Denim Blunders, Reflections and General Nonsense.

[reallypeacedoff]

26 minutes ago, aho said:

OA and FW are exactly what I had in mind 😂 But I know at least with OA, S&S said they're not into the consumerism of it all (so likely wouldn't sponsor again), and OA are too busy with their normal production. Someone even smaller like https://www.instagram.com/nuu_4862_/ or an OG like Double Volante would be interesting too

Or...Word of Mouth, long live PIZZA!

[julian-wolf]

I’d do a Rockets ‘46 contest

[MJF9]

Word of Mouth worth considering... perchance a 30s cut 

(repeat of rpo above! catching up)

Edited August 22 by MJF9

[MJF9]

Rockets look great. On the WW model, at least, they come in with much lower front and back rises that other repro brands such as FW, Connors which is a consideration.

[Alec Leamas]

4 hours ago, aho said:

Ok I take this all back. Rockets would actually be the best for a contest. Anyone interested in a '46 model? Just throwing ideas out there, this doesn't actually exist (yet)
https://www.instagram.com/rockets_toyota/

✋I would be, or the Word of Mouth idea too!

I clearly became interested in denim and heritage clothing after what seemed to be a golden age of contests, I flick through the old Denime XX and Warehouse x Signet collab competition threads and the like with a keen interest in taking part if a contest was ever to come about again.

[Alec Leamas]

The more I think about this the more I think it's a really wonderful idea.. 

Word Of Mouth or Rockets would work but I'm keen on Word Of Mouth purely for the Euro build factor, though I get it if the one man setup couldn't do a 30+ pair run all at once.

Unsure what the deal is with Rockets (company size / staff numbers etc) but they look great too.

I'm actually in the process of trying to select one or two of my current pairs for a year or so run (an arcuate pair and a plain pocket pair, as daft as that sounds) just to get some real wear out of some of my jeans, but doing something like this would be right up my street right now - I'm really into the idea of real utility of things, and making do with the fewest things, using them purposefully, and seeing things evolve. I realise collecting repro denim and all the accoutrements is almost entirely antithetical to that but like any hobby or obsession it's just a bit odd innit.

Like I say I've been repeatedly browsing the contest threads from over the years on here and I have a keen interest in getting involved in one!

[Dr_Heech]

Don't forget the old RoyxCone contest back in 2010. Classic!

 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

In this day and age, I think it really ould only be suitable with a small maker. Sufu is not big enough anymore to get a big crowd joining.

TCB said they would like to do a contest and the ones were quite big and interesting.
That said a brand like Rockets, WoM, Sakura Overalls, Slash Overalls or Rebuilt would have a nicer touch and would give those small makers some more time on the denim stage.

I could contact WoM and ask if he would be interested (if he hasn't already read the forum by now ). 

The only fear: for the "n" numbers of possible participants we will have "n+1" preferred versions of the jeans  

[Broark]

I have a pair of Rockets, they're nice but I haven't worn them much yet as I've been focusing on other pairs. The rise is a little lower than I'd prefer.
I'd be interested in Slash, Rebuilt and WoM.

[Cold Summer]

16 minutes ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

The only fear: for the "n" numbers of possible participants we will have "n+1" preferred versions of the jeans  

I don't think that would be bad, as long as variation was pretty much limited to fit. For instance, a straight leg model, and a more relaxed straight leg model for thicker folks. But you'd want the details, denim, and so on to be the same.

Quote

Unfortunately gone are the days where it was about sharing an experience and daily lifestyles with a small(er) community while all wearing the same pair. I'd still love to participate in a sufu-style "contest" because I enjoy the camaraderie and seeing the variety of how a specific fabric/cut can evolve, but I think largely the retailers and brands who used to participate no longer have interest in doing so, and we probably couldn't get enough people on sufu alone to justify a smaller production run like ~30 pairs. Happy to join if anyone can prove otherwise! 

Very true. The problem is that since the mid-late 2000s SuFu heyday, internet forums as a basis for hobby communities have basically died, and it's relatively old-timers (generally born in the 1980s or earlier), whose formative Internet experience predates the 2005-2009 social media boom, who continue to use them.

I think this is a real shame as forum-based communities make it far easier to build a useful reference base of knowledge and continuity than their vastly-inferior corporate replacements such as Reddit and Discord, which emphasize flash-in-the-pan novelty and convenience over substance.

