In shopping for apparel, most of us are faced with a great contradiction: shopping for trends and defining our own style. While of course many of us love to stay current with latest fashion trends, it is just as important (and we argue more so) to establish a unique look, expressing your personal style through fashion.
The solution seems to be in the great diversity of options that the apparel industry offers. When looking for a white blouse, for instance, we all know there are infinite options out there, many of them that look identical. Yet how many of these designs are both fashionable AND unique? How can we really be sure the “one-of-a-kind” apparel we buy is such? Are there even protections to ensure that the things we buy aren’t merely knock-offs?
Believe it or not, there is no copyright protection for fashion designs in the US, meaning that anyone can slightly alter an existing design and call it their own. From a recent Ted Talk by Johanna Blakely entitled “Lessons from Fashion’s Free Culture,” Blakely discusses this lack of copyright protection in the fashion industry as both a blessing and a curse.
Essentially Blakely argues that it is more difficult than ever, due to our limitless access to information through digital media, to define ownership of anything anymore, be it a joke, a recipe, or a fashion design. While the lack of copyrights thankfully makes creativity flourish, taking older designs and transforming them into something “new”, too much creativity can make it hard to call anything original. Watch the whole Ted Talk below:
So what does this mean for your personal style? It means that if you want truly unique apparel (without paying couture prices), your options are pretty limited. It means that the apparel industry has created a top-down system in which consumers are expected to reflect “new” fashion trends, and not the other way around. It means that while we’re all about (some) reemerging trends and the awesome creativity of the fashion industry, we believe one shouldn’t be forced to choose between ever-changing trends and what compliments our personal style and body types.
Thankfully, indiDenim makes every garment to your measurements, to your style specifications, and only for you. We allow you to take a trend like skinny jeans and make them truly your own. Not to mention the fact that our fit technology used to create your unique pattern, our modular manufacturing processes, and our online customization platform make us a one-of-a-kind apparel brand.
So feel good, indiDenim lovers, for your apparel is really some of the only one-of-a-kind stuff out there. As Blakely states, there are plenty of advantages of copying, including the democratization of fashion trends. At indiDenim we feel that we are democratizing fashion even further, allowing all consumers to not only have access to fashion trends but to make them their own.
posted by: evan on May 27, 2010 at 5:10 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
TAGS:
It’s time for a little humor this Friday afternoon…we here at indi believe in the importance of dressing right for your body type. After all, wearing something that fits you perfectly is one sure way to look your best. Fit should always come first before you consider any hot trends or coveted styles. This is especially true when it comes to your jeans.
One of the most common fit problems we see is the “Plumber’s Crack”.
The plumber’s crack happens when one wears jeans with a low waistband leaving the butt exposed at times during bending, squatting and/or sitting down. The act of showing more than people want to see can bring all sorts of reactions and emotions. When I see this mishap happen, I normally can’t help, however painful it is, but stare at the problem head on. This is only because I find it unbelievable that some remain completely unaware of what’s happening.
News flash: exposed butt cracks are not a sexy look. And while the obvious solution would be just to buy jeans with the appropriate rise, others went out of their way to come up with a creative way to give their cracks some flare. Case in point:
This plumber’s crack-friendly patch is supposedly adhesive, hypoallergenic and decorative… enough to cover something that’s inappropriately exposed and to bring a whole different level of embarrassment that I didn’t think was possible until now. You can decide if the patch is cute or not. It also comes with two replacement tapes if you have some doubts on its adhesive staying power. Then again, we suggest you simply raise your back rise. Just sayin’. Happy Friday!
posted by: Eunice Tanos on May 7, 2010 at 3:37 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
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Top of the morning to you denim lovers! And happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
I enjoy a good Saint Patty’s day celebration- delicious pub grub, shamrock shakes, green beer, and yes, even Lucky Charms!, but the worst part about today is the pinching.
Ever since that fateful day in first grade when I forgot to wear green, I’ve always been sure to mark March 17th on my calendar and to make sure that I’m properly attired. Today, thankfully, here in the office (most) all of us are decked in green, and will remain pinch free.
At indiDenim, we are also safe from pinching today for another reason: because we all wear indi jeans. It’s true that for some people, pinching is a problem 365 days a year- because their jeans do not fit properly. Jeans can be too tight in the waist and loose in the seat, or pinching in the thighs and gaping at the waist. We’ve all fallen victim to denim fit disasters at one time or another. Not that it’s entirely our fault, because really, it can be nearly impossible to find the perfect fit in your typical store.
indiDenim is proud to be not so typical. Personally, ever since my first grade incident I have sworn off the playground pinching episodes, and ever since I’ve discovered indi I’ve sworn off pinching denim as well and I hope you will too.
Avoiding the dreaded denim pinch can be tricky, but it helps if you know what to look out for. If you like skinny jeans (we sure do- we are introducing one for our SoMa jean VERY soon) make sure you go with stretch denim to avoid the infamous muffin tops and achy legs. The idea is to hug your curves- not squeeze them!
For you more classic ladies, our Presidio Trouser jean is the perfect way to complement your shape without the pain of too tight pants. They are shapely at the top, with clean lines through the leg- a great look minus pinch or frump (which can be almost as bad!).
