Best place to buy blue jeans.

[peter12]

There is a lot of romantic BS surrounding raw denim - like wearing your experiences etc... Marketing.

You are paying for a higher-quality fabric - normally woven in an established mill and sometimes made on vintage machines. Things like buttons and patches are also high quality.

That said, I love cheap denim too. I always have a couple pairs of $40 Levi 501s in tan and dark blue.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by peter12

There is a lot of romantic BS surrounding raw denim - like wearing your experiences etc... Marketing.

You are paying for a higher-quality fabric - normally woven in an established mill and sometimes made on vintage machines. Things like buttons and patches are also high quality.

That said, I love cheap denim too. I always have a couple pairs of $40 Levi 501s in tan and dark blue.

Agreed. Since Raw Denim has become popular, a lot of lower quality brands started releasing raw denim and charging more for it. It just meant they could charge more for a pair of jeans they didn't have to distress themselves.

If going for raw denim, it's extremely important to get a high quality jean.

As for cheap denim, I'm using a pair of wranglers right now.

However, I will say that a high quality pair of jeans will improve your appearance more than any other single item of clothing. Higher quality denim will also last longer. I also always avoid any boot cuts or tight jeans. A classic straight cut will always be in style.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by peter12

The Bay. Get the 501.

Originally Posted by peter12

Levi's 501. If you can find the shrink-to-fit raws, get them. They are around $100.

Originally Posted by peter12

501s, and recently, .

Originally Posted by peter12

The 501 cut, you fools!

Originally Posted by peter12

501s in tan and dark blue.

Does anyone have an opinion on 501s?

[Zarley]

Naked and Famous is my go to nowadays. Made in Canada brand with high quality denim and constructed durably. You can often find them on sale in the range of $100.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Also I'm curious how you guys wash jeans. For me, I flip them inside out, run a wash on cold, then air dry.

Only wash your jeans if they are visible stained or stink. And usually if they stink you can hang them outside for a day and they'll be fine.

Originally Posted by Zarley

Naked and Famous is my go to nowadays. Made in Canada brand with high quality denim and constructed durably. You can often find them on sale in the range of $100.

Same. I think I have 5 pairs of N&F jean in rotation right now. Made in Canada and their of great quality.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Does anyone have an opinion on 501s?

The truth! The truth! I must proclaim the truth!

[espada]

Originally Posted by Muta

I hope I'm not the only one wondering what raw denim is... aren't all jeans made of the same material?

Yes, denim is made from cotton, but the loom technology has changed over the last century.


Many of the old american denim looms were sold to the Japanese after WW2, so they have a legacy now of 'Selvedge' denim.... it tends to fray less when get gets worn. Its looms produce finished edges.


For the OP:

Personally I have worn 501s since the 80s, but am really liking the Tellason jeans from Brooklyn. Telluson is more of a work wear manufacturer, so their stuff is tough. Usually around $200, or wait for the regular 2 for 1 sales.

[sun]

Raw has no (technically one) wash. You start with a blank slate. Most people should start here, because it is a low risk move. Certain rinses and washes look great, but most are pretty bad.

Raw let's you impart your own wear and tear on your denim, instead of paying someone else to. My jeans started like this:

Spoiler!

And now look like this:

Spoiler!

(lens cap in the back pocket, not chew)

I've had them for 1.5-2 years and wore them probably 4-5 times/week for a lot of that. Hand-washed maybe 2-3 times. I'll patch the holes and keep wearing them. It's fun to see the evolution over time. It's nice to know they are totally unique.

APC has a "butler program" and will buy back your worn-out APCs and sell them for a premium.

[PepsiFree]

Question worth asking to the RAW folks:
Where do you go for repairs?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Question worth asking to the RAW folks:
Where do you go for repairs?

NAQP was supposed to get a darning machine. Otherwise, I just patch them myself.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by peter12

NAQP was supposed to get a darning machine. Otherwise, I just patch them myself.

