Question to Blanco

[thedonger]

Hey dood, I don't have any design aspirations myself, but I was wondering how you got in the denim game? I read your interview in the Brilliance, which was good, but I had some questions. Did you ever study with any of the so-called denim gurus, i.e. Adriano Goldschmidt? What led you to Levis? Sorry for being nosy, just intrigued.

[Blanc0]

I have never studied under any well-known "denim gurus" per se, but obvoiusly there is a huge wealth of talent here at levi's and I have learned much from many people here. There are one or two people here, I'm not gonna blow them up, but I respect them more than I've ever respected someone like adriano or rogan. i have learned more about denim finishing in actual source spaces (for example, I am currently typing this from a finishing facility in Medellin, Colombia) just working with different qualities, tints, chemicals, etc...than one person could really teach me. That is why I have a lot of love for a nice finish on a jean. For me, it's not neccessarily always about rigid, dry selvedge jeans (there's actually a lot of crap selvedge out there, and a LOT of really nice non-selvedge denim out there).

Levi's was a given for me, being from SF, and after i got out of design school (I actually never purposely intended to be a denim designer, my first love, although now a not-so-close second, was more military-based, maharishi-ish non-denim). There's not a whole lot of design opportunities in the bay area, although Old Gravy has recently moved their design group back to SF. What better place in the world is there to start (and continue) a denim education and career? I've had my chances to move to L.A. and NYC to work, but I love my city, and really can't think of anywhere I'd rather be right now. Plus I'm not an Old Gravy/GAP kinda guy.

Hope that sheds some more light.

[thedonger]

Dope, big ups to you Blanco. Seems like you have the dream job. I didn't think there was anything in Medellin, Colombia aside from the coke trade..kidding.

[Blanc0]

Of everywhere in the world I've travelled, Iv'e NEVER seen as many beautiful women in one place....even the old and fat women here are gorgeous. There are a LOT of implants down here though, asses included.

[hahnstch]

so blanco, if you came from a design background, how did you get acquainted with the different effects of different tints and chemicals? i would imagine that to be more of a job for a chemist... or are you working with a bunch of chemists?

[Blanc0]

I am working with wash facitlities and finish technicians. I'm not a chemical guy, but I do know how certain tints will make different shades of denim flares. Basically I know how the end state shoulld look (from a target) and I know my color theory REALLY well. Each time I go on a development trip (8 to Colombia in the last 1.5 years) I learn a little more about how different chemicals effect denim.

[minya]

Quote:

I am working with wash facitlities and finish technicians. I'm not a chemical guy, but I do know how certain tints will make different shades of denim flares. Basically I know how the end state shoulld look (from a target) and I know my color theory REALLY well. Each time I go on a development trip (8 to Colombia in the last 1.5 years) I learn a little more about how different chemicals effect denim.

--- Original message by Blanc0 on Aug 18, 2005 04:09 PM

How are things down in Colombia?

I'm half Colombian, born in the USA, but never been to South America. My dad wants to go back to Bogota because he hasn't been in 27 years...

[Corbin Law]

you must be the happiest man in america, constantly traveling to south america working for denim companies , bah i feel jealously arising

chwa?

[Blanc0]

Colombia is GREAT! The people here are all so kind and generous. Strangers are pleasantly surprised to meet Americans down here and want to always practice thier english. Last night I was taken out by 4 BEAUTIFUL colombianas, they were trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me...it almost worked. I'm happily married, so it was a real test for me, I barely passed. Not without somewhat of a show though. I am getting homesick for the fog of SF after 2 weeks being down here.

I've never been to Bogota, but I've heard it's a bit more sketchy than Medellin, but then again I was told that Medellin is sketchy, which is completely FALSE.