Gear Patrol

Fashion trends are as capricious and dispensable as the blasé hipsters who sport them. Enduring appeal, on the other hand, is hard to come by. That’s what makes the both Levi’s and its 501 Jean such icons; it’s why we keep a framed poster of the 501’s history on the wall here at the GP offices. In a masterstroke of marketing, Levi’s put together this energetic film, which reminds us just how rich the 501’s history is.

Nothing sets the teeth to rattling like the task of gift buying for a style zealot (except maybe an in-law’s icy glare). Rolled or cuffed? four-in-hand or windsor? Double breasted or single? Brown or black? Personal style is, well, personal; a faux pas can have lasting consequences. That’s why we’re throwing you a life line:…

We’ve already detailed how the guys at 3×1 are the Grand Masters of anything denim. Now you can also care for your jeans just like the folks at the 15 Mercer Street’s atelier with their 3×1 Denim Solution ($20), used in the brand’s famous “Wet x 1″ process. The 8 oz bottle of solution enables…

We all know that wearing jeans just once out of the washer isn’t enough, unless you’re one of those unfortunate souls looking to revive the acid-washed glory days of the 80s. Two times maybe. Three times…well, that’s when they just start to stretch in all the right places, sag nicely, and feel great. Things only…

It’s only fitting that the founder of Paper Denim & Cloth, Scott Morrison, is the mind behind 3×1. The jeans demigod created the SoHo-based store/workshop/gallery as a shrine to all things denim that includes over 130 bolts of selvage to choose from, and a glass-enclosed “atelier” where each hand-stitched individually numbered pair is made for…

GEAR PATROL SPONSORED POST The classic style of Levi’s products is undeniable. We’re even wearing a pair of 501′s as we type this. Since patenting the first jean for the Gold Rush miners over a hundred years ago, Levi’s denim has continued its reign as an American style icon with unmatched craftsmanship. Originally made for…

The town of Cardigan used to be the largest producer of denim in England, making over 35,000 pairs of jeans a week. Then the textile industry changed, and the factory was shut down. David Hieatt was raised in Cardigan, and founded Hiut denim out of a love for the material and a desire to bring…

Since 1999 (well before any “heritage” movement) Left Field has been domestically churning out tough-as-nails workwear. After wearing some of their goods in the past year, we can attest to the rough and tumble quality of their goods. Their newly released Nisshinbo Mills Slim-Straight Jeans ($210) build upon the impressive product line. Hand made in…

Thanks to capitalism, competing entities rarely team up. Coke and Pepsi won’t be making Copsi anytime soon, and Honda and Toyota will not be bringing us an Camcord. Luckily for our benefit though, two titans of American clothing have bucked the rule and teamed together (2010 Miami Heat style) to bring us something truly spectacular….

There’s a lot to love about raw selvage denim and provides a lot of benefits (in our opinion) over other denim, higher construction quality, longer life span, better looking, and most importantly you make them your own. There’s no artificial wear that someone in a factory belt sanded on for you, no stains without memories….

Made from North Carolina 13 oz raw denim and lined with Portuguese flannel, and sporting a slim motorcycle-inspired cut, the ELC Cody Denim Jacket is a jean jacket that we can get behind. Unlike some of the atrocities you probably wore in elementary school, the Cody is a jacket that will get better as time…

This week’s fixation is a pair of custom jeans from LA-based Rogue Territory. You see, I am afflicted with serious Thunder Thighs (from the days of college sports) and a penchant for dry denim. That’s a combination that leads to reduced blood flow in my lower body as I break in jeans and the potential…

“These are the toughest, strongest, most stubborn jeans in the world, no argument.” That description on Ironheart’s website intrigued us, to say the least. Bold statements beg to be tested, and test this claim we have. The Ironheart IH-634s jeans are defined by the 21 ounce selvage denim from which they’re constructed. For those of…

By Gear Patrol Reader Matthew Swaggart: The other day, my buddy called a local Saks Fifth Avenue store and asked if they carried Levi’s Capital E brand jeans. The salesman quipped, “Levi’s! No, we don’t carry Levi’s.” His tone was overtly snarky, to which my buddy replied with a few choice words and hung up…

When I’m not suited up for my 8 to 5 gig, my outfit of choice has to be a favorite pair of broken-in jeans and a comfortable t-shirt. Add in the right pair of shoes, I’m set with a comfortable, yet trendy look and ready to go just about anywhere. Gear Patrol was recently introduced…

On a recent quest for new jeans, I came across a very unique Italian jean company called Onvis (not Orvis). The product line at Onvis is refreshingly simple, two pairs of men’s jeans. That’s it.  Both are standard 5 pocket straight leg (Think Levis 501) and made of high-end, raw, indigo-dyed, selvage denim. *Those of…

Coughing up two Benjamins for a pair of jeans might sound like a bit much but if you think about how much and how long you wear a pair of well fitted jeans it makes sense that you’d want something quality, not the $20 pair on the Old Navy sale rack. Not that we’re harshing…