To wash or not to wash. A heavy question on the net in regards to raw. Is there really any benefit to waiting super long rather than just wearing your jeans and washing as you see fit?
RICHARD: With any decent denim you should wash as little as possible. I totally agree that natural wear is a beautiful thing and gives every jean its own identity. Indigo does wash out with repeated processing so best to leave as long as you can between washes. Unless they are crawling along the floor on their own right I tend to wash about once very 4 to 6 months but then I flip a lot of different pairs!
Raw denim, despite recent surge of interest, is a pretty specialist niche market. What are your thoughts on denim as a collectible?
RICHARD: I like the idea of collecting TRUE vintage pieces. I have a few myself. When there is real history and the pieces are getting into antique timeframes then there is real interest.
What has happened in recent years is the way that niche brands and collaborations have released limited product and made that extremely desirable, and therefore collectible. The way this has worked in the sneaker world has been incredible and I find it quite strange that other product categories, apart from handbags, have not developed this aura. I would have expected denim to be the logical next entrant in the field and there have been a few instances of quite cool product being developed but not really making it in the same way as in footwear.
I guess the difference is that sneakers have the boxfresh appeal and value whereas denim needs to be worn to create its value and then it becomes very personal.
To round things out, you've got a Facebook group going. What was your inspiration to use the social networking site to link fans of RRG?
RICHARD: No real inspiration other than it is an effective and cheap method of connecting with an audience. I will still develop something personal long term but the social networking phenomenon is too simple and ubiquitous not to take advantage of.
