Gilded Age: Crafting Denim The Old School Way

gilded-age

Gilded Age, a New York based denim label, gets as old school as you can ever imagine. With attention to detail, their products are handcrafted using some of the oldest machinery, oldest natural dyes and methods of construction known to man. The outcome is a beautifully unique vintage, imperfect and weathered appearance.

Going back in time, dye methods using volcanic mud dye, parchment, natural charcoal, tea, logwood, Japanese Alder and natural indigo are used in a variety of their products. Their jeans are made of natural indigo dye taken from the natural indigo plant, a rare method used today by a very small number of denim companies. Some of their knitted garments are made of 100% organic cotton created in the small artisanal natural dye studios. In the spirit of years gone by, some knitted garments are knitted on “Hung Up” jersey machines which were a staple in knitting from 1870′s through the 1960′s. There are very few machines in the world of this kind. Some of their knits are also hand knitted the old fashion way with needles and yarn using the finest Mongolian cashmere for its’ compact, tight knitted softness.

How much more authentic can it get? I suppose “mass production” are blasphemous words for the Gilded Age, but with that you’ll be paying a premium for such carefully crafted garments. Prices for jeans start at $298 for the “Gotham” straight leg with red selvage to $548 for the “Gotham” straight leg vintage wash with red selvage. Currently they only offer a men’s line, but a women’s line is soon to come. Hats off to Gilded Age for keeping it real!