Jeans from North Carolina are 98% local

There are countless brands of jeans in the world, most of them actually *made* all over the world, with components sourced from multiple countries and manufacturing done in others. Aiming to present an alternative at the polar opposite on that scale is Raleigh Denim, a North Carolina company whose jeans are reportedly 98 percent local.

Run by a husband-and-wife team, Raleigh Denim uses nearly all local materials, with everything from thread to denim produced within 200 miles of its workshop. Its distinctive selvage denim, for instance, comes from Cone Mills’ White Oak plant, a 100-year-old local mill that weaves the fabric on the only original shuttle looms still working in the US today. All of Raleigh Denim's design, pattern-making, cutting, sewing, washing and finishing, meanwhile, are carried out by hand in the company's Raleigh workshop. No automated equipment is ever involved; rather, the couple prefers to incorporate traditional construction methods and vintage sewing machines. Every pair of Raleigh Denim jeans is handcrafted and signed by its maker, with unique touches such as an x-ray of the hip joint printed on the inside pocket.

Priced from roughly USD 215 to USD 285, Raleigh Denim jeans are now carried in major retail stores across the US, including Barneys New York and Steven Alan, and have reportedly developed quite a following. Which just goes to show, once again, that even in tough economic times, a heaping helping of (still) made here appeal can help virtually any medicine—that is, price—go down. Time to bring Raleigh Denim to your neck of the woods—or, better yet, create a local version of your own...? (Related: For the first time, jeans to be made in North Korea — Luxury jeans tinted a long dormant blue.)

Website: www.raleighdenim.com
Contact: holler@raleighdenim.com

Spotted by: Cecilia Biemann