Premium Denim Brands archive

Meet Trace Ayala...The Other Face Of William Rast

William Rast is by far one of the hottest denim brands on the market, created by Justin Timberlake and his childhood best friend Trace Ayala.   True Jeans wanted to catch up with Trace and find out a little more about the brand and get to know the other face of William Rast.  Enjoy!

True Jeans: William Rast is a little bit of LA mixed with Tennessee style; which parts of William Rast's characteristics best describe your personality?

Trace Ayala: The Tennessee part is definitely me!  I try to enjoy the same things I did in Tennessee here in LA.

True Jeans: When you and Justin decided to launch the William Rast line of clothing, what was the motivation?  Did you feel like there was something missing in the market or did you just want to start a cool new clothing line?

Trace Ayala:  A little bit of both.  I feel like the market is definitely missing a true American heritage brand that stays true to their roots.  Everyone today wants that European style but we are who we are; 2 boys from the South.

True Jeans:  What is your favorite William Rast Jeans style to wear and why?

Trace Ayala:  I like the Billy Flare or Billy Bootcut.  I ride almost every day and like the looser fitting denim that is comfortable for me to wear while I am roping.

True Jeans:  What is your favorite William Rast women's style and why?

Trace Ayala:  I like the Women's Savoy.  The design of the yolk on the back makes all girls rears look amazing!

True Jeans:  The brand has a strong celebrity following. Other than William Rast being a celebrity-driven brand, how will William Rast continue to differentiate itself amongst other top and emerging denim brands?
 
Trace Ayala:  All we can do is be true to who we are and true to the clothes that we want to wear and I think that will end up differentiating us from the mainstream.

True Jeans:  We absolutely love William Rast's signature back pocket design!  Is there a story of influence behind the design?

Trace Ayala:  We call it "Dub" because each pocket is half of a W which ties back to William Rast

True Jeans:  Does William Rast have plans to branch into other merchandise categories besides clothing?

Trace Ayala:  Absolutely!  We will be creating an entire lifestyle brand. 

True Jeans:  What kind of jeans did you and Justin wear growing up?

Trace Ayala:  Mostly Levi's because they always stay true to being an American brand.

True Jeans:  What will be the hot trend we can expect to see for upcoming seasons from William Rast?

Trace Ayala:  Distressed and vintage denim, work wear styling and classic and high-rise silhouettes.

True Jeans:  What role do you and Justin play in the company? Are you just investors or do you participate in the day-to-day operations of the business?

Trace Ayala:  Justin and I are co-founders of the brand.  We are involved every day.  I have an office here downtown and I have basically become the culture ambassador of the brand.  I ensure that every aspect of this brand stays true to who we are. 

True Jeans:  Congratulations on your engagement to Joanna Garcia!  Will you be wearing any William Rast to your wedding?

Trace Ayala:  Absolutely! 

True Jeans:  Last question...What do you think of our website TrueJeans.com and our unique fit technology?!?
 
Trace Ayala:  I think it is awesome!!  I have always been a true believer that whatever jeans makes you feel comfortable is something you should be wearing regardless of the brand name.

HonestMall - the Fashionista's (and Fashionisto's!) eBay

Perhaps you've visited the folks over at DenimBlog and HonestForum via our blog roll or some of our blog posts for some fashion advice or the scoop on the latest trends.

There is another really cool part of their website called HonestMall. You know how if you go into eBay and search for designer clothes, you end up with a gazillion results loaded with knock-offs and scams? Well, on HonestMall, it's a much smaller scale, and they've taken precautions to make sure that all of the listings are authentic.

The mall charges a one time $10 entry fee to keep the scammers out, and there are brand managers that review the posted items to make sure they're real. They dig through to make sure that the seller is a real person, that they have a high feedback rating, where the item came from, and they even comb over high-res photos to confirm stitching and tag details. No more squinting at your monitor to figure out if that sexy Juicy Couture sweatshirt or that cute Kate Spade bag is fake! Some sample brands you might find on there include Diesel Jeans and Sevens as well as Louis Vuitton, Dolce and Gabbana, Manolo Blahnik, and more.

They are also working on integration with myspace and facebook and are building a mini version to work on your phones and blackberries. The best part? They've started a charity too and a portion of all their revenue goes to the poor. Stay tuned for more info as we collaborate, and remember to shop safely! If you're ever suspicious, remember to have a look at our blog post about how to spot fake premium denim so you don't make an expensive mistake!

William Rast on The Daily 10

Amidst the flurry of runway clips and previews surrounding Justin Timberlake's denim line, William Rast, and its, er, 'effect' on boosting celebrity Jessica Simpson's figure, we hear a voice amidst the crowd: "I'm sure God did some...William Rast did the rest." Described by 'The Daily 10' as a "booty-rockin' denim line", William Rast jeans have made big headway and don't appear to be stopping any time soon.

