Repairs & Modifications

[seanocono]

I have two pairs of IH sz 38s (21oz, 23 oz) that I am thinking about taking to the Denim Doctor in LA to have brought in to a 36.  I have lost a bunch of weight lately, and I don't think it is coming back.  Can anyone speak to the quality of their alterations?  I've read some people on this thread were happy with their repairs, but haven't seen anything on alts.  Should I even do this?  Or should I just try to sell them?  I really love the jeans and they still fit well everywhere but the waist.  Part of me thinks that altering Iron Heart jeans are like a Victoria Secret Angel getting plastic surgery though.  I would really appreciate some outside opinions on this.  Thanks.

[Finn666]

@seanocono:

… I really love the jeans and they still fit well everywhere but the waist.

do it!…

[Finn666]

need to send my 634s-raw and my samurai s0500xx to the Denim Doctor in the UK as well…need to get them reinforced in the crotch, since the diy-repairs ain´t taking it anymore and also i´m goona let the 634s-raw hem and taper by 0.5-1" from knee down, so that i won´t have any excess denim anymore...gonna report back with pics as soon as i have´em back!

[seanocono]

@Finn666:

@seanocono:

… I really love the jeans and they still fit well everywhere but the waist.

do it!…

Thanks Finn.  That's what I wanted to hear.

[CLJ]

I've never had a pair of those. I don't throw too many leg kicks at work though…

[Guest]

Thanks to Snowy's FS thread I went looking for the SExSC06's and found this (courtesy of the Self-Edge website) , which is brilliant:

[xchen]

I had a pair of the SExSC06 when they were released and honestly Adam I think the general consensus was that the rectangular patch didn't do much to prevent crotch blowouts in the long run. However mine didn't blow out or anything but I did not size down and was about 20lbs lighter then than I am now and was quite slim.

Overall though, they were the coolest jeans I've ever owned hands down.

[Guest]

Thanks for posting your experience xchen.  I agree that the patch would not prevent all crotch blowouts.  I posted the picture because I thought it was relevant to the above ^^ discussion about the erosion of the stitching at the crotch seam, which the patch looks like it would help.

To your point, my blowouts have happened a few inches from the seam area, but my chainstitches have also eroded, so it would be nice to have that patch in retrospect.  Here's the repair on my sample pair of 23oz.  The stitching is black because that is the only color my tailor could find in super thick poly thread.  Mine was not a full blowout, it was simply a crease that had frayed away the indigo threads and created a small hole:

[xchen]

Those repairs look great - what I should have said about the rectangular patch… I feel like I read that it was wearing through for some people on the corners of the patch. Almost like that rectangular patch was increasing the stress on the fabric. I don't think they've used it on any collaborations since.

However, I also think Sugar Cane denim is more prone to wearing through than IH's in general.

[deadendpro]

The difference between the denim really doesn't account for too much unless the fit of the jeans are equally the same. as you noted above, the edges of the patch on the SEXSC jeans would be more prone to friction against the surrounding sides of the denim and so they would be more likely to wear through. That being said, if anyone wears their jeans exceedingly tight (or the cut is just slim, ex. 666, 301, FH3001, etc.) there is more friction and hence much more likely to wear through.

And agreed with xchen, those repairs look damn good adam.

[frankleighton]

Can anyone recommend a tailor in San Francisco or one I can ship to that could repair fraying on the cuff of my IH 634 25oz ? I'd assume they would have to undo the original stitching, repair the fraying and then redo the cuff stitching. I've been told I can have the stitched shorter but since they aren't cuffed I'm afraid they would then be high waters on me.

[Chris]

Take your jeans to Self Edge.  They have the tools and expertise to fix just about any problem you might have, and they're used to Iron Heart denim.  Be careful, though- while you're there, you just might be tempted to buy something.

[frankleighton]

Thanks for the reply but I asked self edge about this before and they just told me they would have to be hemmed shorter which is not what I'd like to do.

[scroogen]

I think you would have to reinforce the hem with extra fabric if you dont want to chop them any shorter… might look ridiculous since the 25oz denim is so thick.  I'm no expert but I suspect that maybe there isn't enough room on the hemline to use the darning machine?

[van Olzon]

Chopped my IHD-01 today. 2,5" gone. Perfect length now … and I really like the pockets
Sorry for the crappy pics

[Jordan23]

Perfect Olle! Nice Evo on your Sams as well.

[Simon]

Mending a blown seam on my Ooe's, its 100% cotton thread, so not unexpected?

[Finn666]

nope, nothing unexpected! all part of the game baby…

[Chris]

One of my least favorite things about cotton thread- it's just so weak.  Poly thread is such an improvement.

[Onairda]

Ugh what do I do? 
Long story, but appears the jeans had been taken in on the waist, then later restored to there original size.
Chain stitching on rear rise removed and replace, chain stitching around waist removed and replaced, missing belt loop in rear.