Indi Denim: Conclusion (Dangerous Curves Ahead)

Warning: certain of the images you are about to see contain disturbing material. In fact, I would even recommend reading this post on an empty stomach, perhaps with a friend or loved one nearby for comfort. Because what you are about to see is not pretty. I am personally still recovering (as is my injured muffin-top). Perhaps I shouldn’t be so disturbed, because it’s my pasty white stomach and borderline cameltoe (there, I said it) that I am about to show you. And I should probably be comfortable with them by now. But you, well, that’s another story. You didn’t ask for this. And for that, friends, I am truly sorry (not that you didn’t ask, but that you have to suffer through this viewing). But once I begin an investigation, I don’t stop until the mission is complete.

As you may know, about a month ago, I decided to try out Indi Denim, an East Bay company promising $135 custom jeans cut to customers’ measurements and designed according to their specifications. For background, you can read my two previous posts on the ordering process:

Indi Denim: Part 1

Indi Denim: Part 2

Last week, I finally received my jeans. They arrived on Wednesday June 25, just shy of a month after I placed the order on May 31. They were neatly packaged and arrived carrying all the details I’d requested (back pocket flaps, distressed edges, etc.):

But the fit. Oh, man. It was terrible. I’d taken each measurement several times using a dressmaker’s tape measure, so I was surprised at how off it was.

Against my better judgment, I now reveal to you the tragi-comedy that ensued as I stepped into these jeans:

I know. You can say it. Oh MY god. As my husband said with his characteristic matter-of-factness, right before shielding his eyes, “The fit is not good.”

Next up, my impression of Bret Michaels, only without the massive unit. Just check out this pick from Rock of Love 2, and I think you’ll get what I’m sayin’.

I would show you more, but they are really embarrassing. So I won’t. Because I am not sure my fragile self-esteem can recover from knowing that tons of strangers have seen my denim-swaddled crotch region in this compromised state (or any state, for that matter).

To be fair to the folks at Indi Denim, they do offer customers the option to reorder for free, but I didn’t feel like expending the energy to re-enter all my measurements, fit choices and specifications. On top of that, I wasn’t that impressed with the fabric. So I’m returning them to the company, which does offer a refund within 30 days, minus the cost of shipping.

And that, folks, is all I have to say about that.

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Indi Denim: Part 2

(** See Indi Denim Part 1 for the ramp up.)

Earlier in the month, I decided to embark upon an experiment and try out Emeryville-based Indi Denim and offer up my experience for anyone out there who might be thinking about placing an order. The proposition is an intriguing one: for $135, design your own custom jeans online and receive a pair unlike any other out there, fit perfectly to your measurements, within a few weeks.

After placing my order on May 30, I received an email on June 4 informing me that there had been a delay in the shipment of my order due to the “quality assurance process.” At the time, the email I received estimated the ship date for my jeans as July 11. Needless to say, I was like, man, I really have to wait six weeks for them to ship? That kind of went against my need it, want it, get it now sensibilities. But I resolved to be zen about it.

So yesterday, June 18, I was surprised to receive another email letting me know that my jeans had shipped and would arrive within 5-7 business days. That’s certainly better than July 11. But I was surprised to read this on shipping email: “Please note, indi orders ship from Mexico, and it may take a few days before your tracking number is found in the domestic UPS system.”

I’ve never seen a message like that on a shipping confirmation email. It struck me as a little strange - but not all that worrisome.

But here’s what I found to be a bit of a letdown, but I didn’t realize the jeans were being made outside the country and shipped in - and that’s less desirable to me for many reasons. I try to buy local or from independent folks as much as possible - it’s sort of a point of pride for me. So I was a little like, uh-oh, am I in sweatshop territory here? Who knows. I looked on the site again today for any information about the manufacturing process, location, worker conditions, etc. I didn’t find anything. That’s not to say that the company is doing anything untoward - they may be running the best little factory in all of Mexico for all I know. But the point is that I don’t know who made my jeans or what conditions they are working in while making them. And I think about that kind of stuff.

And here ends the update. I’ll be back with images and a final review once I receive my pair.

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SF Indie Fashion News Roundup

Wow, does anyone else feel like people got back from Labor Day and started to go nuts with the work pace? I’m snowed under with like five assignments due this week and everywhere I look, there’s another cool indie or fashion event that I should be blogging about. But deadlines persist, and I’m feeling a major drain on my blogging time. And that makes me a leetle sad. Sniff. But here are some things that have popped up on my radar in the last few days. I want to get the word out, even if I can’t use as many words as I’d like to do it:

Fall Designer Showcase: On Thursday evening, check out 440 Brannan Studio’s Fall Designer Showcase featuring some local indie rockstars like gr.dano, Verrieres & Sako, Vex, Saffron Rare Threads, the 615 Project and Hieros.

Arts and Media Discussion Salon and Reception: Pandora’s Trunk founder Rachel Hospodar sent news about another cool event happening Thursday night at CELLspace. This free event features Miranda Caroligne, The Sampler’s Marie Kare and Melissa Alexander, the new Executive Director of Black Rock Arts Foundation participating on a panel about the arts, media and the intersection of non-profit and for-profit ventures, how they work for and against each other, etc. The discussion will also touch on the fate of CELLspace itself. There will be a lot of other cool stuff going on during the event as well - even a sewing workshop - so check out the site to get all the detes.

Michaelangelo Gallery Fashion Show: Feel like a little trip to Santa Cruz? Friday night’s the night to go. Designers include some of my local faves (Amanda Archer, Donna Lou, Bari J.), as well as plenty of fab indie fashion and accessory designers from outside the City. Check out the full list of participants.

Macy’s Passport Show: Irene Hernandez-Feiks wrote in to remind the peeps about Macy’s Passport 2007 Opening Night. It’s the 25th anniversary and will raise over $25 million for HIV/AIDS research. Tickets are $85 and up.

Tobi T-Shirt Contest: San Francisco-based online retailer Tobi announced the five winners of its t-shirt design contest in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each of the five designs dreamed up by independent artists and designers from around the country will be Tobi exclusives throughout October, and 10 percent of the proceeds from each shirt will donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure San Francisco.

**Apologies if I skimmed over any important information - I just wanted to get these things up as soon as possible. Happy indie living…

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