J Crew Launches Point Sur Denim for that Broken In Fit

J Crew Launches Point Sur Denim for that Broken In Fit

It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world out there for the denim industry…with so many brands coming out every day claiming the best fit, best broken-in feel, best fabric or shape retention…and while there are definitely a ton of improvements that have been made (seriously, I haven’t needed a belt to wear any of my latest jeans as opposed to so many of my older, once-loved pairs, or felt the need to change out of any of them if the need for a nap arrives), which obviously shouldn’t be complained about since it was a long-time coming, sometimes it can still be frustrating once again to find that right brand out of a sea of great contenders. J. Crew is a brand I have never heard anything negative about, having mastered the competition it seems in regards to basics and classic apparel. J. Crew is no newbie to denim, having launched the much-adored Madewell in 2006. Now, they have jumped on the competitive bandwagon themselves with their own brand-name, upscale denim line called Point Sur Denim.

The mission of Point Sur Denim is to be those beautiful broken-in, vintage jeans you covet “after you see them on some cool girl.” “That vintage jean you’ve always wanted but couldn’t find.” J. Crew finds inspiration for this new line all over the place, from flea markets to hikes in state parks (the Point Sur Denim name is inspired by Big Sur State Park), and each pair is constructed of exotic fabrics like Japanese selvedge and Cone Denim fabric from North Carolina. The factory itself is right here in California, in downtown Los Angeles. The attention to detail in each product is impeccable — each button, label, cuff, or extra details are sewn in by hand, and all whiskering are sanded on and modeled after existing vintage jeans to keep the look as authentic as possible. Denim is broken in at the factory in huge washing machines with pumice stones and sometimes golf balls. I love denim technology! I only wish to visit one of these factories sometime. What a blog post that would make!

The products themselves are priced in the higher-end, anywhere from $198 to $288, but after reading about the process that goes into these jeans, it kind of makes sense, especially with all the work done by hand. The Slim Stacker Selvedge Jean, for example, is constructed with fabric woven on a loom that is hundreds of years old, a white dye called an “optic brightener” is used to really get that bright white look, and a red thread is hand picked and sewn into the seam for a pretty pop when the jean is cuffed up. Pretty impressive. Although, I’d have to get my hands on one to see for myself…maybe that’s in my Denimology future? Crossing my fingers!

Also, for those who are unfamiliar, selvedge denim is fabric woven on old-fashioned looms that were used for denim weaving until the mid to late 1900s, when production rose and output became more about quantity than quality. Selvedge denim is often preferred over normal denim because of its tighter weave, which gives denim a higher density and thus makes it more sturdy and durable. Denim weaved on more modern looms has a more consistent texture, whereas denim weaved off old selvedge looms does not, which gives it a unique and often sought-for characteristic. Also, selvedge fabric has a cleaner edge which does not unravel like normal denim fabric, so it is often used as the outseam of a garment, as the term “selvedge” comes from the phrase, “self-edge.” There, you learn something new every day 🙂 You can read more about Selvedge denim here.

Shop these pretty jeans below!