For me, the best part of today is the celebration of the color green (okay well, maybe EXCEPT for those shamrock shakes). Now, we don’t make green jeans at indi, but a novelty pair is interesting to imagine, and hey- they might be popular. Not only is green the new black (because as we all know being eco-conscious is both trendy and important), but it’s bright, spring-y, and fun.
Although, now that I’m *really* looking at my Photoshop experiment, I think we better stick to classic jean colors for now, and leave most of the green to those envious of my perfectly tailored indi jeans.
Whether you’re a Mac or a PC, you most likely have an iPhone or iPod Touch. Apple wins when it comes to hand-held devices, but can your jeans handle your gadget?
Courtesy of wtfJeans
An up-and-coming trend is specifically designed iPhone and iPod Touch pockets on the front of the jeans. The micro-fiber interior protects your iPhone or iPod touch and also cleans it when the device is removed from the pocket. Aesthetically I’m not sold because front pockets that look like back pockets just make me think you’re wearing your jeans backwards, but I will withhold an informed opinion until I see these jeans with iPhone/iPod Touch pockets up close and personal.
Would you wear jeans that had a special pocket for your iPhone or iPod? Is it really necessary or something that should have happened a long time ago? Vote in the poll below!
There’s arguably nothing more fashionable right now than going green. Hollywood is doing it, Washington D.C. is doing it, even that guy down the street is doing it. It’s really the cool thing to do and good for the environment (love when that happens).
Not surprisingly, denim is jumping on the “Go Green” bandwagon. With the Sony Recycle Project Jeans initiative, Sony is taking a colorful spin on going green. Taking recently discarded cloth banners that were hanging off the sides of corporate offices, Sony is turning these banners into jeans like you’ve never seen before. Almost like a prank after this transformation, Sony prominently displays the apparel in their original location along the sides of the building where the banners were found.
And no, these jeans are not just art for art’s sake. Look through a pair of binoculars and if you like what you see, terrific. A friendly sales associate will swing down the side of the building to retrieve that special pair for you.
Just another day…
posted by: deborah on February 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
TAGS:
jeans
The earthquake that struck Haiti almost 2 weeks ago has devastated the world. Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas of the country have been demolished and the government believes that the death toll could rise to 300,000 people.
Here at indiDenim, we’ve taken the time to think about this humanitarian crisis and how jeans can help. That’s why we’re proud to support the organization Fashion Delivers, which aims to bring together fashion industries to donate apparel to victims in need across the world. They were founded in 2006 and inspired to act after Hurricane Katrina struck.
Right now, Fashion Delivers is organizing efforts to send apparel and products to Haitians who have been affected by the earthquake and have lost everything. To help, they are calling for a broad assortment of clothing items—jeans included.
If you too would like to support Fashion Delivers and the people of Haiti, please visit their website and fill out the donation form listed at the bottom or the page. Haiti needs our help today and many days to come.
Well thank goodness American Idol is back in our lives. It’s hard to believe that we’re already in season 9. Really makes you wonder how you spent your Wednesday nights 10 years ago…
So, in case you hadn’t noticed, this season, some of our favorites are back in the judges’ seats, including Simon Cowell and “what-up dawg” Randy Jackson. Ellen DeGeneres will also make her A.I. debut and replace crazy Paula (looove Ellen).
But who are we most excited to return to host a fun filled season of high pitched voices, scratchy harmonies, and strange hairdos? Why Ryan Seacrest of course.
Lately, we’ve been particularly fascinated with Mr. Seacrest, mostly because even without American Idol on TV, he still manages to be everywhere—radio gigs, producer credits, entertainment TV shows…absolutely everywhere.
But let’s be honest. The real reason why we love Ryan so much and aren’t annoyed by how annoying he is because Ryan is truly a jeans addict—a jeans enthusiast, if you will. Almost always caught wearing a pair of casual jeans, Ryan is a big fan of his medium blue wash denim and faded jeans.
The best part about our love for Ryan is that his denim style is so easy to pull off.
With the faded look as inspiration, you can customize your very own pair of Ryan jeans with brushed faded marks at the thigh and knees. Pair with a fitted graphic tee and you are set for television, radio, paparazzi, and everything else Ryan manages to get himself into these days.
posted by: deborah on January 19, 2010 at 6:08 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
TAGS:
jeans,
faded jeans
The impossible has happened, people. Our love for denim has just doubled. I know what you’re thinking. How could one possibly love jeans any more? Easily, apparently.
We recently came across an article from Discover Magazine about how jeans can actually protect you from a rattlesnake bites. Yes, you read that right.
This:
Can save you from this:
Doctors Shelton S. Herbert and William K. Hayes reveal that if you get bitten by one of those things and you’re wearing denim, you’ll absorb about two-thirds less venom than if you’re wearing some other inferior material. In their research, which is published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, they report that in their experiment, venom “spilled harmlessly” onto the denim, as opposed to seeping into your skin…
Conclusion? Jeans are not only a fashion must-have, but when you’re trudging through the dessert under the blazing, hot sun trying to find the next strip mall, they will also save you if confronted with one of America’s most terrifying creatures.
Now just imagine if your newest lifesaver was customized. A weapon of defense and fit perfectly just for your body? Sign. Me. Up.
posted by: deborah on January 14, 2010 at 6:33 pm
filed under:Misc Musings
TAGS:
jeans,
denim
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