Word of Mouth - The Crust & Fades Contest

[UkeNo]

Sent them back to their creator for a look over - I had sent other jeans for hemming and thought why not include them too? 
I was telling Simo that the vintage fading is mainly due to washing more often than planned because of my daughters drooling  etc etc. 

I’m still really happy with how they’ve turned out so far. 

[nopal]

On 5/20/2026 at 5:04 PM, nopal said:

Eleven-wash

Twelve

Edited June 11 by nopal

[srudy]

@nopal oh hell yes, those look amazing!

[reallypeacedoff]

What was the finish date again? July 17 or 21?

[nopal]

10 hours ago, reallypeacedoff said:

What was the finish date again? July 17 or 21?

17

[Jared_Lee]

Just settling back into Brooklyn after our Mediterranean Alps Extreme tour with Edelweiss. I can't properly put it into words for anyone nor can anyone really understand what these rides were like without being on them, but I'll try. Seven days on tour, six days riding, between 150-170 miles per day at average speeds of 25-35 mph winding through the most technical, challenging, tight and narrow roads that the Alps has to offer. The tour is by far the most difficult road tour that Edelweiss offers and our guide said he looked into his rearview on numerous occasions throughout our trip and was shocked, surprised, delighted and relieved to find everyone still upright, alive and riding.

The speeds were intense for the road conditions and we were all pushed to the limits of our abilities every day. By tight, I mean these were two-way roads that would fit 1.5 Fiats at best and we're heading straight at them through blind corners overgrown with brush on broken pavement with unexpected gravel and potholes surprising you on any turn (in Italy anyway, French roads are much better maintained). We stopped in countless little remote mountain villages in both France and Italy and had many, many espressos to keep the energy up.

Many of these roads were essentially goat paths up and over mountain passes that were eventually paved. There were switchbacks that exited into switchbacks, 2,000 foot drops with no guard rails and views that could never be captured on a phone camera. It was a once in a lifetime experience (meaning I actually never want to do exactly that ever again, lol). We lost one rider to a crash where she broke both her foot and hand and another rider opted out of the mountain passes on the final day because he'd had enough and didn't want to do it anymore.

I'm proud of myself, my partner and the whole crew for surviving the tour and save one, all having a blast being kind, courteous and lovely to spend a week with.

City list:

Saint-Paul de Vence, FR

Valberg, FR

Roquebillière, FR

Vicoforte, IT

Rapallo, IT

Finale Ligure, IT

Here's what little I was able to capture.

My F900 GS for the week. All my luggage for the tour was fit into the two saddlebags.

One of the nicer, wider roads of the tour...and a casual castle in the scenic valley.

WoMCon 5150 and FC0107 SS.

Crossing into Italy over one of the highest mountain passes in all of the Alps.

View from the hotel window in Vicoforte.

View from the hotel window in Rapallo.

Manarolla, Cinque Terre, IT.

A little village tucked away in the mountains with an old style, Italian squat toilet. I absolutely love this culture of disinterest in modernity. Slow things down. Let the change pass you by. Keep with what works for you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Even if it is broke, does it really need fixing?

And this doesn't even begin to encompass everything. I'm so stoked for the privilege of this trip, a partner that rides alongside and all these lovely folks that joined us and that we met on the road, and all of you little internet denim goons geeking on this shit with me.

[julian-wolf]

^ Strong contender for top post of the thread, so far—that looks like a terror & a blast!

& Yes! Even when it’s busy for the summer, Cinque Terre is about as good as it gets

[reallypeacedoff]

People forget riding a moto is not only a physical endeavor, but also a mentally draining one. Looks amazing and good job!

[ATWM]

That looks incredible @Jared_Lee, and I know firsthand how charming Cinque Terre can be. I’d be shocked if I ever set foot on a motorcycle ever again (let alone an e-bike even) so will live vicariously through you here - that looks intense. I’m headed back out to Italy (for a much more static trip) pretty soon, this gets me more excited for it. The jeans are looking fantastic, btw. 

[Jared_Lee]

@julian-wolf, I tend to walk in the opposite direction of crowds. It ruined "Sleep No More" for me. Lol. But in this case, turning away from the crowd and heading up the hills into the alleys and side streets of Manarolla proved rewarding.

@reallypeacedoff, yeah, constantly scanning the road, monitoring your lines, keeping track of the riders in the group, etc. was mentally exhausting. But then at the end of the day when I'd lay down to sleep, behind my closed eyes all I could see were corners coming at me and I found it difficult to sleep.

@ATWM, understandable, motorcycles are a dangerous endeavor. Anyone hanging it up for their commitment to family has my complete support and understanding.

[Jared_Lee]

An update on the jeans taken in Rapallo during the "off" day where we traveled to Cinque Terre. This is flat camera settings in natural light from the window. No brightness or white balance manipulation. Just the jeans as they are.

Sam at S&S did some great repairs for me that I'll try to document before the end of the contest. In the last photo you can see a fresh belt loop he made to replace the shredded one where I hang my keys. You can also see in that pic the restitch he did on the leather patch.

[ashgiovanni]

Hey guys!

Been awhile since I’ve posted but have been peeping yalls progress and there are a lot of awesome looking pairs! Few repairs needed but all in all have enjoyed wearing these so far and would definitely grab another pair from Simo, possibly in a new fit.

