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Friday, May 25, 2012

CULTURE

Designer Download: Crate Denim

We ladies have been sartorially stealing from our guys quite a bit lately. What with the boyfriend blazers and jeans, masculine plaid shirts, and those oversized watches, you might even start to think that the gents are getting angry at us for ripping off their style. The truth of the matter is, the whole rugged yet tailored look just works—for both sexes.

Los Angeles-based men’s denim designer Chad Hilton has been creating this toughened masculine style under his label Crate Denim since 2006. Not only does Chad sell his ever-growing line of jean pants, shirts, and jackets to stores such as Barneys and Bloomingdales, but he also takes it up an eco-notch by hand-producing each item out of leftover fabric no longer produced by mills, called dead stock denim. This means that the denim pieces you purchase from Crate Denim today were perhaps originally manufactured years ago for companies such as Levi Strauss or Wrangler.

Originally, Chad, who was working in the creative department at Nixon, began making his line because he was having a hard time finding clothes he liked. He started selling his denim pants to friends and slowly, he had a business on his hands. Chad tells us that his favorite part of making his line is the construction and local manufacturing process. “It’s all so simple, yet so important,” He tells us. “I love the machines, the safety gloves, the marker, even spreading the fabric.” This love of manufacturing came in handy not only when Chad was starting out, but also as he now continues to grow a more sustainable and locally-made clothing line, the crux of his business: “When I started Crate I had to use dead stock fabrics because our production numbers were so low and we couldn't get any mills to spin fabric for us. As our line and numbers grew I kept choosing the same fabrics. Denim mills in the states produce so much extra fabric annually, why contribute to overages?”

Chad not only incorporates recycling into his Crate Denim products, but he believes whole-heartedly in the sustainable value of a lasting product, “Jeans are meant to be worn hard. Buy a pair that is going to last. I started Crate six years ago and own only three pairs of jeans!” And for all of you ladies plotting ways to steal more of your man’s denim pieces, Chad let us know that by fall 2011 Crate Denim will have a full women’s collection. So tell your guys to rest easy.

Roll over items for details
NEW Historic Trails Award Leather Patch
This piece is really fun. I would love to put it on a custom pair of shorts for my 3 year old nephew.
(starting bid, $2.49)
WWII 567th Bomer GP 8th USAAF Squadron Leather Patch
I have a pal who works for Red Bull and I always make a little fun of his job. It'd be fun and very easy to put this on a denim piece for him.
(buy it now price, $99)
NEW Rainbow Selvedge 100% Wool Broadcloth Regalia Pow-wow
I've been infatuated with blankets lately. This would be perfect to make into one.
(buy it now price, $67)
Handpainted Leather Hide One Of A Kind Native American
It would be amazing to make a set of wallets out of this hide. Non-matching yet somehow, matching. It would be really cool.
(starting bid, $12)
Vintage Victoria Queen Brass Button
Buttons and hardware always make the garment for me.
(starting bid, $32.08)
Designer Download: Crate Denim

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