Denham the jeanmaker (New from the makers of Blue Blood..)

[Guest Selvage Seb.]

A few weeks ago I heard some very interesting news;

Jason Denham, co-funder of Blue Blood is going to launch his own label and shop in Amsterdam.

I'm really looking forward to see his collection!

This article from Fasionunited.com sounds very promising;

"The first collection, due in the summer of 2009, has been inspired by a pattern book from 1910 and the models have been named after the techniques which are described in that book - The Cutters - including 'Cutter', 'Dart', 'Tape' and 'Tailor'. The production will be done in Japan and Italy by the jeans manufacturer Hiro. The key words are quality and originality. "It is a passion", Denham explains. The brand's subtitle is 'The Jeanmaker', with a pair of scissors as its logo. "The scissors I used to cut my very first pair of jeans 17 years ago."

The first collection, which will be delivered in December, has not yet been presented at any trade fairs, but it has already enjoyed some small scale sales in the Netherlands (Spoiled), Germany (14oz) and the United Kingdom (Harvey Nichols). Retail prices start at 150 euro and can run up to 500 euro.

Denham will be introduced at the Bread&Butter fashion trade fair in Barcelona in January. The collection will be expanded into a complete clothing collection for ladies and gents before this launch, with tops, jumpers and coats in addition to the jeans.

The premises in Amsterdam, from which Denham's own shop will be launched in December, will also be home to the new brand's head office and showroom. "I want everything to happen in the same place, so customers can also gain some first hand knowledge of how we work. It will be a unique experience."

Anyone able to share some background information?

www.denhamthejeanmaker.com

[lenn]

i'm afraid it'll be a little too much blue blood influenced. i don't think i'm going to care about this label, but who knows.

[Charlie Delta]

This could be interesting.

It seems to go the very "European" route in high end denim making though, splash some Japanese under your logo so it will look "exotic", etc

What I find interesting is that he already has a branded Sake bottle and glasses up there, I know its part of the story with the jeansmaker Hiro also making sake etc etc, I'd just say focus on the product first and the fluff around it later.

But that's just my humble opinion.

Their own store could be interesting but I am surprised by their choice of Spoiled to carry it, wich has imho one of the poorest "denim bars" I've encountered so far.

I'll keep my eyes on this just cause it comes form my home town but from the looks of it it seems to be another brand that wants to crossover denim and lower end fashion .(no hate)

And it'll most likely succeed.

[lenn]

This could be interesting.

It seems to go the very "European" route in high end denim making though, splash some Japanese under your logo so it will look "exotic", etc

What I find interesting is that he already has a branded Sake bottle and glasses up there, I know its part of the story with the jeansmaker Hiro also making sake etc etc, I'd just say focus on the product first and the fluff around it later.

But that's just my humble opinion.

I agree with the European part (ALD is the finest example), but i disagree with the latter. It has to do with branding, i think the guy wants to create a complete brand experience, which is cool. Of course it has to involve some japanese shit again, but it's just about making the brand a lifestyle product, which, imo, is a big part of your company nowadays if you want to succeed with expensive stuff

[Charlie Delta]

I guess you're right and it's also to be expected that he has his product on lock already anyway.

Let's just wait for product shots.

[beautyfake]

New from the makers of Blue Blood.. Denham.

Last night I went to the Denham store opening party here in Amsterdam.

And.. Let me share with you my thoughts on this brand..

1. Fancy store location? Checked.

2. (Trying to have some) Japanese feel to the brand? Checked.

3. Denim bar? Checked.

4. Custom made denim service in 7 days? Checked.

5. Walls filled with 'history' of the brand? Checked.

6. Raw denims? Checked.

7. Over-prized pre-washed denims with selvage? Checked.

8. Authentic Japanese sake for sale? Checked.

9. An atelier-like office? Checked.

10. An 'exclusive' next season only by appointment section? Checked.

11. Chain stitch service? Checked. For 10 euros it will take you 2 weeks though cause they said they'll send it to Hong Kong.

12. Any real Japanese person at the launch? NONE.

So... All and all.. Why do I have the feeling that this brand is too... Over thought?

Not saying its bad or anything. As I also didn't really manage to inspect the quality of the jeans in detail, but.. it seems like they are trying to hard to think of every aspect of the brand they could cover. That in the end.. I felt that it became... cute!

As for the name.. Denham.. Denim.. Denham Denim. It may sounds cool for the first 2 minutes but after a while it just gets annoying.

But oh well, that's my personal opinion though!

Maybe you should visit the store and judge for yourself.

http://www.denhamthejeanmaker.com/

Anyways.. Here are pics from last night...

[beautyfake]

More pictures..

[ivan_kendo]

I walked by that Denham store in amsterdam a few times in the past year. Always wondered what was going on in there. Nice to see some pics of the store. So it finally opened.