Edited August 22 by Cold Summer

[Maynard Friedman]

6 minutes ago, Cold Summer said:

I don't think that would be bad, as long as variation was pretty much limited to fit. For instance, a straight leg model, and a more relaxed straight leg model for thicker folks. But you'd want the details, denim, and so on to be the same.

Agreed, not everyone is the same shape or likes the same fit. I always thought a good contest would’ve been an SDA 10* one where the participants could choose a fit from say 101, 103 or 106 (wide -> slim). I’ve excluded the less common models such as 102, etc for simplicity.

[MJF9]

Just been chatting on this

Small scale maker to suit small scale comp, limited to Sufu members

Methinks better if we agree on a cut and everyone has the same jeans full stop, perhaps a choice of cinch or not would enable easier consensus 😉

The easier we can make decision making from Sufu and the maker, the more likely it is to get off the ground

WoM could be the way forward here...

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I talked with another member:

A 1942 contest with the same denim would allow for slightly different fits, wildly different details and even cinch and no-cinch

[Alec Leamas]

This feels like it could be going somewhere!

[Dr_Heech]

Funnily enough l have a 1942 tux squirreled away for just such a purpose 🤔

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

WOM jeans with pizza arcs and I’m in. Not so much as a competitor but I told y’all I want those pizza arcs. Minority here but I’d probably prefer a 50’s cut. 

Edited August 22 by AlientoyWorkmachine

[chicote]

I’ve rly been missing a contest, was sad the TCB one fell thru.. the direction we’re going with this one sounds great!!

[julian-wolf]

Agreed with a couple others that Rebuilt / LB would be a top top choice, but the logistics seem pretty unlikely to work out for that…

@AlientoyWorkmachine Early to mid ‘50s would be my strongest preference, too, but I’m not super picky (as long as it’s a mid ‘40s to late ‘50s 501, that is)

[Maynard Friedman]

1 hour ago, AlientoyWorkmachine said:

WOM jeans with pizza arcs and I’m in. Not so much as a competitor but I told y’all I want those pizza arcs.

I can’t see anything else topping that

[julian-wolf]

^ Nothing topping it at all? I think some pepperoni would make for a nice flair

[Maynard Friedman]

Flairs are a no-no, we want straight legs.

[yung_flynn]

1 hour ago, julian-wolf said:

as long as it’s a mid ‘40s to late ‘50s 501, that is

I feel like this is what scuttled the TCB contest some, since the 1890s detail are pretty nice. It's a shame though because they're actually pretty nice and wearable.

From the manufacturer/designer standpoint, I feel like the most value of a group contest comes when it partly functions as a group-funded sample run of a new model or fabric. This would be especially true for the smaller or newer makers since it effectively guarantees them X real world samples to publicize while still making a profit.

Like some others, I'm not much for competing in these sorts of things, but I would consider it for the community aspect and as a way to help a smaller maker get things off the ground.

Edited August 22 by yung_flynn

[bartlebyyphonics]

I like either wom/pizza and multi-maker '42 options [cos I luv a cinch]...

... 40s cut allows many participants and wondering what we get with eu maker with less focus on the fabric, more emphasis on the cut / pattern... 

[reallypeacedoff]

3 hours ago, Maynard Friedman said:

I can’t see anything else topping that

You're so cheesy.

Jokes aside, it feels good to have some excitement around the brand and cut.

WoM, Rockets or Sakura would be my votes.

[julian-wolf]

If anyone’s in the market for an early pair of Sakura’s ‘46 size 34, mine are still up for grabs…too slim for me, sadly

I know it’s not the right thread, but I think this conversation is the most times I’ve ever seen them mentioned on here

[reallypeacedoff]

Not to get ahead of ourselves but 18/24 month comp? We aiming for something between 12-14.5oz? If we thought 30 people were going to join, would January 1st 2025 sound reasonable?

[Alec Leamas]

Works for me - I wouldn't mind even if it was 12 or 18 months. Agreed on weight. Jan 1st also sounds good, again I have no concept but if it's a smaller maker does that give them enough time? I guess they would have to go with a cut they already make, of course.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I've contacted Simone and Word of Mouth has it, that WoM would be interested in doing a contest.

I would talk about possibilities first. 

If there is enough interest 

[nick682]

7 minutes ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

I've contacted Simone and Word of Mouth has it, that WoM would be interested in doing a contest.

I would talk about possibilities first. 

If there is enough interest 

Count me in for a contest

[Alec Leamas]

Yes this is great news!!