The brand, so named for Justin's grandfather, William, and design partner and best friend Trace Ayala's grandfather's last name, Rast, is snagging the attention of both men and women alike. The video features a step by step tour through the process of creating William Rast jeans, from picking out the type of denim to use, to the wash and the fit.

And what about the fit? We couldn't talk about jeans on True Life without talking about the fit! Instead of using a fit model like many companies do, the William Rast line takes the "best of three" approach - finding cuts that fit three different body types, and then picking a 'happy medium' that will look great on many different shapes and sizes.

To top it all off, their fashion show not only used models, but dancers as well! When's the last time you saw a fashion show with runway walkers break dancing? Sounds like Justin and Trace are bringing more than jeans to the catwalk.  

What do you think of it all? What makes Justin's line different from other celebrity fashion and beauty lines? Does the fact that he didn't use his name in the label make it more credible to you? If you're interested in trying a pair, you won't have to guess whether you're within the "best of three" fit rule. Check out True Jeans' line of William Rast jeans and use our fit technology to find your perfect fit!

Ever Wonder How Designer Jeans Are Made?

Ever wonder how your favorite designer jeans are made? Nylon TV, a division of Nylon Magazine, gets to the bottom of this question in this YouTube video segment.

For the August Denim Issue, Dani Stahl visited the 7 For All Mankind factory and learned what goes into making the perfect pair of denim jeans. This video also illustrates all the steps it takes to make a pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans.  Many of the steps are done by hand which is one of the things that factors into the higher cost of premium denim jeans.   

Pine IV is Creating a Buzz

 

Pine IV has created quite a buzz around the green community lately.  It is hard to escape the eco-awareness craze and this is one trend that I hope is long lasting. 

The Green Girl Guide, a blog dedicated to eco-friendly beauty, fashion and lifestyle trends, recently featured Pine IV in one of its posts.  This post is great because it mentions how Pine IV is planning on launching a line made from organic cotton and bamboo in 2008.  In the mean time, Pine IV continues to do its part to help the environment by planting a tree for every pair of jeans they sell. 

Katherine McPhee wearing 7 For All Mankind

Katherine McPhee’s style has certainly come a long way since her first auditions for ‘America Idol.’ The 'American Idol' Season Four Runner Up has become a fashionistas and a stand out at red carpet events.  Katherine, who recently opened up about her struggles with eating disorders, landed herself on the cover of Self Magazine’s April 2007 issue. 

Go behind the scenes in Cabo San Lucas at the cover shoot for the April issue of SELF and see Katherine wearing a pair of 7 For All Mankind Shorts.

Jennifer Garner Loves Her 7 For All Mankind Jeans

Jennifer Garner loves her 7 For All Mankind jeans so much!  This lovely lady practically lives in these jeans, wearing them to run errands, attend meetings, sign autographs and even while playing with daughter, Violet.   Jennifer seems to favor the "A" Pocket style but has also been spotted wearing the signature bootcut. 

Join us in Welcoming Paige Premium Denim

Join us in Welcoming 7 For All Mankind to Our True Fits

True Jeans is pleased to announce the addition of 7 For All Mankind to our rapidly growing list of premium denim brands. 7 For All Mankind, also known as Seven Jeans or "Sevens", is one of the most popular and successful designer jeans brands and practically defines the premium denim category. Seven Jeans was instantly popularized by Hollywood’s elite when they launched in Fall 2000. Their flattering fits and unique washes continue to be a wardrobe staple of Liv Tyler, Jennifer Garner and Cameron Diaz.

How To Wash Your Designer Jeans

A recent article posted on EzineArticles.com entitled “How to Wash Your Seven Jeans” got me thinking about the best practices in caring for your designer jeans.  The article outlines the proper precautions to take when washing a pair of Seven Jeans. Given the garment’s level of quality and durable but delicate fabric, it is important to take care when washing to ensure a longer life of the jean and to maintain the great quality that the denim had at the time of purchase.

According to this particular article, “The ideal way to wash your seven jeans is to wash it upside down (inside out). Doing this will help you in two ways. First it will keep the color and the variations made in the shade of the jeans intact. Secondly the friction that develops while you wash several denim clothes together in a washing machine; gets reduced to a great extent.”  

This is sound advice but True Jeans also has a few additional tips to help you extend the life of your jeans, keep them from fading, and keep them from shrinking:

• Pay attention to any special wash and care instructions that may be listed on the tags.

• Turn jeans inside out prior to washing to reduce fading.

