Random questions to which you seek an answer
-
I am new to selvedge and am trying to understand a few things. I bought my first properly fitting pair(s), 14 oz & 20 oz, on Saturday and am enjoying the fit and break in. I also ordered a pair of IH's Sunday. I am totally stoked and beginning to see the appeal. For one, I really like things that improve with age, are durable and timeless. The initial cost can be high but if the value is there, I totally get it. My clothes tend to last a long time including my shoes and boots so the investment can be worth it.
There are a couple of things that puzzle me. I mean this in all respect and solicit your comments and perspective.
-
I see lots of people buying premium selvedge, focusing on fades and wearing through the jeans in just a couple years, blow outs, rips etc. I have a hard time getting my head around buying premium selvedge and destroying them in just a year or two. Is this mainline Denim head thinking or a small percentage of selvedge owners?
-
What is the difference between so called entry level selvedge, say N&F or unbranded vs premium selvedge, say IH? In some cases the the premium selvedge may be twice the cost of the entry level. Just curious here as I presume you could make a similar statement about comparing a Seiko to a Rolex. I do understand Brand value. It is fairly well know that Rolex's don't keep great time.
I am learning about the various combinations of denim components, dyes, patterns, thread thicknesses and consistencies, how these are combined and the wear and fade patterns they create. It is fascinating, there are so many possibilities and unique runs of patterns may never be available again. Very cool, so why try to wear the jean out and destroy them in the process when they literally can not be replaced? I would think that you would want to get to the fade and then protect the product. Again, is this mainstream or a minority?
I appreciate your insights as I learn more about the world of selvedge.
ThanksNoob
IH777S -
-
I think everyone wears denim for a different reason but in the we’re here cause for me this is the best brand. Why? I tried a lot in the last 15 years. But the quality the love and dedication that IH has the commitment, community and transparency is unique. Every IH denim is made with love. No single stitch is of and if so the boys will fix it.
About ‘abusing’ your denim, i know different kind of people and some go hard on there stuff and never look back and some baby there stuff. Both fine is my opinion. The coolest thing for me is to create a denim that’s molded to my body and has my unique kinda fades. So that’s just my 2 cents and i’m sure you’ll read a lot differ opinions cause we all do it our way. So welcome and enjoy brother!
-
@Luscombe I beat the shit out of mine.
Comparing IH to NF is like comparing a cabin cruiser to a dinghy-they're both boats, they both float but- -
@Heavy_blue said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:
to create a denim that’s molded to my body and has my unique kinda fades
100%
-
NF is a good start but when you go IH there is no way back
-
definitely nothing better than Iron Heart
-
Iron Heart's fabric development is unique. The mixture of comfort and durability is different from other brands.
As for wearing hard, jeans look great that way. -
@Luscombe It's each to their own in my view. There's no right or wrong way to treat your jeans. Some like to deliberately fade them with sandpaper (illegal in fade competitions, but that's different) or bleach them, some never wash them, some wear them 24/7 and only take them off to shower (one hopes!). You do you.
A few other thoughts:
When it comes to price, I like to focus on the cost per wear, rather than the headline price. Especially given that IH offers free repairs for as long as they're repairable, you can easily get more expensive items that will last longer down to pennies-per-wear. (Some other brands also offer repairs, though after seeing a guy in a store local to me repair a pair of Edwins with thread that was completely the wrong shade of blue, I'll be sending my stuff to IH's @JoshC for as long as he can repair them!) I have no experience with N&F, so no idea how they stack up in terms of longevity.
I am also trying to be more mindful of the environmental impact of my purchasing decisions. Buying 3 or 4 pairs of GAP jeans per year and discarding them once they have a blowout (like I used to) is not as good as buying a pair of more expensive but hardwearing jeans that should last me far longer.
Plus more expensive brands will usually keep some value after you're done with them or you change sizes, so you can usually send them on to a good home, and get some £ for them through whichever channel suits you. IHUK also offers their Re:LOVE service where they'll try to re-home them for you in return for a voucher if you can't be bothered selling yourself.
-
Suggest you do not read the last few posts in Random Announcements, you may question the veracity of said wisdom.....
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
-
@Nik said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:
As for wearing hard, jeans look great that way.
Agreed, I absolutely love the way a well faded pair of IH look. I personally like a well balance high contrast/vintage type fade with mine. I like the way the fades look on both denim tops and bottoms that is a raw, rugged type style. The fact that you can customize the fades by passively living your life is the coolest shit ever to me. As Marc Maron stated in one of his episodes of Maron
-
Thank you all for your comments!
Today the mailman was good to me. My IH777S-SLB 36 16 oz, Slubbys arrived. They fit nearly perfect and are super comfortable. I went from zero pairs of selvedge to (3), 2 NF and 1 IH in less than 5 days. Yes, the IH feel and fit better than the NF. They are comfy right out of the box, wow. Looks like limited break in!So, now where my travels take me, I will be on the look out for IH stores to confirm my size/fit so I can buy new special releases online as I am several hours away from any BM store.
This community is awesome and I really appreciate the responses to my post.
I will definitely be investing in some more IH Jeans.My only regret is that it took me this long to discover them.
I think I will now take a bath in my jeans.
Noob
IH777S -
-
@Matt said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:
@Luscombe congratulations. Good choice. These are one washed, so you really don’t need to take a bath in them. unless that’s a sex thing in which case enjoy yourself. We don’t judge here.
Yes, completely unnecessary, we have one-washed them. All having a bath will do is get you wet and the bath blue...
-
-
@Heavy_blue said in Random questions to which you seek an answer:
My first 634 will come in
now you‘re getting serious
-
