Red Cloud & Co. jeans

[Mr Black]

All sounds interesting.

[gregornz]

I just ordered a pair of the sweet 19oz blue stitched R403S, should be here tomorrow. 900 yuan.

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_5f03bbf10100nswk.html

I'm also hoping to fit a sweet pair of custom R400's, that's the 17oz blended weft denim. A guy that doesn't fit them is selling them. Apparantly the size 33 is only 80cm in this model. Very small, really hope i can fit them. 700 yuan

http://photo.myspace.cn/1308638114/photo/5565732

As for proxying, I can help anyone that's interested without having to go through singapore.

[ranonranonarat]

hey gregornz please post pics when you receive them!

not trying to cut you out but actually it doesnt really matter since neither you or me will be making a profit from this. just wanted to throw in another option for people who wanted something else. the reason why i wanted to host the group order was because for orders up to 5000yuan there will be a 8.8% discount. there will be some savings from that which will be cheaper than doing a proxy pair by pair. shipping from china to singapore isnt exactly expensive.. to remain transparent, anybody who wants to order can check out the prices both of us offer before coming to a decision (will try to fix a price soon).

[ranonranonarat]

i will write to him to ask about a possible discount pending on the number of people involved. i am also okay with picking up shirts or other pants if anybody is interested.

at last count there are 8 different pairs of jeans available on sale. not all of them are in stock with sizes though. they are mainly split to 2 categories if what i am interpreting is correct. they are mainly:

2nd Anniversary Edition (4 pairs from this collection)

1) S400 (World War Edition) - 758yuan (17oz, Red Levi's-like Backpocket Arcs, 5 Oxidised Laurel Button Fly, Apparently Based on a WWII cut)

measurement chart

2) R424XX (Sun Wukong Edition) - 699yuan (13.7oz, Unsanfornized, Red Backpocket Arcs, Xinjiang Long Staple Cotton, Medium Fading Rate, Goat Skin Patch, 100% Cotton Pocket Bags, Light Pink Selvage, Based on a 1947 Cut )

measurement chart

3) R423XX - 699yuan (The Classic Representative for Red Cloud & Co. Brand, 13.7oz, Unsanfornized, No Backpocket Arcs, Xinjiang Long Staple Cotton, Medium Fading Rate, Rope Dyed Indigo, Light Pink Selvage, Based on a 1947 cut )

measurement chart

4) R400 - 758yuan ( 17oz, 100% long staple cotton from Xinjiang, 100% cotton threads, Goatskin Leather Patch, Shrink to Tagged Size, Blank Selvage if I am not mistaken, Straight Cut Fit)

measurement chart

[ranonranonarat]

1st Edition (Im assuming its the first lot of red cloud & co. Also 4 models..)

1) R424XX - 699yuan ( details are not stated but they should be the same as the 2nd anniversary edition except that the backpocket arcs are lemon yellow instead. )

measurement chart

2) S423XX SPECIAL - 758yuan ( 14oz Xinjiang Long Staple Cotton, Levi's Styled Backpocket Arcs, Laurel Top Button for buttonfly and donut styled buttons for the other 4, Hickory Striped Pocketbags, Goldline Selvage Edge, based on a WWII cut )

measurement chart

3) N0.2 1970'S - 399yuan ( 14oz Xinjiang Long Staple Cotton, Repro-ed 1970s hardware including buttons and rivets which will oxidise with age, no backpocket arcs or tabs, Nylon Backwaist Patch, Bartacked backpockets, Light Pink Selvage Lining, Based on a 1966 cut)

measurement chart

4) R436 - 799yuan ( 13.7oz Xinjiang Long Staple Cotton, Repro cut of a 1936, Replication of the denim used during that period by Cone Mills, hardware details, riveted crotch, Goat Skin Patch, Cinch Back, Red Tab with no Backpocket Stitching, Cut based on a 1936 cut)

measurement chart

5) R403S - 899yuan ( 19oz Cinchback, dual coloured chainstich hem, revised leather patch, pink selvage, limited stock. other than this, not much other information has been provided. perhaps gregornz can provide more information about this model)

all information has been translated manually by me, from the taobao website which i will be using. information should be correct unless stated supplied wrongly from the website.

click on the model number for more images and the "measurement chart" for figures. please note that not all sizes are in stock at the moment and measurements are in centimeters. i do not have information for R400 since it isnt listed so i am unable to provide this as of now.

at the moment i am unable to confirm the price it will cost to ship them to singapore. from singapore the price to ship international should be 40SGD under normal registered mail. i am only trying to get a better deal by doing a group order, so if you feel that you want to go through gregornz instead, that is fine by me : ) not trying to make a profit out of this, just a cheaper deal for everybody.