• Keep water temperature below 110 degrees.

• Use a mild detergent.

• Never put more than four pairs of jeans in the washing machine at once.

• Avoid the dryer.  Let jeans air dry.   

You can also check out this video from Nudie Jeans to see how they recommend caring for your denim.

7 For All Mankind Broadens Its Brand

The Journal tends to support the idea the 7 For All Mankind’s expansion will give the brand a stronger presence in the market and will be good for the company, stating:

"Launched in 2000, without any advertising but lots of word of mouth in hip, fashionable circles, Seven For All Mankind's jeans quickly became hot sellers, racking up $70 million in sales in its second year in business in 2002, up from $13 million its first year… The brand burned hot enough to catch Wall Street's attention. In 2005, Bear Stearns's Merchant Banking unit bought a 50% stake in Seven for All Mankind LLC for nearly $300 million. Founder Mr. Koral owned the rest. He is staying on with Seven until his contract expires in February."

Seven has also recently been acquired by the major apparel label, VF Corp, who also owns brands like Lee, Wrangler and Nautica.  Seven should be able to use the resources already in place at these sportswear brands while breaking into the accessory market.  

7 For All Mankind’s premium jeans literally exploded onto the scene, quickly earning critical acclaim and an immediate following for its innovative us of fits, fabrics, and finishes in denim.  Will the same happen for the brand’s new line of accessories? 

What do you think?  Will 7 For All Mankind be able to successfully crossover into other product categories or should they keep their focus on the quality denim that so many of us how come to love?

Jennifer Garner Talks About Her Pine IV Jeans

Check out this video clip of Jennifer Garner talking about her Pine IV jeans.  Jennifer has recently been busy promoting her new movie, The Kingdom. 

Click here to check out photos of Jennifer wearing Pine IV. 

Victoria Beckham Loves Her dvb Jeans

Jessica Simpson is Definitely In Style

Jessica Simpson graces the cover of the November 2007 issue of In Style Magazine.  Jessica, whose two new movies, Blonde Ambition and Major Movie Star, are in the works, answers questions from both In Style readers and personal friends.  

Jessica looks absolutely gorgeous in these shots.  She is of course wearing her favorite pair of William Rast jeans.  

To read the entire In Style article, click here.

Pine IV Jeans Featured on The Today Show

Looking for a way to shop and avoid that post purchase guilt?  With so many brands making donations to charitable causes these days, it is easy to find designers who can make you look great in your clothes and feel great about giving back.  Stephanie Greenfield, owner of New York's boutique Scoop, shares some great brands that give back to great causes. 

A recent segment on The Today Show, focussed on clothing lines that donate portions of their profits to great causes.  Pine IV was featured as a brand that is eco-friendly.

Eco-chic can be beautiful.  Pine IV plants a tree for every pair of jeans sold in the United States.  To read more about Pine IV's environmental efforts click here.

Other great brands featured in this segment include Linda Loudermilk, Mauri Pioppo, and Green and Gorgeous. 

The Skinny Trend is Still Alive!

There is no denying that skinny jeans are continuing to rule the denim scene this fall.  I recently came across the collaborative fashion blog, Denim Blog, and found two posting that prove that the skinny trend is still alive and thriving.

The first posting, entitled “How Do I Wear Tight Hudson Jeans Well,” offers great advice for curvy women looking to rock the skinny jean look. A common concern among more curvaceous women is how to stay on top of high fashion denim trends without sacrificing a great fit and a happy body image. This article tries to send some light on how to make this trend work for you.   Make sure that the pair you buy fits you really well, and match them with some knee high boots to lengthen the appearance of your legs. Pairing them up with a loose-fitting top will also not only attract more attention to the jeans, but create the illusion of smaller hips and thighs.

The second post, “Designer Fashion – Back to the Future,” offers some insight into what runway styles will make it mainstream.  The article notes that retro styles are really making a comeback, and seem to have more impact with consumers than than cutting-edge new fashions do. Designers are noticing this trend and are gearing their designs toward the retro-fabulous, with wide headbands/bandanas, leggings, and of course, the skinny jean!  “The tighter the bottom, the better the look and they can be paired with just about anything.”

Check out some of the great skinny jeans True Jeans has to offer and see which styles will best fit you.  Some of my favorites are  the 575 Parliament, the Hudson Stella Skinny and the Wrangler 47 Lillington.

Breaking Denim News! Citizens of Humanity Acquires Gold Sign

 

The latest breaking news in the world of denim hit presses last week.  On Monday, September 10, 2007 Citizens of Humanity's announced its acquisition of GoldSign.  GoldSign is the brain child of Adriano Goldschmeid, who has created a line of luxurious and sophisticated premium denim.  This addition should prove to be beneficial for both brands and will allow each brand to bring innovative designs to its consumers.

