In a speed-driven era of mass production, its maybe a good idea to stop and think, what we are missing on. With Levis, celebrating its craftsmen this season, i think a lot of credit goes out to the unsung heroes who create the individual pieces. A visit to Double RL, few years back to seeing what levis is doing today- it all sums up- craftsmanship is where the beauty lies. Figured a way, a budget way to create close to what i’d love to buy- take a raw jeans- a good quality one (preferably a loose fit, if a selvedge- even better)- and simply wear it for months till the results start showing. Of course a careful hand wash or two would be required. p.s. nothing can outshine the real aged jeans. The best-looking jeans are without a doubt the ones that break in with time.

The famed Tenue de Nîmes denim-focussed store in Amsterdam have recently released their 5th edition of ”Nouvelle de Nîmes”, a denim lifestyle gazette available both online and from the shop itself. This 5th issue of Nouvelle de Nîmes launches the official Tenue de Nîmes Denim Dictionary, a handy publication which gathers together all the denim terminologies that any denim head should know and use into one stylish and attractive package. Just a heads up for the denim people.

Sashiko is a form of decorative reinforcement stitching (or functional embroidery) from Japan. Traditionally used to reinforce points of wear, or to repair worn places or tears with patches, this running stitch technique is often used for purely decorative purposes in quilting and embroidery. The white cotton thread on the traditional indigo blue cloth gives sashiko its distinctive appearance. To start my own, i took my 9 years old gap jeans- which got torn at knees and crotch. took another denim and hand stitched with thick ecru thread in a regular pattern- though multiple times. Pretty impressed with the result.

Recently at a knowledge centre, i happened to witness a zero water washed jeans. on questioning, i came to know that the jeans which looked some 90 min enzymed and bleached- was actually a white cotton twill trouser- printed with a jeans wash screen! very interesting. very soft. no wastage of resources. but for the hard core denim lovers, whats in a jeans like this when you don’t feel denim harshness against the skin. whats in a jeans that doesn’t break with time.