The Denimhunters Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Cleaning Up the Denim Business (with Tony from Kings of Indigo) Jul 20, 2020

Show notes

Dutchman Tony Tonnaer has spent more than 15 years doing his part in making our shared denim addiction less harmful to the planet. After falling in love with denim during his time at Pepe Jeans in the early 00s, he became the CEO of Kuyichi, one of the brands that pioneered a more sustainable approach to making blue jeans. In 2010, Tony decided it was time to branch out on his own. That’s when he created KOI, also known as Kings of Indigo. Not long after, at the 2011 Bread and Butter summer show in Berlin, Tony presented his brand to the world. In this episode of the podcast, Tony and Thomas talk about the philosophy behind Kings of Indigo and how jeans can be more sustainable.

How Okayama Denim Became a Go-To Place for the Best Japanese Jeans (with Merv Sethi) Jul 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of the podcast, Merv Sethi from Okayama Denim tells his background, how he started his store with a tsunami relief project, and the USPs of his business. Merv shares his story and gives some insights into his background: his grandfather immigrated from India in 1952, and his family has been in the trading business ever since. We also talk about how the Okayama Denim Project that Merv did in 2011, in the wake of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, became the start of the Okayama Denim we know today. It all start when Merv was looking for a maker of the bracelet he did. That’s when he met Ken-ichi Iwaya, the founder of Pure Blue Japan, in his store on Jeans Street in Kojima. Okayama Denim is one of the few international Japan-based online retailers of Japanese raw denim. They retail most of the brands we all love to countries around the globe. In fact, in 2019, Okayama denim shipped to more than 70 countries! But the key USP of Okayama Denim has to be collaborations. They have to be right at the top of the ‘most collaboration’ list of any denim retailer. And they collaborations go far beyond the details of the jeans; they also collaborate with the makers on the denims. Make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast on your favourite player. The show’s on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and of course on denimhunters.com.

How Japanalogue Gives Japanese Denim an English Voice (with Dave Stewart) Jul 06, 2020

Show notes

Thomas talks to Dave from Japanalogue about his story, the philosophy behind his website, and how he might be able to turn it into a full-time thing. Dave runs Japanalogue entirely as a hobby project (at least so far). As a single parent and a job as an English teacher at a girl’s high school, it’s not like Dave hasn’t got other things to do and take care of. That’s also why, on this podcast, I asked Dave about his plans to take his side to the next level. Knowing the language and the culture is probably one of the key reasons he seems to be able to get the Japanese denim bosses to open up in a way the rest of us simply can't. He's practically become friends with all of them, it seems. And that puts him in a very unique position.

Curating the History of Blue Jeans (with Tracey Panek) Jun 29, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of the Denimhunters Podcast, Thomas talks to Tracey Panek, the historian at Levi Strauss & Co., about what she does, why it's such an important department in the Levi's organisation, and why what she does influences denim and blue jeans from any brand.

How Tenue de Nîmes Carved Out Its Own Niche in Raw Denim (with Menno van Meurs) Jun 22, 2020

Show notes

Tenue de Nîmes is different from other high-quality denim-focused retailers. The Amsterdam-based retailer is inarguably one of the world’s finest denim destination. On this episode of the podcast, Thomas talks to the man behind Tenue de Nîmes, mr Menno van Meurs. They talk about his dad’s old jeans and cowboy boots. They talk about his love for sports and later denim. How he got a job in Mode d’Emploi, whose owners also did the Atelier la Durance brand. And how he, together with two others, started Tenue de Nîmes in 2008. Of course, they also talk about what I think is one of the coolest in-house marketing platforms of any denim retailer, their publication Journal de Nîmes. And they talk about why the fashion industry is so f*cked up and actually really needs to change, which the COVID-19 crisis is facilitating.

How Naked & Famous Made It by Having Fun with Raw Denim (with Bahzad Trinos) Jun 15, 2020

Show notes

Naked & Famous is clearly a raw denim brand. But, at the same time, it’s different from any other raw denim brand. They were part of the raw denim wave that hit the US and Europe in the late-00s. And they’ve been disruptors since day one, doing things their own way. With a combination of great fits, minimalistic detailing, and a price point that doesn’t scare first-time buyers, it’s easy to see why Naked & Famous has been the gateway drug for many raw denim enthusiasts. The recipe for their success? You take an extensive range of Japanese raw denim (some of which are outright gimmicks). Cut and sewn that into jeans in Canada. Add some fun branding. Launch it at the perfect time. Sell it at a price most people can afford. And continue to run and market your brand with the same personal and direct touch, even when you grow big. That and a lot more. On this episode of the Denimhunters Podcast, Thomas talks to Bahzad Trinos, who’s employee no. 1 at Naked & Famous, about his story and the story of the brand. We talk about how Brando Svarc founded the brand in 2008, and his family’s background in the clothing business. We talk about how Bahzad got involved in the company when he was working in retail. How they were able to sell their jeans at a very attractive price point when they first launched. And a lot more.

Why We Need a Denim Fading Competition (with Bryan Szabo) Jun 08, 2020

Show notes

In the second episode of the Denimhunters Podcast, Thomas talks to Bryan Szabo, the founder of the Indigo Invitational fade competition. Bryan’s been guest blogging on Denimhunters since last autumn, sharing denim knowledge that’s particularly relevant for faders and spectators of the competition he started in 2019. On the podcast, Bryan tells the story of how it all began. How he got into denim in the first place. About his first pair of raws (Average Joes from Nudie). About ballroom dancing (yes, you read that right). And how he ended up living in Budapest in Hungary. Naturally, the two denimheads also talk about the Indigo Invitational and why Bryan started it. And what he expects and hopes for its second year, which starts on October 1, 2020.

Hunting Vintage Denim for a Living (with Brit Eaton) Jun 01, 2020

Show notes

Brit Eaton is a true denim hunter. The kind that risks his life on a daily basis going into abandoned mines searching for old denim and jeans. That’s his profession, and he’s been doing it for more than 20 years. On this very first episode of the Denimhunters Podcast, Thomas talks to Brit about why and how he does what he does. He shares the story of how it all started when he was exporting Harley Davidsons in the mid-90s; how he almost ended up in prison in Greece; and about piles of vintage denim and lost treasures.

The Denimhunters Podcast Trailer May 25, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to the Denimhunters Podcast. Whether denim is your passion or your profession (or maybe both), this is the podcast for you. In this trailer, Thomas Stege Bojer - the founder of Denimhunters and the host of this podcast - gives you a preview of what it'll be all about. Denimhunters is a blog turned consultancy platform. We direct denim business through insights, creativity and action. So, if you’re wondering whether this really is the podcast for you, here’s what to expect: Just like the blog posts on Denimhunters, this podcast will be tackling some of the big questions about denim and jeans. Often, one question leads to another, and on this podcast, Thomas talks to denim personalities and experts, to hear their inspiring stories, but also to get their answers to some of these questions. The podcast launches on June 1, 2020. In the first episode, Thomas talks to a true denim hunter, Brit Eaton. You do not want to miss this episode! Make sure you’re subscribed to the show wherever you get your podcasts and stay tuned for the first episode. Oh, and one last thing: if you have any questions that you'd like Thomas and his guests to answer, you can submit them at denimhunters.com/questions.

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