They don't have one yet. Spoke with them a couple weeks ago after getting some jeans hemmed.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by rohara66

They don't have one yet. Spoke with them a couple weeks ago after getting some jeans hemmed.

That stinks. I blew the crotch out on my favourite pair of 1954 501z.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by peter12

That stinks. I blew the crotch out on my favourite pair of 1954 501z.

And from my research there isn't anyone local that specializes in jean repair. I'm holding out for another pair to need some work then I'll send them to Denim Therapy in the states... just sucks having to deal with shipping and the crappy exchange rate.

[DoubleF]

When you guys say mend, what end result are you guys actually implying? The videos I see leave all sorts of insane stitch patterns everywhere (darning machine). You guys actually like something like this on clothes? I've always thought using iron on denim patches inside the jean was the way to do it, but never found a pair for which I thought were worth salvaging.

http://www.amazon.ca/Denim-Iron-On-R...s+repair+denim

I've even read threads on cutting out pieces of denim from other hopelessly destroyed jeans and gluing them inside with fabric glue or other methods.

[PepsiFree]

I have a pair that I want crotch reinforcement done on since I've blown them out a few times.

Just can't see doing that myself.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

When you guys say mend, what end result are you guys actually implying? The videos I see leave all sorts of insane stitch patterns everywhere (darning machine). You guys actually like something like this on clothes? I've always thought using iron on denim patches inside the jean was the way to do it, but never found a pair for which I thought were worth salvaging.

http://www.amazon.ca/Denim-Iron-On-R...s+repair+denim

I've even read threads on cutting out pieces of denim from other hopelessly destroyed jeans and gluing them inside with fabric glue or other methods.

If darning is done correctly you can barely tell its been stitched up.... check out the before/after pics
http://denimtherapy.com/before-and-after-pics/

[sun]

Dutil Denim in Vancouver does chainstich hemming and repairs. I think they have a store in Toronto as well.

[pylon]

I always hunt them down in winners or marshals. I find buffalo fit me best, and they are usually about 50 bucks.

Pro tip. If you have a beige interior in your car, never, ever wear raw denim in them. The dye transfer will destroy you seats. Especially if they are cloth. We deal with it quite often, and there is nothing the manufacturer will do.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Does anyone have an opinion on 501s?

Late reply.

Levi's at Cross Irons doing a $50 each if you buy 2 regular deal right now. Clearance items are 50% off. Worth looking into. I finally went and checked them out last night and I was very impressed by the offerings. I nabbed 3 pairs I liked for $120 (My original budget for 1 pair) though arguably, 2 aren't blue jeans. I went to the Levi's outlet, grabbed a pair of each type other than skinny to try out and have the following thoughts.


Unfortunately, I am a heathen and I cannot say I have a favorable review of 501s for me personally due to my body shape. The fit isn't to my liking. No idea on the shrink to fits, but I find them too tight, especially around the crotch. Same for the 505.

510 and 511 are skinny fit so I didn't even bother.

I must mention that for Levi's, the fit on each varies greatly. I ended up nabbing pairs of the 514 and 541 (Straight and Athletic fits) which felt nice and roomy and surprisingly stretchy for jeans. The crotch is also very comfortable and not too tight which is easily my main gripe for many jeans. I was also impressed by several pairs of pants as they had a look that on passing glance could easily pass as Chinos/Khakis. There are a few others that have mentioned 541 and 514 in the thread and discussed their comfort merits as well.

I'd separate the styles types as follows:

510/511 - Skinny
501/501 shrink/505 - Regular (If this fit isn't for you, check out 514/541)
514/541 - Straight/Athletic fit.

Each category will also have Chino styled/color selections as well.

At the current price point (clearance sale), I would definitely say it is very hard to find a better value than Levi's. Definitely a solid option for jeans.

[lazypucker]

Can anyone explain what does it mean by Selvedged jeans?