 

 

 

[reallypeacedoff]

Thighs are starting to get thin. Probably from all the moving. Washed and boom.  Only a matter of time before more, and a few on the other side form. bit of blood for all the hard work 😂

[CSL]

3 weeks to go?

Not sure how much more progress I'll get as it's getting a bit hot for jeans here. We'll see.

Still water free other than having to put on over wet undies after dipping in the river the other day. Guess I'm lucky the top block didn't distort...

Since I've never done the 'raw for life' routine before, it's been an interesting journey. Apparently (and thankfully... I don't generate the kinda funk that makes jeans stinky. I can assure you all had that happened, they would have at least gone in for dry cleaning.

Something I have done a couple or three times is to give them a going over with a clothes brush inside and out, then a vacuum cleaner, and finally a hot steam iron. They seem to feel a bit fresher after that.

 

[MJF9]

@CSL awesome!

[nopal]

10 hours ago, CSL said:

3 weeks to go?

Not sure how much more progress I'll get as it's getting a bit hot for jeans here. We'll see.

Still water free other than having to put on over wet undies after dipping in the river the other day. Guess I'm lucky the top block didn't distort...

Since I've never done the 'raw for life' routine before, it's been an interesting journey. Apparently (and thankfully... I don't generate the kinda funk that makes jeans stinky. I can assure you all had that happened, they would have at least gone in for dry cleaning.

Something I have done a couple or three times is to give them a going over with a clothes brush inside and out, then a vacuum cleaner, and finally a hot steam iron. They seem to feel a bit fresher after that.

 

They look great @CSL.

How have you liked it as opposed to your usual routine?

[CSL]

Thanks, Gents!
 

10 hours ago, nopal said:

How have you liked it as opposed to your usual routine?

While I don't think I'd ever want to make it my norm, it's good to know that it's a possible way to go. For instance I've got a couple of early LVC raw pairs that will fit in that state. I feel more confident now about giving those a go.

Edited June 27 by CSL

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Washed again and will see what the last days will do...

[julian-wolf]

Gave the contest jeans their last big Hurrah a few weeks ago up at our friends' cabin in the mid-Sierra—the week leading up to our wedding ceremony…

…playing fetch by the water (feat. Bubo, Duke, Birks)

 

…resting on the porch swing (feat. same)

 

…boating folks back and forth (feat. Tilley, Bubo x2)

 

…prepping flowers (feat. Union Special, Tezomeya, TCB)

 

…moving flowers (feat. same)

 

…looking at flowers

 

…sitting by the fire (feat. Bubo)

 

…practicing for the Big Day (feat. Bubo, TCB, Heller's Cafe)

 

…freeing up planks for dock reinforcements (feat. Power Wear, JK)

 

…eating good

 

…planning our toasts (feat. Bubo, TCB, Birks)

 

…& keeping the dogs tired

 

Edited June 28 by julian-wolf

[ATWM]

@julian-wolf great looking last hurrah 

[reallypeacedoff]

Not sure I got 3 weeks left…another wash, another few holes.

[CSL]

Super cool!^^^

[srudy]

@reallypeacedoff I love how contrasty yours are! Very beautiful!

[ATWM]

Brought the jeans as close to home as they’ll likely ever get, but it’s so hot they only come out in the mornings. Visiting family in Tuscany. Forgive the sleep deprived look, a (collective) ton of young kids off their summer routine will do that to a house.
 

F/de bonne facture, ladywhite, horseman joe sandals. 

[nopal]

On 6/11/2026 at 1:42 PM, nopal said:

Twelve

Thirteen
 

[UkeNo]

In the woods at Knepp Castle/Estate yesterday first day after they got back from Italy. 

[MJF9]

@UkeNo @nopal roping 👌

Edited July 4 by MJF9

[julian-wolf]

On 11/23/2025 at 8:35 AM, julian-wolf said:

A whole season of tobacco & zinnias (& just about everything else) came and went

We sowed these direct, last year, and almost none had more than one stem & one puny flower…this year some of them are monsters! Pot is a half wine barrel, for scale—probably around 18” across

feat. this year’s friendly cricket:

 

In other garden news: This is our first year ever doing full-sized heirloom tomatoes, and they’re now going strong; plus: our first two dahlias opened up last week!

[Jared_Lee]

Rode out to visit my friend David for the Fourth taking me down through Atlantic City on Friday to Baltimore on Saturday and back up meandering some farm roads to just outside Philadelphia Sunday. It was a hairy trip with heat index temp's between 110-115 on Friday and Saturday. 80 mph sauna winds just slapping.

Then Monday on the way back to Brooklyn I was caught out in torrential thunderstorms that had I-95 slowed to a crawl, cars pulled over under overpasses, hazards on, visibility down to roughly 50 feet. I pulled off at the first rest stop, but the radar only showed things getting worse for the next hour-plus, so I rolled back onto the highway and picked a buddy with some nice bright hazards to trail for visibility. It was another 10-15 miles before the rain eased back to something manageable. My GoreTex was soaked through, but thankfully it was still warm enough that I didn't freeze at speed.

I didn't take any photos to speak of, but my friend is an artist and has been shooting these polaroid portraits of friends in masks that he made. I dig 'em.

Edited July 8 by Jared_Lee

[julian-wolf]

So how are we doing submissions? Any guidelines for number / style of photos? Is the 17th a hard deadline, or are we just planning to stop wearing them around then and get the actual posts sorted over the next few weeks, or ?