In just a few short years, Raleigh Denim has steadily grown into a full-fledged premium denim brand, maintaining their humble outlook as a brand dedicated to quality, craftsmanship (their jeans are handmade), fit and style; as well as sustainability (they source and employ locally). Denim Therapy caught up with co-founders Victor and Sarah Lytvinenko, to find out why Raleigh continues to make jeans from scratch in their hometown and what’s next for this cult denim label.
Denim Therapy: How’s the line doing at Barney’s Co-op? Is it difficult for Raleigh Denim to produce large orders?
Raleigh Denim: The line is doing really well at Barney’s. Our first few orders tripled or doubled and that was a little tricky to keep up with (we have some great pictures of our friends and family helping us pack orders the week before we shipped), but now it’s not a problem. Barney’s gets that we need to do things a certain way in order to have a good, happy, long-lasting brand. They understand our philosophy, have facilitated our growth.
DT: Which style/wash of your denim collection literally flies off the shelf? and is there a “must-have” pair of jeans for Spring/Summer 2011?
RD: Our “Original” jean is based on the first style we were really proud of. We have updated it with triple needle fell seams and tighter stitching details all around. It has an interesting shade of 12.5oz denim with a tinted weft allowing the denim to break in a little greener than normal indigo.
DT: It’s obvious that you two are very proud Raleighnians. How has basing your entire empire in Raleigh influenced your creative direction?
RD: There is a strong, talented group of creative people here; we all hang out and feed off of each other creating synergy between our different disciplines. We have an amazing community of friends and family… they’ve played a huge role in helping us starting Raleigh Denim. For our first big order two years ago, our moms came in to iron the out-seams of the jeans, our friends helped us snip and fold and pack and my dad put in all the rivets with a hand press. We really wouldn’t be anywhere without NC’s support.
DT: Congratulations on opening your first private store, The Curatory. (Awesome name by the way.) What kind of experience did you want to create for people who visit The Curatory?
RD: Thanks!! We sold jeans from our first warehouse space to a few brave people who ventured to the edge of town to our unmarked building. We wanted to preserve a little bit of that grit – production is not sexy – but to also create a showcase for the end results. We chose to link the two visually, with a sliver of eye-level window running the length of the store. At any point, you can see through to us making things!
DT: What is your current favorite trend?
RD: I love waistcoats. And ties. Not really dressy ties, but ties worn all which ways, messy, casual, bow ties, thin ties…I think guys should wear ties way more often. They are such great accessories, especially if you look beyond the standard, corporate office style.
DT: What’s a day in the life of Sarah and Victor like? What keeps you sane? What makes you happy?
RD: A day in the life of Sarah and Victor…wake up, snuggle with our cat, Mr. Magneto, head to the shop, sew, fix machines, tweak patterns, make markers for cutting fabric… tacos for lunch. We have a Tuesday/Thursday taco tradition. Jon named it S.H.I.T.T. which stands for: “So Happy It’s Taco Tuesday/Thursday!”
Raleigh Denim is now in 20 Barneys Co-op stores. Due to Raleigh Denim’s cult status amongst men and women, a new women’s denim collection will launch this fall, along with a full men’s ready to wear collection for Fall 2011. Also for Fall, Raleigh Denim is using four denims and one canvas that was developed exclusively with Cone Denim. Thanks to Raleigh Denim for taking the time out of their busy schedule to answer our questions! Don’t forget to check out Raleigh Denim online and follow them on Twitter!
—Michelle Christina Larsen & Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: Cone Mills, interview, q&a, Raleigh Denim, Sarah Lytvinenko, Victor Lytvinenko, White Oak
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, avant-garde Milanese brand Ring brings us drop-crotch cropped jeans for the summer, as well as two-toned coated jeans which look a bit like denim cutoffs sewn together with another pair of jeans’ legs. Maybe it sounds odd, but to us the spring summer 2011 lookbook looks more like a rebellion against boring, everyday denim.
As progressive as Ring may be, the brand’s minimalist tailoring is quite wearable even for the less adventurous, thanks to the lack of distracting, superficial design. Ring’s Founder Selene Busatta launched Ring Milano in 2004, originally set out to rework classic pieces into avant-garde works of art that is open to interpretation, made individual through one’s own styling choices. We were, of course, also impressed with the men’s and women’s denim, which exhibits deep, three-dimensional whiskering, honeycombing and tasteful additions of “dirty” wash, which stretches the ideals of avant-garde fashion, often seen as zen and clean.
View more Ring Lookbook images at Ring Milano online, or shop Ring Jeans at Antonioli online.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: avant-garde fashion, drop crotch jeans, Ring Jeans, Ring Milano, whiskered jeans
We’ve been wondering what our jeans would say if they could talk. It’s been 84 days (more about the project on our Tumblr), and that’s quite a lot of togetherness. So we listened in:
Jean Shop: Hey Nudie, How’s it hanging?
Nudie: Not too bad, just enjoying my break. 84 days of wear is exhausting.
Jean Shop: Yeah, but your ass looks great! Nice pocket fade.
Nudie: Thanks man, how are you coming along?
Jean Shop: Good, still a little stiff in my joints but I’ve been softening out.
Nudie: Yeah, you’re definitely looking a little thinner.
Jean Shop: Thanks! Got any plans this weekend?
Nudie: A soak may be in the cards for me.
Jean Shop: Niiice. I’ve got some BBQs.
Nudie: Watch out for the beer and BBQ sauce, it only takes one beer to get you feeling really dirty.
Jean Shop: Wouldn’t be the first time!
Nudie: Oh snap! Have a great weekend. Stay clean.
Jean Shop: Enjoy your soak!
