(Photo: courtesy of Gustin)
Good news for guys who don't want to spend their entire rent check on high-quality denim: American brand Gustin launched its online store today.
Gustin isn't new -- it launched six years ago -- but its prices will be much lower. The company's selvedge jeans, which are handmade in San Francisco from American Cone Mills and Japanese denim, were selling in boutiques for $200 (Cone Mills denim is known to sell for an eye-popping $300).
The company had a Kickstarter campaign earlier this year that sold the same jeans for $81, though I abstained because they were only selling the straight fit, which I already own. Now, the company's selection includes a slim fit for the same price or $99 depending on the model (you can compare fits here).
The site's crowdsourcing works like this: You "back" a pair of jeans, and if enough people buy in over the next two weeks, Gustin will charge you and start producing them. Considering they've already sold out several campaigns today, it's likely you'll get the jeans you back.
If you're curious, a good place to start would be the Classic model (it sold out on the first run today, but a second run was just launched). I much prefer the subtle details -- the leather patch, half-lined back pockets and red ID thread on the belt loops -- over the gaudy True Religion types out there. And if you've never worn selvedge, these guys do it well. Unlike the 7 For All Mankinds of the world, the denim is rugged and feels like it could last a decade. It might feel like cardboard at first, but my pair has softened up nicely over the last year.
One big catch: because these are limited-edition items that you can't try on in a store, returns and exchanges will be trickier. The company's site says they'll do their best to swap a pair for a similar style. Their fit page gives solid advice on how to pick a pair, and from experience I can concur that you should order a pair one or two sizes smaller than your typical waist size. Even if they feel tight at first, they'll expand over time. My straight-fit pair are a little looser in the thigh than I'd want for dressier outfits.
I realize that for some, $81 is still a lot to pay online for jeans, and you could do just fine by paying $50 for lightweight selvedge from Uniqlo or around $70 for a pair of Levi's 501s. Still, I can vouch from experience that Gustin is a great option if you're looking for classic-looking, durable jeans.