Paul Smith denim

[rnrswitch]

I was in the local denim bar and one of the dudes that works there told me that they were going to be getting some Paul smith jeans in. He also said that the rep for paul smith told him that the denim was made from old levis looms. Anyone seen these jeans and is there any validity to the claim of the old levis looms. I know other brands have claimed this, but I believe the concensus was that this is a tall tail. Also, the rep claimed the denim and construction of these surpassed 45rpm jeans. What y'all make of this?

 

[minya]

Levis never owned any looms. This is a horseshit claim trotted out by Prps among others.

there's also no chance in hell that Paul Smith jeans will be outdoing 45RPM jeans.

 

[parachutes]

it depends on what they deem to surpass the 45RPM on. 45 doesnt have much in terms of bleached/distressed models like paul smith does. from the impression that i got looking at the jeans and red ear collection available here, i doubt they would surpass 45 in terms of fabric&dye.

 

[Get Smart]

I've seen the Paul Smith red ear 'rainbow selvage' one rinse jean which is their highest end denim. It's pretty damn nice, typical 501 fit and seems to be well made, but I don't know if it's better than 45rpm. The price is up there in the stratospheric range, at about $550

 

[rnrswitch]

I do believe that the rainbow selvage is what he was talking about. I am just really getting fed up with the Levis looms myth. I know this has been discussed ad infinitum, but I thought cone mills made the levis denim. Wouldn't cone mills have the looms and why would they sell them and why would they sell them to Paul Smith. Can't these fools be sued for false advertisement? Isn't starting rumors, that are false, a form of advertisement?

Get Smart... where did you see those jeans. LA area?

 

[LA Guy]

I've seen Red Ear in American Rag, and some other places, but don't remember them. American Rag definitely carries Red Ear though. And yes, the prices are outrageous.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by rnrswitch

Get Smart... where did you see those jeans. LA area?


yes, at my pink palace of goodness, the PS store on melrose. They have the full range of PS denim, including the one rinse $550 rainbow selvage. I dont think the PS rep was saying they own the Cone mills looms, just that they used denim woven on said looms. (and isnt the current story that Cone Mills still has all those looms in NC, not in Japan as previously reported?)

 

[Roland]

Yeah, PS Red Ear and 45 RPM are really similar. Don't buy the line about Red Ear having better denim, but in terms of other garments, they're equal. I bought a Red Ear Sweatshirt at their recent NYC sale.

Anyone know whats the deal with some Red Ear items being made in Hong Kong? I thought the whole line was made in Japan.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by Roland

Yeah, PS Red Ear and 45 RPM are really similar. Don't buy the line about Red Ear having better denim, but in terms of other garments, they're equal. I bought a Red Ear Sweatshirt at their recent NYC sale.


So you think so too, huh? Mauro (DENIMBAR) thinks really highly of Red Ear as well, but I have honestly never been that impressed by the denim, construction, or washes, especially at the prices. I've atually passed up a couple of pair at 70% off. R45RPM, on the other hand, blew my mind first time I saw it. I guess that I'll have to take a closer look at Red Ear next time...

 

[minya]

isn't Red Ear made in China? Or is that just the mainline Paul Smith denim?

 

[Fuuma]

Originally Posted by LA Guy

So you think so too, huh? Mauro (DENIMBAR) thinks really highly of Red Ear as well, but I have honestly never been that impressed by the denim, construction, or washes, especially at the prices. I've atually passed up a couple of pair at 70% off. R45RPM, on the other hand, blew my mind first time I saw it. I guess that I'll have to take a closer look at Red Ear next time...

I saw a pair once and frankly, there might be a difference between this and 45RPM but just like with uber-expensive wine this is where my denim knowledge end, both seem like amazing jeans in their own right.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by minya

isn't Red Ear made in China? Or is that just the mainline Paul Smith denim?

Just the mainline stuff, AFAIK.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by minya

isn't Red Ear made in China? Or is that just the mainline Paul Smith denim?

all the Red Ear denim is made in China, except the rainbow selvage which is made in Japan.

 

[Get Smart]

Originally Posted by LA Guy

So you think so too, huh? Mauro (DENIMBAR) thinks really highly of Red Ear as well, but I have honestly never been that impressed by the denim, construction, or washes, especially at the prices. I've atually passed up a couple of pair at 70% off. R45RPM, on the other hand, blew my mind first time I saw it. I guess that I'll have to take a closer look at Red Ear next time...


the normal Red Ear jeans arent anything special, esp at the 150-200 pricerange. The Japanese made "rainbow selvage" model is a lot better, and I'd feel better spending $550 on that, than $200 on the Chinese made Red Ears. Not that I'd spend $550 on a pair of jeans. Even if it does come from my pink palace of goodness.

 

[LA Guy]

Originally Posted by Get Smart

the normal Red Ear jeans arent anything special, esp at the 150-200 pricerange. The Japanese made "rainbow selvage" model is a lot better, and I'd feel better spending $550 on that, than $200 on the Chinese made Red Ears. Not that I'd spend $550 on a pair of jeans. Even if it does come from my pink palace of goodness.

Thanks for both the correction and the clarification. I thought that I was going crazy for a while, trying to figure out what was so special about Red Ear jeans, and how I'd dropped the ball on that one. Yeah, $550 is crazy money. Not that I would say no to crazy money, if anyone offered.