For a long time it has been possible to buy clothing cheap and not know the true costs, by that I mean the thousands of Indian cotton farmers that have committed suicide in the last ten years or the thousand killed in the horrific Bangladesh factory collapse. Well there are alternatives. Today my new jeans arrived in the post and they were made in Wales. If you are a craftsperson you should look long and hard at these jeans and think about how you would feel opening this package and then think how you send your own work out.
I loved them before I put them on, actually when I put them on at first I wasn’t sure because they are very stiff, like jeans used to be, very tough, hard wearing and made to last. I am sure most folk would be horrified at the price but it is possible to pay more for naff designer label jeans. My last jeans were made by howies from tough thick organic cotton. They lasted 5 years. If these jeans do the same and I am sure they will they will cost less than £25 a year so they are good value. Why not treat yourself and wear your clothing with an easy conscience. see the story here http://hiutdenim.co.uk/
I can’t wait for my boots to be ready they will go so well with my new jeans.
I didn't realise Dave Hiatt had actually started this company. He set up howies, which is where I buy my jeans from. I bought my first pair in about 2004 when Dave was still there and had a similar experience to the one you had. Best fitting jeans I ever bought but they never lasted that well, every pair I bought failing at the same places after a couple of years. Hopefully the Hiut ones are better. Incidentally, Dave Hiatt also set up Do Lectures, which is where I met my wife in 2009!George.
I am a huge fan of David's work, he is an inspirational person, love the DO lectures, loved howies. I bought three pairs of organic cotton jeans from there about 5 years ago. They were an extra tough model of work jean with extra thickness on knees, they lasted 5 years, in fact I am still wearing the last pair occasionally. These new ones are very different. They feel incredibly stiff and heavy I hope that will mean they will be tough once worn in.
Robin, You made a very good point about the value of well made BJ vs cheap imports that don't last. Blue jeans of old only started to break in at one year, while newer jeans are essentially worn out in one year for all the major brands. Currently, researching USA made BJ and the prices vary from $30 to $200. My method was to where them for the first year for "dress" and then they become workwear. LEW
Good for you! I think it is vitally important that we support local economies and refuse to make it profitable to exploit workers and the environment.I wonder if there are any jeans stil made in the States?
Received my Hiut jeans this morning. I had to return the first pair because their 34" waist seems much bigger than usual so had to go for a 32". The fit is lovely. Really comfy jeans that seem to be made of stern stuff – time will tell if they last longer than the howies jeans. Thanks for the heads-up!By the way, there did you get your boots from?George.
Hi George the boots are from William Lennon if you click on where it says "boots" in the article above it will take you to the page about them.
Hi Robin, do you have an updateon the Jeans? Hiut are kust down the road from me, I should pay them a visit, I really like what they’re doing!
What sort of an update do you want? I have worn them probably fifty per cent of the time since May, have not washed them yet, they have softened nicely, look great and feel like they will do 5 years. I would be very happy to recommend them, in fact I need to get myself another pair.
Thanks for the pointer to Hiut, Robin. I have just placed my first order.
I have been buying Levi 751 jeans three pairs at a time roughly every three years and while they get lovely and soft after six months or so, they all go where the fabric folds near the thigh seam eventually.
Really looking forward to seeing how much better the fabric and construction in the Hiut jeans are.