—Renee Sykes and Gordon Sims
Tags: jeans shop, Nudie, raw denim, talking jeans
Guys, tired of your keys and cards getting lost in your pockets? Need a stylish way to keep it all in one place? This Baldwin denim wallet has compartments for the cash, keys, and everything else you might otherwise lose to the laundry basket at the end of the day. Designed and made in America, this Dry Kurabo Japanese selvedge denim accessory is made to age, meaning the wear you adminster as it becomes part of your daily routine will only add to the charm of the hand-stitched leather and dark wash.
Buy it at Baldwin for $78. Thanks to Selectisism for tipping us off on this must-have product.
—DT Staff
Tags: baldwin, denim wallet, mens denim accessories
Yes, we’re on a tie-dye kick. And here’s one more good reason to jump on the bandwagon! Cook & Gates makes vibrant, beautifully designed tie-dye bags in denim, from classic blue and white to purple & deep navy, and they’re the perfect size for toting your stuff to the beach this summer. The line is a collaboration between artists Ethan Cook and Sara Gates, with Brooklyn-based designer Mary Meyer, who releases collections of geometrically printed knits. They range at around $20—$150, so there’s something for you, even if you’re pulling purse strings at the moment. But jump on it, they’re limited!
Visit the Cook & Gates online shop to browse the selection.
—DT Staff
Tags: cook and gates, denim bags, denim totes, ethan cook, mary meyer, sarah gates, summer tote bags, tie dye denim
We came across this gorgeous denim jacket street style by Lena A. on Lookbook that put the essence of contemporary tie-dye on the table—and in case you haven’t heard, tie-dye is making a massive comeback for summer. It brings rock’n'roll and straight-up bohemian together, and when you mix it with a floor-length white skirt, there’s an angelic aura of hippie-chic that will be just as comfortable in the mid-day heat as it will be on hot summer nights.
If you love this look like we do, scroll below for the breakdown and find out how you can score these pieces and rock this outfit on your own.
1. Buffalo “Kenna” Tie-Dye Top ($39) – buy it at Dillard’s.
2. Rag & Bone denim jacket ($265) – buy it at Net-A-Porter.
3. Isda & Co Summer Gauze Skirt ($185) – buy it at Zappos.
4. Ciao Bella Fort Pierce Sandal ($30) – buy it at DSW.
—Michelle Christina Larsen
Tags: full length skirt, long white skirt, maxi skirt, rag & bone, summer denim trends, summer sandals, tie dye
Repairing jeans is our business here at Denim Therapy. And our most common repair? We like to call it the crotch blowout. It’s what happens when you ride bikes, do a lot of walking, or basically just LIVE YOUR LIFE. After spending a while in your jeans, the crotch area at the base of your bum begins to wear away on the left and right sides of the inseam, forming holes in the fabric. Crotch blowouts happen to both guys and girls, in tight jeans or baggy jeans—it’s just a point of stress on the fabric. Below is a recent before and after of some jeans we repaired. The right side had a 2 inch hole, and the left side needed some preventative reinforcement.
Has this happened to you? Let us fix your jeans! Go to www.denimtherapy.com to find out more about our repair services and reweaving process, and to look at more before and afters.
—Renee Sykes
Tags: crotch blowout, crotch holes, Denim Repair, Denim Therapy, fix jeans, torn jeans
Have you entered our Bleulab reversible denim giveaway yet? It’s now or never! We’re thrilled to be offering our readers the chance to score the Bleulab Reversible Cutoff Short in Hydron wash with Black Coating. The reversible element means you’re almost getting two pairs of shorts for the price of… well, none! If that sounds like music to your ears, read on to find out how to score a pair for yourself.
Visit the official Denim Therapy x Bleulab Denim giveaway post to enter!
—DT Staff
Tags: bleulab, cut off shorts, denim giveaway, Denim Therapy, last chance, reversible denim
This spring summer season is all about color and if you’ve been with us for more than a few scrolls you know we’re totally into it. Here fashion blogger Carolina Engman rocks an amazing pair of red high waisted jeans styled to color-blocking perfection with a vintage blouse in a saturated purple hue and an electric green Cambridge Satchel. Needless to say we’re in love! Not quite ready for a full-on bold primary color fest just yet? Start simple! Just trade in the blouse for something in a neutral tone like a barely-there tan for a softer yet still on-trend look. Either way, you’re sure to turn heads looking hot in red jeans.
Images via Carolina’s blog FashionSquad.com
—Sandoval Gomez
Tags: bold color looks, Cambridge Satchel, Carolina Engman, color block trend, color blocking, color blocking fashion, colored denim, electric green Cambridge Satchel, fashion blogger Carolina Engman, Fashion Squad, high-waisted jeans, primary color trend, purple vintage blouse, red high waisted jeans, red jeans, spring summer 2011 trends, Street Style, street style Sweden
Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green where first spotted at the airport and then once again at Best Buy in Van Nuys picking up some DVDs wearing almost identical outfits on both occasions (baseball cap and checkered button down shirt). Brian has certainly taken a liking to his Raven Denim. It has even been quoted that he hasn’t worn his favorite brand- Levi’s since he first put on Raven Denim. On the first occurrence he is seen wearing the Sid in Alkaline and in the latter he is seen wearing the Vic in Eclipse (most likely in honor of his wife’s Twilight Saga). We like how this couple roll- in denim of course!
Brian Austin Green in raven denim and megan fox at airport
—Jackie Racer
Tags: best buy, best buy in van nuys, brian austin green, brian austin green in raven denim, megan fox, megan fox at best buy, raven denim sid in alkaline, raven denim vic in eclipse, twilight the movie
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