Levi's Line 8 Collection arrives in Hoxton

Levi's have arrived in Hoxton! That's good news for those of us who like a bit of denim and appreciate that while Levi's might be a big brand, they still know what they're doing. And how!

The Line 8 collection from Levi's is on show here. A collection that features black as a key element to almost every item and applies some of Levi's style to a slightly different range of clothes: joggers, varsity jackets, and more.

Check out the Levi's store on Charlotte Road soon. It's open for the next five months.

Need more denim? We covered Levi's Vintage jeans a little while ago and a good looking collaboration with Edwin.

Images: from Levi's.

Denim | Levi's Vintage

The title of this blog probably makes most people surprised or disappointed when they see it not littered with jeans.

The title is taken from a joke that only me and about one other person understand or find in the least bit funny.

In fact, it's probably only me that does. Fashion humour is pretty far down the scale.

There's no aversion to denim here, there's just not that much knowledge, understanding, or deep burning passion. For that, check guys like Son of a Stag out.

There's an appreciation of denim, though. Brands like Huit, Edwin, and Tellason have really stood out for me in the past year, offering a product that they clearly care about.

Let's not turn noses up at the High Street though. The best tip for jeans I've ever had is from Mat of Buckets and Spades - what's on offer at Uniqlo is ludicrously good quality for the price: under £50.

Levi's shouldn't be overlooked either. Their standard ranges are solid and for someone who doesn't have large sums to spend on clothes, they're a good option.

If you do want to splash out though, Levi's have their vintage range.

Here, they've trawled back through the 501 archives and reproduced iconic and important (design wise) jeans from years-gone-by.

Mine are a 1954 pair (well, even I splash out occasionally). The first, apparently, to feature a zip-fly, they're a fairly weighty pair of jeans that came in handy for a couple of trips to Scotland last year.

All of their jeans are available online, but the best way to find the right pair is head to the Levi's Vintage store, just off Carnaby Street, and try a few pairs on.

If you're feeling brave go for an unwashed pair and shrink them to fit. If you're not at all brave (like me), save a little money, reduce the risk and buy a pre-worn pair. Either way, once you find a pair you like, you won't regret it.

Pictures: Levi's website and my Instagram.

Want more denim? Check out Edwin Denim or Gaolhouse Denim (on Buckets and Spades).

Edwin Denim Co. + Cookson & Clegg | Japanese denim, English manufacture

Heavy Denim is the name of this blog, but that doesn't mean we only cover denim - far from it. Instead, the title sprang from a joke between me and Mat (the Editor of Buckets and Spades) complaining about the weight of our jeans. Or something like that, I forget it's true origin. As you can tell from that anecdote, we're a funny pair when we meet for a beer!

That said, when a pair of good looking jeans come along, we're not going to sniff at them.

Japanese denim is highly regarded - like cars and electronics, anything America can do, Japan can equal, if not better - while a heavy weight of denim is high sought after. As Boris "the Blade" says, weight is a sign of reliability, although he doesn't mention how much you might sweat in the summer.

It follows, therefore, that a pair of 14oz Japanese Selvage jeans are something to pay attention to.

The history of Japanese denim is actually fairly short, by comparison to some of their US counterparts. Even so, Edwin still have a rich past and a collaboration with an English manufacturer who have been in business for over 150 years - Cookson & Clegg - makes these jeans even more eye-catching.

I can guarantee (although that is in no way binding), that bringing all of these factors together will delver a product of some quality; a product that you're not going to replace in a hurry, if ever. A high-rise cut and tapered fitting should also help these jeans stay 'in fashion' - whatever that really means. Based on a 1950s design, these are a descendant of real workwear, not a fifteen minute fad.

Where to find them: Liquor Store, Birmingham

(Thanks to Mat for the heads-up on that one)

Cadence Collection | Hard wearing cycling denim

It can be difficult knowing what to wear as a cyclist. The perfect cycling gear doesn’t equate to the perfect office wear and even casual styles can become worn-out pretty fast by excessive cycling.

Yet cycling is growing in popularity, especially in town and cities where commuting by bus, train, or metro (in London, we call it the tube) can be slow, crowded, and very uncomfortable.

Not unsurprisingly, a lot of brands have made an effort to capitalise on this trend, adapting exist lines or creating new ones to meet the rigours of cycling - the Levi’s Commuter range, being a case in point.

The additional features of these clothes doesn’t limit them to cycling though. The hard wearing nature, combined with style, puts many of these products on par with workwear. As an example, I’m sat writing this in a pair of Levi’s 508 Commuter trousers and haven’t gone near a bike for a couple of months now.

Cadence Collection is a californian cycling brand with a (recent) history of producing denim created for riders. Their range has just reached the UK and their raw denim jeans should come in at under £100, being listed at $110. These jeans are built with features you won’t find in a standard pair, including a reinforced seat, double layer back pockets, and a reflective back patch. The founder of Cadence, Dustin Klein, explains more in this video:



We’re excited about Cadence Collection coming to the UK. It’ll be great to see a pair in ‘action’ and perhaps even put a pair through their paces. Granted, with my limited cycling, they’re unlikely to be tested too hard, but Mat of Buckets and Spades could give them a good go.