(photo courtesy of Raleigh Denim)
Determined to create the perfect jean, the duo worked with residents who had worked in the last Levi Strauss factory to learn older craftsmanship techniques while incorporating modern detailing. They remade machines from the 1920's for authenticity, making each pair by hand using White Oak Cone denim in Raleigh, North Carolina. Their first line debuted in 2008 and were selected to join the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Although they have had great success, their manufacturing team remains small. Each piece is numbered and signed by the "jeansmith" that made them, which makes them truly one of a kind.
