There's no Such Thing as a Stupid Question

[tody]

@alexpupin

@tody said in We know you love IH, but where do you think we can improve?:

If you have time (as it loads really slow), access the old extinct section through archive.org:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220123154722/https://www.ironheart.co.uk/extinct/

[edgarallanpoe]

I bought my first Iron Heart denim shirt and I love it. Does anyone have any tips on how to soften it up a bit as I break it in? My issue is that I have a bit of a beer belly and when I sit down the shirt will crease right under my belly. Rofl.

[Oaktavia]

You could try leaving the bottom button unbuttoned.

[sabergirl]

I wish the extinct section still existed! I used to look at it almost daily. Really came in handy—and the forum threads often don’t have measurements.

[pechelman]

Honestly, just wear it and it will calm down and crease where it needs to. It's part of the journey.

[Mizmazzle]

@edgarallanpoe wear it nonstop during the day and while home chilling. Maybe take a nap or two in it…if you really want to go all in sleep in it a few times…or all the time.

[jonpwn]

What is the secret behind the diehard IH folks in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, etc) that their heavyweights have so much contrast? Is it the humidity? Being closer to the sun year round??

[popvulture]

@jonpwn I feel like most theories I’ve heard attribute it to the humidity. All I know is that I’d be dying if I wore my IH in a climate like that, haha.

[Oaktavia]

@jonpwn that and some of the images floating around Instagram are totally unwashed denim after lots of consistent wear mixed with sweat, dirt, oils, etc.

[Oaktavia]

@popvulture said in There's no Such Thing as a Stupid Question:

All I know is that I’d be dying if I wore my IH in a climate like that, haha.

I really don't understand how folks do it...walking around in dirty, damp heavy denim all day long. That's gross imo. I guess it's worth it to some people for the fades.

[Alex]

I suspect that natives of Bangkok maybe better adjusted to the heat than you guys @Oaktavia @popvulture

[jonpwn]

I cannot imagine wearing 21oz beyond 27C/80F along with humidity but that's just me.
I'm sure like Alex said these guys are acclimated to the climate.

I know that sweat is a huge contributor to blowouts and other tears so that's why I'm confused on how these guys are able to go so long without washing.

[Oaktavia]

@Alex absolutely but I don't think I would ever get used to the feeling of heavy damp denim on my...bits

[Fadez]

@jonpwn I’ve thought about this a lot. There are a few things I’ve come up with personally. The first and probably the most important is that they stick to one pair at a given time and wear it all the time. Depending on the labor of a given denim head, this greatly speeds up the process. We have a few here too, my mind comes to @Cutlasshound and @Jcaz6996 and @RoxRocks86 for working in your workwear folks.
Secondly I think is the washing techniques. Since it is hot and humid along with being worn, jeans get washed quite a bit. Differently than in the west. There are a few common ways. The hose down and dry. The bucket wash with powder detergent. And the sea/sand wash. Unless they live by the sea, chances are that this isn’t happening too often.
Lastly, there is a culture of preservation. Buying expensive denim isn’t in the cards for everyone. So when someone commits to a piece, it will worn for many years. It will be taken care of and repaired when needed. So over time with heavy wear and maintenance one can get super wild fades.

I am speaking from mostly a Vietnamese perspective in this post. I certainly don’t speak for the people themselves. Just observations from the daily life of friends and monastics. Hope this helps!

[goosehd]

@Oaktavia …but how many people do you know who can sleep in their denim.

[Oaktavia]

@goosehd only tops but fair point no less.

[Cutlasshound]

I tend to wear mine for a bit and then simply just wash them when they need it! In a good old fashioned washing machine nonetheless!

Have a pair of 21oz jeans that I turned into shorts and I actually find them to be more breathable/comfortable than the IH wabash painter pants that I turned into shorts.

[RoxRocks86]

I’m in the same camp as @Cutlasshound - wear & wash as needed. 21oz softens up quite a bit and gets more breathable as it gets worn and torn imo. When I started getting into denim I definitely couldn’t understand how anyone could wear such heavy, thick material, but you adapt to it.

[popvulture]

I deffffffinitely agree with that. IH stuff blew me away with the weight at first, but now I feel like I'm wearing no pants if I go below 18oz . And although I don't do it exclusively by any means, I've worn XHS in the summer plenty of times and been just fine.

[Denman John]

I’m sure this question has been asked many times, so one more time if you don’t mind… Why does it seem like a lot of people don’t like to wash their denim? Is it for the high contrast fades? structural reasons? Etc.??? I see people posting things like ‘320 wears, 1 wash and 2 soaks’ Please enlighten me.