The most important aspect of this acquisition has to be the fact that Citizens of Humanity has not only acquired the GoldSign label but it also has aquired Goldschmied's legendary laboratory and laundry facility, Laundry Atelier. Laundry Atelier is special because it is one of the few laundry facilities in the United States.  Laundry Atelier is a unique and innovative wash house where innovative and fashion forward denim washes, treatments and designs are created.  Citizens will now be able to benifit from Godschmeid's innovative technology available at this laundry facility.

Men's Premium Denim Forum: Style Forum

Men have just as many woes as women finding jeans that fit.  There are countless blogs for women’s fashion, most specializing in specific fit and body issues.  There are resources for women for everything from plus sizes to petite sizes and everything in between.  I have used these sites numerous times for suggestions, product reviews and shopping hints.

But what about the guys?  How do men with athletic thighs find help with fit?  What about the tall and lean men out there?  I think I’ve found one possible solution for this lack of help online.

Style Forum is an active forum with more than 15,000 members.  Registration is free, and the forum is really fun to read and interact with.  They offer categories that run the gamut of men’s fashion from urban to more tailored fashion topics, not to mention a section on fitness and social life suggestions for cities across the globe.  More than anything thing else, I like this forum because of the community members that contribute.  I love reading through the threads and seeing the helpful tone and overall camaraderie between the members.  

I have already found threads that might be helpful to some of our male readers.  One recent thread is a member asking for help finding the right fit for a more athletic thigh.  From the measurements he gives it is clear he falls into the ‘normal’ category when it comes to inseam and waist line, but it seems he still finds most jeans are too tight above the knee.

True Jeans attempts to solve these fit problems by requesting thigh measurements as well as inseam and waist.  To make our predictions that more ‘spot on’ we are also ask multiple choice questions about specific body areas, in fact this might be the most important and useful information we ask in general.

So here’s my question for all you fashionable men: What is your most frustrating fit problem, and what brands/styles have solved it?

Scratch and Sniff Denim - What Will They Think of Next???

You can always count on Women’s Wear Daily to provide you with breaking news in the fashion world.  The latest news in the denim world is reminiscent of childhood.  On August 30, 2007, WWD.com introduced me to a Spanish denim retailer, Cimarron, who has introduced scratch and sniff jeans for their fall line.  The idea arose during a late night design session when a member of the design team accidentally spilled a green tea onto their trousers.

The latest fall collection features colored denim with a matching scent.  The yellow jeans have a lemon scent, the orange jeans are scented with mandarin tones, green denim is minty fresh and pink smells of fresh berries.  According to Cimarron’s designer, Tiziano Folgia, the scent is only released when the denim is rubbed and the scent should last up to 20 washes.

This is an interesting concept but I am not sure if I am ready to walk around in denim smelling like mint or lemon.  What do you think?  Would you be interested in owning a pair of these new scratch and sniff jeans? 

Designer Trace Ayala Talks About William Rast's Denim Line

William Rast is one of the most popular denim lines on the market today.  With there unique washes and stellar fits, it is no wonder that celebs and regular folks alike cannot get enough of this fashion forward brand.

Justin Timberlake and best friend / partner Trace Ayala launched the line in 2006 and its popularity has skyrockets over the last few months with the help of celebrity endorsements like Jessica Biel and Jessica Simpson.  

In a recent interview with E! News, Ayala, who started his design career making custom designs for music tours and for friends, discusses William Rast’s upcoming fall line, which according to Ayala has an “Elvis/ Sinatra type of vibe.”

Check out the video to learn more about the celebrities who love this line and the technique William Rast uses to achieve a great fitting jean. 

William Rast on E!'s Daily 10

 

You’ve seen Jessica Simpson sporting these sexy jeans everywhere lately.  All of the growing celebrities buzz prompted  E!’s Daily 10 to  featured Justin Timberlake’s William Rast clothing line.  The line, which is inspired by Elvis and Frank Sinatra, has attracted quite a large celebrity following over the past couple of months.  The Daily 10’s host Debbie Matenopoulos went behind the scenes and spoke with JT’s partner Trace Ayala to see how the pair goes about creating a great line of clothing.

Trace describes how the design process begins by choosing which type of denim (Italian, Japanese, American, etc) will be used for a particular style.  Next, the duo decides which type of wash will be applied, whether it will be a dirty wash, a clean wash, or if the denim will be left raw.  Finally, the fitting process begins.  Instead of using one fit model, William Rast uses three very different models and takes the best fit out of the three.

Check out the video clip to learn more about how Jessica Simpson had William Rast design jeans exclusively for her.