Ask Giles and/or Alex Anything
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hey everyone, @Giles @Alex @Kasi @labrat @T4920
I have a question for iron-birds. What type of indigo is used for IH jeans or jackets, Indian indigo, or indigo grown in Tokushima, Japan?
Which type of indigo stands out more in the final product? What would the price difference be for the same pair of jeans if made individually with Indian indigo versus Tokushima-grown Japanese indigo?
Furthermore, I’d like to know if "natural indigo" is simply a marketing term, similar to "faux leather" or "faux shearling." How chemically pure is natural indigo? Does it still contain impurities like indigo-rubins or others? Also, what are the distinctions between natural, organic, and other types of indigo used in the Aizome dyeing process? -
Some of these questions are industry type questions that I don't really know the answers to. And the ones specific to Iron heart, I don't know the answer to either, and if I asked Haraki, he'd say, what does it matter? His basic premise is, does what I choose to use do the job I need it to do, if yes then sort of end-of.
"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
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Got it, @Giles!
My next question was going to be about the origin of the cotton-like how Momotaro uses Zimbabwean cotton—but I suppose I’ll keep those kinds of questions to myself now.
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Actually my answer to your first question was ill considered, I have updated it.
This is a more IH specific question, so I know the answer.
We don't use Zimbabwean cotton because Haraki says that it gives the denim a green caste that he dislikes.
So we use US.
"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
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@Giles thanks for brushing up on your answer.
US cotton mostly comes from Texas .. so Texan cotton, I guess -
@Giles Yes, indigo is initially green in its reduced (unoxidized) state and turns blue upon oxidation. That could be related to the type of cotton and the indigo used in the dyeing process. The Indigofera plant is green. how amazingly chemical processes turn green to blue hues.
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@Giles you are right .. it's like asking the BOSS slub number for slub-denim .. anyway, Thanks for the golden words
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Hahahha .. the legend himself can say anything and still get away with it .. Welcome to the club !!
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@Giles, have you ever considered enhancing the visual appeal of the jeans by adding the best pictures showcasing the patina, fades, whiskers, and wrinkles corresponding to each pair? This could highlight the denim's character and craftsmanship.
just a thought!
or a separate image gallery for fades for each pair of jeans... -
"I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)
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@goosehd thanks a lot
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@goosehd said in Ask Giles Anything:
@Hamza-Yunus See here: https://www.ironheart.co.uk/content/hall-of-fades
Thanks @goosehd and once we have the new website up and running @AdamJ will be updating and overhauling that section....
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Not sure if it's something you guys want to do for the updated hall of fades section, but I'd suggest to include photos of someone actually wearing the faded pants, maybe even matching them with different outfit combinations to highlight the "real-life" fades/evo.
