Hooray, it’s Tuesday! Which means…

I’m a huge fan of denim, especially these days with the colder weather and busier days. Pretty sure they’re a staple in many-a-wardrobe, and there’s nothing like the classic jeans-and-a-tee combo. I’ve been living in skinnies, a funky tee, some chunky jewelry and some sort of layering piece for awhile now, and am doubtful if this will change anytime soon. Fit and functionality is key when incorporating denim, and though one may think they would be an easy item to shop for, I’m afraid it isn’t so.

I used to work as a buyer for a small independent retail chain, and one of my favourite parts of the job was travelling and discovering new lines. Delving through warehouses was a bit like a treasure hunt, always looking for that next gem. It was on one such trip to Montreal that I discovered Naked & Famous Denim. The sales rep was walking us through the warehouse, and we stumbled across the denim line and I immediately knew there was something about this brand. We didn’t end up buying it for the store (wrong customer), but the line has remained in my memory and I’m thinking it might be a fit for bicyclette.

Naked & Famous Denim uses only the most unique and rare denim fabrics from Japan. All of the fabric is imported from a prestigious mill in Japan which is committed to producing only the best (and most expensive) denim in the world. Throughout each step in denim production (weaving, dyeing, finishing…) the mill uses a combination of old school and modern methods and practices. With all the culture and history that is put in to this fabric, this is premium denim at its’ finest.

I like my jeans raw and simple, and Naked & Famous does just that. There are no fancy washes, no crazy embroidery, and no gimmicks, which is the way it should be. Great fabric combined with modern fits. Perfect. Because of the elimination of these unnecessary after-effects, the jeans have been stripped down to the core essentials, and the extremely reasonable price tag reflects this. Think around $100, as opposed to other premium denim brands who are charging 2 to 3 times that. Insane.

On the name itself:

The brand name Naked & Famous is a satire of our celeb-obsessed culture. We aim to poke fun at “Hollywood” and “Glamour” brands that sell jeans for $300 and up solely because Jessica Simpson wears them and not because they are higher quality.

Love it.

With premium denim being one of the highest price points in many smaller boutiques, I’m curious what peoples thoughts are around price.

Does the brand matter? How much are you willing to pay for denim?