[gregornz]

Hey ranonranonarat

I didnt think you were trying to cut me out! LOL

Im just trying to do a solid for all the people out there in denim land - I'm more than happy for you to cash in on the discount, as I've already bought mine... just let me know if I can help

Amazing job on the translation and entire post! You got much more info than I did out of taobao! I'm guessing you read Chinese?

The only thing I would mention about the R406s, which I just bought, was that there were 3 33inch waists left , and I got one of them, so if that one grabs you, get in QUICK.

By the way, the phone number on the taobao site is not the tailor, the shop is run by someone else...

Again, great work!

[ranonranonarat]

do you know if there is any way to contact him via email? need to post some questions to get things sorted out. haha.

[gregornz]

I just received my R403s in the post.

Words cannot describe this product, it has to be seen to believed.

First of all - they stink. Like a hospital. I think it is the smell of indigo, starch and love.

Secondly, they are stiff, and I mean cardboard stiff. I'm not surprised they stand on their own. Knights should wear this stuff in lieu of armor.

The workmanship is just breath taking.

Time for a long hot soak and then a break in. Pics tomorrow

[ranonranonarat]

Amazing job on the translation and entire post! You got much more info than I did out of taobao! I'm guessing you read Chinese?

The only thing I would mention about the R406s, which I just bought, was that there were 3 33inch waists left , and I got one of them, so if that one grabs you, get in QUICK.

By the way, the phone number on the taobao site is not the tailor, the shop is run by someone else...

Again, great work!

yes, i do read chinese although it takes a pretty long time to translate anything.

i just sent them a message to ask about the discount. hope they get back to me soon. i will pick up a pair if others are not keen on this!

I just received my R403s in the post.

Words cannot describe this product, it has to be seen to believed.

First of all - they stink. Like a hospital. I think it is the smell of indigo, starch and love.

Secondly, they are stiff, and I mean cardboard stiff. I'm not surprised they stand on their own. Knights should wear this stuff in lieu of armor.

The workmanship is just breath taking.

Time for a long hot soak and then a break in. Pics tomorrow

thats great. i would have expected the way they smell consider how most of taobao goods smell funny. haha. any pre-soak pics? also are measurements given accurate? similar to measurements done BiG style? glad to hear about your purchase..

[kit99bar]

gergornz, can you post measurements of your pair after the soak?

[gregornz]

RE contacting him: There is a post on his blog where he is advertising for a position, and he leaves his phone number and email address. I can't find it at the moment, but you'll recognize it by a black and white picture and the company name in the title of the blog entry.

I get the feeling he doesn't much want to talk as I emailed him via the shop owner last week and he hasn't replied.

[ranonranonarat]

thanks for the information. i will try contacting him again!

[gregornz]

I took some crappy photos pre-soak... too excited to soak them to get good shots... and forgot to measure them pre-soak!

How the hell do you upload photos from flicker????

Here is the album:

.http://www.flickr.com/photos/65760477@N03/5986530099/

Promise to get some proper photos + fit pics tomorrow, when they are dry

[jigsaw]

this is one hairy animall!!

[Mr Black]

does he do a slimmer slightly tapered cut in the 17oz? it's a bit hard to tell from his blog

[gregornz]

I think the 403 or the number 2 is the slimmest...

[kit99bar]

You can click and choose the size, this will give you a concrete picture to set a link from.

Denim looks good.

[gregornz]

You can click and choose the size, this will give you a concrete picture to set a link from.

Denim looks good.

Thanks for that!!

[brightbill]

edit: whoops, didn't see a page 2!

anyway -- will do my best to get in on a pair of no.2's in the next few days.

[gregornz]

Here is about a thousand images of the R403s'.

Right now they are as stiff as fuck, uncomfortable and a joy to wear!

DSC_4296 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3347 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3344 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3341 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5989521570_7c5af8c05c.jpg' alt='5989521570_7c5af8c05c.jpg'> IMG_3340 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

[gregornz]

IMG_3337 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3332 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3326 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

IMG_3320 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

[killerb3ar]

measurements, gregornz? is that a tagged 33?

[gregornz]

Yes, it's a 33 a measurement link is a couple of pages back...