I already had the opportunity to see and touch some of the jeans and clothes in december at Mode D'Emploi in The Hague.

[nemoulette]

I'd wear that tee.

[coleslawyum]

The branding is nice, but the product looks pretty unspectacular. Looks like they are trying to do some 45rpm meets dutch modern design. Thanks for the pics.

[hollowsleather]

Looks like a neat store and awesome concept, but "Denham" is the stupidest name I can think of.

[raWorkshop]

Selvedge waistbands are tacky. Could be cool though, thanks for the pics.

[beautyfake]

I walked by that Denham store in amsterdam a few times in the past year. Always wondered what was going on in there. Nice to see some pics of the store. So it finally opened.

I already had the opportunity to see and touch some of the jeans and clothes in december at Mode D'Emploi in The Hague.

any comments on its quality?

i didn't manage to inspect them carefully last night. it was too crowded to browse through and the free booze might make my judgment rather not objective

[beautyfake]

The branding is nice, but the product looks pretty unspectacular. Looks like they are trying to do some 45rpm meets dutch modern design. Thanks for the pics.

nicely put!

this is exactly how i felt.

[beautyfake]

Looks like a neat store and awesome concept, but "Denham" is the stupidest name I can think of.

Word!

The store is surprisingly quite neat and spacious.

I think it's a store / atelier / gallery / showroom / office.

[ivan_kendo]

any comments on its quality?

i didn't manage to inspect them carefully last night. it was too crowded to browse through and the free booze might make my judgment rather not objective

It didn't really make a big lasting impression on me. Saw it, touched it, didn't feel like buying it. I didn't like the selvage on the outside of the jeans. Seemed too gimmicky.

and free booze is always a good thing

[lenn]

might check it out when i'm in amsterdam again.. but the design of the jeans looks awful. i can't stand that waistband

[beautyfake]

i know they must have tried to be all original and stuff. and given the limitations, being original when designing jeans IS indeed difficult (as i experienced myself when designing for a small brand).

but.. waistband selvage?! i personally think that's just way too overdone.

[lenn]

"Denham" is the stupidest name I can think of.

i believe it's the owners last name... he's called jason denham. but it's still tacky as fuck

[kiya]

They send your jeans to Hong Kong to get chainstitched?

This is the craziest thing i've heard in a long while...

[Charlie Delta]

Merged the thread with the existing one from a couple of months back.

[Florian.FloC]

What's the deal with out of store purchasing? I will say that that little book with the denim cover does seem like something I wouldn't mind adding to my collection...

[beautyfake]

They send your jeans to Hong Kong to get chainstitched?

This is the craziest thing i've heard in a long while...

Let me quote what the they told me when I asked about it..

"It's 10 euros. But it will take 2 weeks cause we will send it to Hong Kong. But don't worry.. We will take care of everything.

But.. we only do it for special denims. It has to be vintage Levi's or hardcore Japanese denims.."

And I was like.. Ha! I might as well head down to 45rpm in Paris.

I will have my jeans chain stiched AND I will have a holiday.

@Cotton Duck: Thanks for merging the threads!

[lenn]

hmm, i might send off my skulls to HK for a chain stitch if it's only €10... i need to hem them, but when the guy at the fab four store in tokyo offered me to do it, i refused... what was i thinking?

[zissou]

Bumping this dead thread. Anyone have any more experience with this label?

Their Tailored jacket gives me a massive hard on.

[dralfonzo]

still not sure how I feel about the majority of their jeans, something just feels a little 'off' on them. Maybe I'm just too boring and like a good old fashioned 5 pocket. I like that jacket you posted though

[entropy kid]

I was seriously considering one of their wool jackets before I went with an WWM. Essentially all jackets I have seen were really nice while the jeans were ... let's say I saw them in two shops, my favourite denim store in town (FH, SDA, SC etc) and in a mainstream shop selling Diesel and G-Star. They looked less out of place next to the Diesel pants

[Guest Selvage Seb.]

Denham does have a very impressive archive!

http://denhamgarmentlibrary.blogspot.com/

and a really great blog

http://denhamthejeanmaker.blogspot.com/

The most cuts are probably too modern for the most denimheads around here, but I really like the brownish selvage fabrics they use. Last season they also added a straight 5 pocket jean to the collection (called the Grade), for who's more into the classic cut jean.

The one kilo melton wool is also worth to mention, feels very thick and soft. With great attention to detail in the jackets

You really have to see the concept store to get the full picture

[tahonng]

The jean they have on cultizm isn't bad at all. Looks like the rivets have to go through little bits of leather, too.

And what's the info on the peacoat? Pretty interesting, any info on that? Is it insulated?

[raWorkshop]

The jean they have on cultizm isn't bad at all. Looks like the rivets have to go through little bits of leather, too.

Hand finished by Our Hiro in Japan!

Terribly interesting.