italian-european jeans advice

[twistdh]

Hi guys,
i'm looking for some good quality selvedge raw denim. I'm from Italy, so it's really difficult to find some American or Japanese denim here to try on.

i would like some Italian (or at least European) jeans, so i have no extra duty and/or very high shipping cost. I've seen some Brave Star jeans that i like a lot (at least on the screen), but i can't try it so it's difficult to me to chose the right size...and with duty and shipping cost the price almost double, so for me is not so good.

I'm 175cm height and less than 60Kg (more on 55-57 Kg), so i think is best something slim fit or at most regular fit

Do you know some quality brand accessible from Italy, or at least with return possibility (at low cost, so i can try it and if it doesn't fit i can return it with not much loss)? Do you have any suggestion?

Thanks, as always

 

[Zoro]

Redcast Heritage is based in Spain will ship to everywhere in EU (you may likely have to pay shipping for the return, but shouldn't be very high). They have several JP brands and honestly it would be best to email them so they can help with sizing. In my case they asked me to measure my favorite pair of jeans and send them the measurements as per this article.

 

[andyone]

Blue Blanket is an Italian brand.
It seems they have a shop in Milano.

https://www.blueblanketjeans.com/

 

[andyone]

If you to the Blue blanket website there is a store locator.
There are listed some stores in Italy that carry Blue Blanket stuff.
I would bet that those stores also have other Denim brands….

https://www.blueblanketjeans.com/pages/store-locator-2

 

[twistdh]

Redcast Heritage is based in Spain will ship to everywhere in EU (you may likely have to pay shipping for the return, but shouldn't be very high). They have several JP brands and honestly it would be best to email them so they can help with sizing. In my case they asked me to measure my favorite pair of jeans and send them the measurements as per this article.

nice, thanks. i'll look that shop, seems that the refund can be free...i'll check that! See if i find some models that catches my eye.

Blue Blanket is an Italian brand.
It seems they have a shop in Milano.

https://www.blueblanketjeans.com/

Thank you! they don't have much models and they seems a bit too expensive to me but for sure next time i'll go to Milano i'll visit some of that store to try some of those models...I have some parents in Milano, so i go there 2-3 times a year

 

[andyone]

Or check the stores on the map - if you live near one of those shops you can try on some other brands that might be less expensive.

 

[Tom71]

Have you had a look at Nudie jeans from Sweden?

I find they offer excellent value for the money. They come in a lot of different cuts (all nicely explained on the website), and all of them come in selvedge variants.
Just make sure you don’t get one of their “fashion” denims.

As they are from the EU, customs are not an issue. Shipping cost is moderate, and they offer an easy return policy.

 

[twistdh]

Have you had a look at Nudie jeans from Sweden?

I find they offer excellent value for the money. They come in a lot of different cuts (all nicely explained on the website), and all of them come in selvedge variants.
Just make sure you don’t get one of their “fashion” denims.

As they are from the EU, customs are not an issue. Shipping cost is moderate, and they offer an easy return policy.

Thank you Tom. I've taken a look at Nudie and they seems good product at right price.

The various design are beautiful and well explained (as you said). I've seen "Steady Eddie II Dry Selvage" or "Gritty Jackson Dry Selvage". It's nice that they show an example of how they age. I compared the measures with that of my actual pair of jeans/pants and the size 28/30 is the closest.

The size based like that is reliable? Do you have a pair of that jeans?

PS: on Redcast Heritage i've seen some Strike Gold jeans (for example the blue/bown one), but i don't know how they can age

 

[Tom71]

Thank you Tom. I've taken a look at Nudie and they seems good product at right price.

The various design are beautiful and well explained (as you said). I've seen "Steady Eddie II Dry Selvage" or "Gritty Jackson Dry Selvage". It's nice that they show an example of how they age. I compared the measures with that of my actual pair of jeans/pants and the size 28/30 is the closest.

The size based like that is reliable? Do you have a pair of that jeans?

PS: on Redcast Heritage i've seen some Strike Gold jeans (for example the blue/bown one), but i don't know how they can age

Yes, measurements posted are pretty spot on.

Nudie generally sizes quite generously. You can usually take your standard jeans size or even one size down (two from IronHeart).

As for length, I’d err on the longer side. They do loose as bit after the first wash.

​

IMO, you absolutely cannot go wrong with a pair in their standard dry selvedge. Affordable and ages beautiful.

Steady Eddie and Gritty Jackson are my favourite cuts as well. SE has a nice taper but GJ is a bit more accommodating for boots.

 

[twistdh]

Yes, measurements posted are pretty spot on.

Nudie generally sizes quite generously. You can usually take your standard jeans size or even one size down (two from IronHeart).

As for length, I’d err on the longer side. They do loose as bit after the first wash.

​

IMO, you absolutely cannot go wrong with a pair in their standard dry selvedge. Affordable and ages beautiful.

Steady Eddie and Gritty Jackson are my favourite cuts as well. SE has a nice taper but GJ is a bit more accommodating for boots.

I thought they'd shrink after washing. I took some measurements of my various cotton pants and a pair of jeans (which, however, have a different cut, with a low rise that's at least 4-5 cm lower). The SE, in size 28/30, has measurements that match 96% to 99% of my current pants. Do you think it's better to size down if they come loose after washing, or can the "true" size still work?

