Raleigh Denim is a recent upstart in my area and they have gotten lots of good press. But their prices are way out of line as compared to what most people can afford and they appear to have gone exclusively up market. No hipsters shopping here. But it is a marketable business idea.Mass-production as an apologia for low quality doesn't really work for me- neither does denying the benefits for the buyer, of anything made by talented and conscientious craftspeople from the finest of materials. As to the economics of this on a global scale, just how many excess items of apparel are there lying around the world's wardrobes? Go down any High St and count the clothes/shoe/handbag-shops. I'd much rather have 85-90% fewer items in my possession, if they were proportionally upscaled in quality. .....
Lately I have been liking Lucky's jeans. But that is only because I found a bunch at the thrift store and they fit perfectly. They are much nicer than most levi's I own but should be for around $100 retail.
I was referring to the use of loop dying machines and original shuttle looms. Artisan goods. Heritage cloth with character that is made by craftsmen in small quantities, as opposed to modern computer controlled projectile looms cranking out soulless denim. I'm not suggesting it's for everyone. It's for those that appreciate quality goods that last. There are reasons to pay more other than a designer label or stupid pocket designs.
But a Morgan is.
So I scoured Suzhou last night- Levi's, Lee and G-Star "raw" are about the only jeans you can get. the 501s really are the default pair of denims I'd say and i really liked the buton-fly version, but at $120 it's a hard sell. G-Star make me sick- they sell "raw" denim that looks like it's been washed 100 times and charge a fortune for it. Lee 729s fit me well but are a bit thinner than the 501s.
Can you just try some on and figure out the size and I could mail you a pair? I wonder if you can ship denim from USA to Suzhou?