[ranonranonarat]

hey gregornz i think killerb3ar wanted to know the post soak measurements for your pair to see how much this unsanfornized denim shrinks. I myself am also curious to know..

after looking at your pre-soak and post-soak pics, denim looks pretty alright for the price. how accurate do you feel their measurement chart is? also, would like to hear some of your thoughts on the denim and fit as well as maybe the hardware used? it's great to see so many pictures of a new pair but it will be great if we could also hear your thoughts, since you are the only one who has gotten to feel it!

will rep when i charge up..

[seanieboy]

Yup would certainly like to know the amount of shrinkage too. Oh and Gregornz, those pictures were taken in Hangzhou?

[gregornz]

Pictures taken in Beijing

I foolishly forgot to measure pre-soak, so I will have to rely on the stated measurements on the website. I'll measure them tonight and try to get some comparison. However my initial guesstimate is that the length in the leg lost about 3 inches, the waist about 1 or 2 and the maybe another 1 or 2 through the circumference of the legs and lap.

In terms of the fit - by the way I'm 181cm, 91cm waist, 82 kg, fat beer belly, normal size legs - The waist is a little out of proportion to the legs... the legs are perfect, fitting but not tight, tight. The waist is a little loose though, I've got a good inch of space and I can shove my hand down the front no problem [and I'm loving it]. So, for me I would rather have a 32. By the way, they are 33waist 34 leg. The length now is perfect for me, one inch from the ground.

I'd say that the denim is better than pretty alright for the price. It is extremely 'slubby'. Very hairy [though the longer hairs you see in the pictures are from my cats]. It's interesting because the warp thread, running down the jeans, is electric blue, which gives the impression of blue 'ticking' when you look closely.

I've never had any very high quality [japanese] denim, but I couldn't imagine that there would be a huge step up in to be honest. If anyone is thinking that maybe these products are little low quality, or if the made in China thing is scaring you, I'd say you could forget that.

The denim is also 19oz. So you can imagine that it's pretty solid and stiff. It's still breaking in [obviously] but it's behaving itself quite well thus far. It's not losing much indigo at all, really. I soaked hot for about 2 hours yesterday and got some blue fingernails when I wore them wet, but after a night drying they aren't losing anything, so I guess they be tough to fade. I want to mention again that the denim is extremely hairy.

In terms of the hardware, I'd give them a thumbs up. The hems are chainstitched, white on the inside and blue on the outside. The self edging line is a pink doublestitch, and there is a little peek coming out at both sides of the fob pocket. Most of the stitching is blue and can't really be seen easily [it will be interesting to see if this comes through as they fade]. The fly buttons are a nice smooth donut and you can see a picture of top button, it's not insane quality from what I can tell, but it's going to do the job. The rivets are those interesting ones that show a little denim through them. I think they are copper? Interestingly the rivets on front are different from those on the back - the front pocket rivets read 'universal', while the [hidden] back pockets are blank. The pocket bags are cream and quite light and a medium depth.

Tailoring seems accurate all over and shows some of that nice variation you get with old school sewing machines, although there are two places on the left leg where extra denim is poking out of the seams, one on the knee and on on the hip. I'll try and get a photo of this later.

All in all I would give the quality of workmanship a 9/10 and the cut a 10/10 and the denim a 10/10, though as I say I never owned Japanese denim.

By the way, my plan is to get another pair of either redcloud or some other high end denim and alternate them day by day for the next two years. I'm still trying to find a second pair. The fact that I still really want to get a another pair of redcloud speaks to how highly I rate this pair. It's price relative isn't it? I'd imagine that these pair would be $300 in the west, so my professional opinion is that getting these proxied is a remarkably good idea .

Lastly, I feel stupid asking this, but does anyone know how to work this cinch on the back? I'm lost.

[jigsaw]

Yup would certainly like to know the amount of shrinkage too. Oh and Gregornz, those pictures were taken in Hangzhou?

so you from hangzhou? same here...at least till next year:D

[ranonranonarat]

great great detailed explanation gregornz. very thankful for the information that you have put up. from your verdict it sounds that they are pretty much value for money stuff that they have made. we will have to see in the coming months and years how they turn out and whether they are to your expectations.

i have put through an initial first order for someone on this board. once they reach me, i can give an initial estimate of the price and the amount of time it will require for me to actually receive a pair.

thank you once again gregornz for your extremely detailed post. it is indeed very helpful to affirm the quality of this pair of jeans.

[gregornz]

A couple more detail pics...

The blue warp thread:

IMG_3359 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

Selvedge fob pocket:

IMG_3355 by gregornz, on Flickr[/img]

[Warakia]

so you from hangzhou? same here...at least till next year:D

Unrelated but I'm moving there next semester as well .

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of the jeans, definitely interesting.