I'd mainly wear them with low-top sneakers (something like Kamo Gutsu TIFO-017, Premiata and similar), although I wouldn't mind wearing them with hiking boots (which, however, I rarely wear in everyday life...I use it in the mountains or in particularly "dirty" environments/conditions). From what you say, the SE would be better with sneakers, especially considering my slim build. If they are too long I can always shorten them to the right size, the important thing is that they are not too short

I almost forgot: do they shed color? For example, when sitting in the car or on armchairs/sofas...I have mostly leather seating at home. Should I avoid sitting on them while wearing new jeans?

In any case, I'll keep an eye on the site, hoping they'll offer some discounts, which wouldn't hurt maybe on Black Friday!

Thank you for all the precious info!

 

[Tom71]

I thought they'd shrink after washing. I took some measurements of my various cotton pants and a pair of jeans (which, however, have a different cut, with a low rise that's at least 4-5 cm lower). The SE, in size 28/30, has measurements that match 96% to 99% of my current pants. Do you think it's better to size down if they come loose after washing, or can the "true" size still work?

I'd mainly wear them with low-top sneakers (something like Kamo Gutsu TIFO-017, Premiata and similar), although I wouldn't mind wearing them with hiking boots (which, however, I rarely wear in everyday life...I use it in the mountains or in particularly "dirty" environments/conditions). From what you say, the SE would be better with sneakers, especially considering my slim build. If they are too long I can always shorten them to the right size, the important thing is that they are not too short

I almost forgot: do they shed color? For example, when sitting in the car or on armchairs/sofas...I have mostly leather seating at home. Should I avoid sitting on them while wearing new jeans?

In any case, I'll keep an eye on the site, hoping they'll offer some discounts, which wouldn't hurt maybe on Black Friday!

Thank you for all the precious info!

Personally, I don´t size down. Half a size large still works, half a size small is always a pain.

Visually, you need to decide what works best for you. I do like some taper, but that´s strictly personal.

The selvedge fabrics are indigo dyed, and they will lose some colour before the first wash. It´s only an issue with very light colours and any rub will wash out. If your Porsche has cream-coloured leather seats, I´d wear something else...
The bleeding will stop after the first wash.

 

[twistdh]

Personally, I don´t size down. Half a size large still works, half a size small is always a pain.

Visually, you need to decide what works best for you. I do like some taper, but that´s strictly personal.

The selvedge fabrics are indigo dyed, and they will lose some colour before the first wash. It´s only an issue with very light colours and any rub will wash out. If your Porsche has cream-coloured leather seats, I´d wear something else...
The bleeding will stop after the first wash.

perfect, thanks. when i decided to try some Nudie jeans, i'll stay with true size
i have no hurry, so i can wait some discount (although is hard to wait.... ahah).

In any case the porsche is not a problem...no one has given it to me yet
I have a Nissan with cloth interior, so no problem for that ahah. i only have to avoid rubbing on the leather seat in the house until the first wash...But you say that with some rub i can wash out some stain, so no problem.

 

[Egalter]

Lee 101 are selvedge jeans, usually made in Italy of Japanese denim. You can easily find them in shops at a decent price and often get a good bargain during sales.

 

[Egalter]

Not to mention that you’ll be able to try them on the spot and choose amongst different colours and fits, without having to guess.

 

[twistdh]

Lee 101 are selvedge jeans, usually made in Italy of Japanese denim. You can easily find them in shops at a decent price and often get a good bargain during sales.

I hadn't thought about Lee because I saw them as commercial/cheap products. But the 101 seems good and definitely easier to find and try (not easy like standard Lee, but easier than other less known brands).

thank you!

 

[Egalter]

https://toyodenim.com/ imports and sells in Italy Studio d’Artisan and The Flat Head. A good starting point in Japanese raw denim

 

[TartuWolf]

Pike Brothers denim is a solid choice in EU.

 

[twistdh]

Pike Brothers denim is a solid choice in EU.

I don’t know why…I thought that they were base in US

I’ll take a look!

Any suggestion on particular model? Size wise, what do you suggest? We have pretty much the same Size? I think that they shrink so maybe i have to size up from theirs size chart

 

[Egalter]

Pike Brothers jeans are usually made in Turkey. Some of them in Portugal. It seems that only the heaviest ones (21 oz.) are made in Japan.

And, by the way, Fortela is based in Italy...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...d-to-the-japanese-giants.119515/#post-3206817

 

[TartuWolf]

Germany based but their stuff is made in Turkey, Portugal etc.. like @Egalter mentioned.
I haven't bought any but in my experience their pants are extremely oversized in the waist. Even W28 (not officially produced, but you can find them here and there, similar to XS sized clothing of theirs) was too big for me. So definitely check out the size charts. For example W29 has a 42cm waist, which is fking nuts. A W29 normally has a ~37-38cm waist max. Even the W28 was something like 40cm waist.
That's why I don't own any pants from them, otherwise big fan of PB myself.
In terms of models they have quite a few cuts/models, depending on what you're into. Different "weights" or thicknesses too. I'd personally go for the 21oz as I like heavyweight stuff. Currently wearing 25oz Pinion denim.
https://www.pikebrothers.com/en/Online-Shop/Pants/Denim/
Rather common to see them for sale for decent prices on kleinanzeigen as well.
https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/s-kleidung-herren/pike-brothers/k0c160

I'd say away from Fortela

I can also recommend Benzak.
Got my wife a pair from them. VERY hard to find nice raw denim for the ladies. And this one worked out great, beautiful and quality stuff. Bought with a 50% discount, I'd do the same for male denim, no way I'm paying the full price.
I was totally convinced in terms of the cut by this video haha:

Check their sale pages, maybe you'll find something that interests you. I didn't.