Is the search for the denim grail finally over? For many years noble knights of the round rivet have been seeking what many consider to be no more than a myth: Perfect Denim Jeans! Well, there are now murmurings that the search is over and Earnest Sewn Jeans are the myth made reality. Let’s allow Earnest Sewn to tell the story:
Earnest Sewn, by definition, is a denim brand which pays homage to its Americana past and mixes, for perhaps the first time, traditional denim workwear with the ancient Japanese style aesthetic, Wabi-Sabi. Designed and launched by the former co-founder/designer of Paper Denim & Cloth, Scott Morrison, the Earnest Sewn design principle is literally translated as ‘product sewn in earnest’. Focusing on each individual jean and the numerous amounts of processing, hand application, and refinishing techniques used to create an Earnest Sewn jean, he takes things even further by intentionally incorporating imperfection and inconsistency into key design and sewing details. This is exhibited in irregularities such as stitch detailing, needlework, sewing construction, trims, thread variation, and our ever changing ‘e & s’ back pocket decorative stitching.
Although several themes are referenced throughout the collection, the most significant reference is in Earnest Sewn’s adoption of the Japanese aesthetic system of traditional beauty, Wabi-Sabi. At its core, “Wabi-Sabi is the beauty of all things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete.†* The idea that perfection can be found in the imperfect is not a new thought, in fact it’s thousands of years old, but when combined with distinctly American products such as jeans, workwear, and sportswear, the result is fresh and unexpected.
Those fortunate enough to find a pair of Earnest Sewn in their local retailer will have found a line of denim and denim related products that reflect an unprecedented commitment to quality and individual style. They’ll also find an unwavering appreciation for denim and the fading mystique of American ingenuity and craftsmanship. Each piece of Earnest Sewn is handcrafted to perfection, the end result, an obvious byproduct of our obsession.
* Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers by Leonard Koren