Reading Dottie’s post about skinny jeans, I thought it would be appropriate to start blogging about my denim obsession.
Contrary to what most of my friends think, this denim obsession is not so much a fashion thing as a denim thing – in the past year I have learnt so much about the heritage and construction (dyeing, weaving, stitching, etc) behind the simple indigo-dyed twill weave that spending some cash on jeans was a natural progression.
My first pair of quality denim was a pair of APC jeans. The Paris-based label has been one of the pillars of understated elegance since its founding in 1987 by designer Jean Touitou. APC’s brand is invisible – none of the jeans carry any external markings – and their clothes are all products manufactured to the highest standards, and great value for money. Their cuts are structured and sharp, comparable to Helmut Lang or Hedi Slimane, while maintaining that generic, bowler-and-suit quality. In fact, the much-celebrated Dior Homme skinny jeans were inspired by APC’s vision of construction over design, and work over talk.
APC’s most popular jeans are the New Standard, a slim straight cut with a slight taper below the knee, and are effectively unisex. No treatments are applied; the jeans are sold raw and unwashed, with that beautiful raw denim sheen from the compression during manufacturing still visible. Of course, since their explosion into the general view about a year ago, washed models have also become a part of their denim line.
Raw jeans have come into vogue over the past year, but denimheads have always enjoyed breaking in their jeans from their deep indigo state. Over at the supertalk forums, part of the superfuture international travel and shopping portal, members have been messing with their jeans for almost two or three years now, and some of the results (and more results) have been spectacular. My own pair is less interesting, owing to our tropical climate, but has been with me for 9 months.
One of the best articles about the design house is by Refinery29, an interview with Jean Touitou. You can check out APC at Front Row, 5 Ann Siang Rd.
Credits: APC.fr, Refinery29, superfuture members Serge d Nimes, TragicBliss
11 Comments
January 31, 2007, 2:30 pm, at 2:30 pm
hi, the cardigans look cool
do you have any idea whats the new trend for hair colors and hair styles?
January 31, 2007, 4:57 pm, at 4:57 pm
the best thing about dior homme is that hedi slimane has got his fingerprints all over it! dior homme – how genius is that slimane guy? that’s even better than sliced bread!
i cld’t wait for a visit to apc hence bought my cardigans from muji (here) and wore them all over hong kong and tokyo (the irony!) over the christmas and new year holidays.
the weird thing about the apc/nike tie up to make shoes is this: while apc is anti-logo and all, nike is all about the swoosh. what gives? but i bought it anyway cause they were on sale at 10500yen.
January 31, 2007, 7:24 pm, at 7:24 pm
ling, the cardigans are very nice! Only thing that stops me from buying more APC stuff is the price – a tee is about 45 USD, and their outerwear is usually 150 USD and upwards. But they are very long-lasting and well made items.
jackson – to be honest I’m not that much a fan of Hedi Slimane – I think he’s gotten lazier and lazier with his designs in the last few years, throwing tees and jeans about without much thought. But his early Dior stuff was very good.
The APC x Nike left me wondering as well…I’m not sure. Also, APC has pretty much left the underground (it used to be really cult, like early CdG), it now holds overstock sales at its outlet store in NYC. I suppose like most successful brands, it is becoming increasingly commercial.
January 31, 2007, 8:48 pm, at 8:48 pm
hey, how exactly to get to ann siang rd? i’ve nv been there actually and would really like to check it out. (: same goes with haji lane.
January 31, 2007, 9:05 pm, at 9:05 pm
Take a train to Chinatown station, and Ann Siang is just a short walk (less than 10 mins) from the station. Use the Pagoda St exit, and follow this streetdirectory.com map.
March 14, 2007, 9:54 am, at 9:54 am
how much will a pair of A.P.C. men’s jeans cost in Front Row? TQ
March 14, 2007, 11:23 am, at 11:23 am
APC jeans in raw indigo are going at 240 i believe. (Or was it 260?)
Their washed models would cost more, of course.
March 14, 2007, 11:55 am, at 11:55 am
thankx tweeds…reasonable price.
March 23, 2008, 12:17 am, at 12:17 am
Hey guys,
My regular jeans size is 30, what would my APC jeans size would be? Is it one or two size smaller? help.
October 21, 2009, 8:24 pm, at 8:24 pm
kim, juste one size smaller, if you want to be sure to wear it after fisrst washing.
October 21, 2009, 8:25 pm, at 8:25 pm
Kim, just one size smaller. If you want to be sure to wear it after first washing.