3 X 1 right hand weave. (this means something.. just take my word..i’ll update the denim dictionary). It has a slight beige tint that has been hand sanded… this means with a hand and a piece of sand paper! Includes side seam brushing, edge grinding, whiskers, chevrons & lightly stonewashed to a dark vintage shade. These jeans have been woven into denim fabric on 29″ vintage American shuttle looms then handcrafted and constructed in California, USA!
Love,
The Butt Therapist