Random questions to which you seek an answer
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I went scouring and found this post by Beatle, so I am pretty sure they have it:
pretty much the same , different sole…and laces
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Oh and to answer my own question about soles etc:
http://www.russellmoccasin.com/soles.html
in case any one was interested.
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had a forum member call me & ask me why do we spend so much on jeans & then try to beat the shit out of them? wouldn't it make more sense to try & keep them in as good condition as possible cause they are limited quantities & expensive as hell.
i couldn't disagree with him so i laughed my a$$ off & post the question here.
oh & thomas i would go with the russies
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had a forum member call me & ask me why do we spend so much on jeans & then try to beat the shit out of them? wouldn't it make more sense to try & keep them in as good condition as possible cause they are limited quantities & expensive as hell.
i couldn't disagree with him so i laughed my a$$ off & post the question here.
Actually, I like this question
It also goes along the lines of "should I wash every nine years to get nice fades/oil the patch every 30 mins" type question
Opinion #1: part of the enjoyment of nice jeans is wearing them. It's hard to appreciate the workmanship if you don't use the item for it's intended purpose. IronHeart demonstrates a high level of production quality, and that is reflected in it's hand feel and durability. You can't "get" that without wearing the clothing items.
I've been collecting knives for a while now. When I first started, I would obsess over my knives and how flawless they are. I would open and close them, watching to make sure I wasn't overworking the locking mechanism, because I wanted it perfect and shiny to show off or possibly resell. Well, those knives never got to be shown off because they were sitting in storage all the time, and holding onto something for the possibility of reselling is boring
Really, the satisfaction of ownership was all I got out of it. Being able to brag that I have a mint knife was the most fun I would get out of my $600 purchase
Then one day I said "fuck it" and carried the knife. And then it got used. And I learned how to appreciate something with a high level of craftsmanship. The knife opened effortlessly, felt great in the hand, and cut light a lightsaber. It was amazing
If you're satisfied with having bragging rights of owning a mint piece of IH gear, the more power to you. But you'll never "get it" without putting it through it's paces
Opinion #2: Overall, it seems like many around here dislike pre-distressed denim. Why? It's artificial. It doesn't reflect you or your lifestyle. Pre-distressing is only about "the look" and not "the life"
So when people refuse to wash their jeans for a year for "kewl fadez", it's artificial. When people slather huge amounts of Obenaufs on their patches to obtain a shade of brown they like, it's artificial.
If you really want to "get" work wear…work and play in your gear. Wash as necessary. If you need to stick your nose to your clothes to determine if it's time to wash, you're over thinking it. If your patch cracks (and I don't remember seeing this happen on an IH patch unless you boil your jeans), stuff it full of beeswax and move on. Or just move on and let that fucker crack
If you're treating your work wear any different than a pair of $30 Dockers from Target, you're pre distressing your jeans. It's just taking you longer than it would for Guess Jeans to do it for you
Just my two cents
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truth there's not that many people who truly beat the shit out of their expensive jeans. myself I lead a fairly gentle life, and am fortunate enough to be able to afford my expensive jeans. I'd have to go out of my way to tear them up and I dont often do that. I don't really baby them but I don't go out of my way to get them dirty, most of the time I put a towel over my lap when feeding my baby so she doesn't blow mushy peas all over my thighs. I live in my jeans as much as I can but that's about as far as it goes.
Oh and straight to the contrary of your friends perception, some of us do have jeans we consider special for one reason or another that are "in the vault" so to speak.
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Doug that is my single favorite post I've seen on this forum - so spot on.
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I see both sides of the issue. My first pair of raw jeans were apc, posted below. Prior to that time, even $150 seemed like a ripoff. After that time, I began to appreciate what it's like to have a pair of jeans that are truly your own. I'd never go back. I also don't have a problem with every two years or so beating a pair of jeans. I doubt any of the modern jeans are going to an "investment." nonetheless, I don't really want to demolish my 27 because of how long it took to get to the point it's currently at. It's nice to have something that most don't, I think beat up jeans are a dime a dozen, relatively speaking.
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Sends like this is the kind of thing people are more obsessed about earlier in the "premium clothing" experience. That first time you plunk down $400 on a pair of jeans, you freak out about every little thing. Well, I did at least. But like Doug said, at some point you realize that the pleasure of having them is in the actual wearing of them. Life happens and you learn to accept that occasionally babies will puke in your lap. Well, maybe that just happens to me, but you see the overall point, right?
Everyone is different and has their limits, though. For instance, I wear my old crappy jeans for painting. Paint spots are the end of a pair of jeans as far as I'm concerned. Same thing with holes- instant relegation to beater status. Others consider that sort of thing beautiful. Whatever works for each person is fine. Basically, if you bought it, you can use it however you want. Don't worry about anyone else's perception of the "right" way to wear jeans.
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Future thread title suggestions from me…..
"Jeans, are they good"
"Jackets, for when it's cold"
"Bags, carry more stuff than pockets" -
And not forgetting….
"Introducing Denim, Canvas' Tougher Brother"
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I'm just spamming now, so i"ll shut up
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I really like your post Doug.
My thoughts are that denim should reflect you lifestyle and movement and end up telling a story of sorts. Too frequent a washing regime and you effectively diminish the ability of the fabric to speak for itself.
On the other hand, I certainly don't subscribe to the idea of only washing your denim every 9 months and trying as hard as possible to wreck the jeans in the shortest time period possible before moving on to a new pair. That to me smacks of an instant gratification culture that this type of clothing is/should be the antithesis of. A little care goes a long way - consider it an investment in terms of ensuring that your clothing lasts and lasts. There's no way people should be seeing crotch blow-outs on 6 month old jeans (particularly IH) and simple things like soaking them every other month can reduce the chances of that happening. This is beautifully crafted clothing built to withstand the rigours of life and it can do so if you give a little back in the way of maintenance.
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shasavan7 hope your not too embarrassed by me posting your very good question. i thought it was great & deserved to be answered by folks that live & breath all this stuff, better late than never i always say
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oh & clop those jeans are groovy
nice post
