Shows
Heddels BlowoutLoafers - Lazing in Leather Since 1920Today we’re talking about loafers. Those do-nothing idlers who just sit around all day and the leisurely leather shoe that’s come to be named after them.Yes, the penny, the tassel, even the horsebit. These footwear icons might seem like timeless classics, but they are the result of a relatively recent cross-cultural exchange of mutually beneficial cultural appropriation.So slide in, slip on, and get ready for a relaxing ride along Loafer Lane.Brands mentioned:AurlandsMeerminRancourtAldenGrant StoneSo this is the end piece of our loaf on l...
2025-09-2920 min
Heddels BlowoutRaw Denim - Back to the Indigo WellThat’s right, this is a denim episode! Longtime listeners will remember our 13-part, 7-hour audio epic about the history of denim where we covered 500 years of history of our favorite fabric.Relax, we’re not doing that again. That was a graduate level seminar, instead, this is denim 101 and by the end of it you should have all the tools and info needed to make an informed purchase and join the wonderful fraternity of people who talk about their jeans way too much.If you only know whispers of the discomfort associated with raw deni...
2025-09-2026 min
Heddels BlowoutPolarized Sunglasses - Women Love Them, Fish Fear ThemToday we’re talking polarization.I’m not talking about the bears, Santa Claus, or the state of global politics. Rather something a bit more anodyne, and seasonally appropriate, cool shades!You may have heard of the many benefits of polarized sunglasses, how they reduce glare, let you see through the surface of water, or make it easier to drive. But why? How? Where to find?There isn’t that much technical information for consumers explaining how they work or the very different quality of materials they can be made from. But listen on and...
2025-09-1221 min
Heddels BlowoutGraphic Tees - Fashion Gets ExplicitThey say all clothing is a type of language. Even refusing to participate in the conversation is a way to say something.Whether you’re in a top hat and tails or Canadian tuxedo or naked, it’s all saying something about you and how you chose to present yourself.But some clothes speak a little louder than others. Today we’re talking about arguably the loudest and most explicit of them all. That’s right, it’s graphic tee time, the shirt that literally spells out its message for you right across your chest for anyone...
2025-09-0522 minHeddels BlowoutMadras - Bleeding Out a Colonial FabricHi, I’m Heddels publisher David Shuck.You may remember me from previous Heddels podcasts like our History of Denim series, the Rise and Fall of Made in USA, and the one where Reed, Albert, and I just shot the breeze for an hour every week. I’ve been writing about owning things you want to use forever for well over a decade now. I’ve been everywhere from downtown Los Angeles to the deserts of Pakistan to understand where and how to find quality goods and the history of the people that make them.I’...
2025-08-2920 minHeddels Blowout104 - Everything That's Old Is Still Old (Preview)David updates us from the road and lets us know he had to abandon pretty much all his cold weather gear in the face of a record-breaking heatwave. Albert and "the Lovely Reed" discuss the science of uniform dressing and whether or not we have our own uniforms. Because after all, isn't finding a uniform an art in and of itself? As long, of course, as you're not doing it for "grind-set" reasons. Many stylish people spend their lives in search of that perfect outfit and some of them actually find it! We talk about the Nike Cortez and...
2022-08-0905 min
Heddels Blowout102 - From Funnel Cake to Folies Bergère (Preview)Hear the full episode on Heddels+:
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Reed and Albert delve back into the world of carny-core with some advice on jort-ifying your jeans, what we liked at Paris Fashion Week, and what the new "heritage" is.
2022-07-2206 min
Heddels Blowout100 - The End of an EraWe've made it to 100 episodes! Only for David to leave immediately. Our final fully attended discussion gets into Facebook's push for digital clothes, featuring Balenciaga, Prada, and Thom Browne and the search for the perfect pair of mesh shorts.
Thank you for joining us for nearly 100 hours. Help us out by joining Heddels+ or by visiting the Heddels Shop, 10% off with code BLOWOUT.
2022-07-0649 min
Heddels Blowout99 - How to Travel the World with Eric Kvatek (preview)Hear the full episode on Heddels+:
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David talks with perennial Blowout guest, photographer Eric Kvatek in advance of his round the world trip. Hear tips, tricks, and how Eric was once inadvertently a mailman on a Mexican train.
2022-06-2806 min
Heddels Blowout98 - Stretched Out Dresscourse (preview)Join Heddels+ to hear the full episode:
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Albert's back everyone! And we herald his return with discussion of the most relevant news of the day, Kim K stretching out Marilyn Monroe's dress at the Met Gala. But it goes deeper than that, should we be wearing historically significant and rare items like truly vintage denim? And when does a garment stop being a garment? Also we revisit discussion of how to learn about fashion online and work through a case of Outlier clothing that I'm testing for future travel.
2022-06-2204 min
Heddels Blowout97 - Is Our Children Learning?How does one start down the long indigo path online these days? We're beyond the heyday of blogs and Tumblr and have moved into the realm of reels, reels that involve some guy telling you to tuck in your shirt or pull your hoodie through your beltloops. Reed and David discuss the prospect of starting out as a fashion neophyte these days and the various posts and influencers one might encounter.
We also get into the following:
Barns Shaggy Dog Cardigan
The horror of long-sleeve Hawaiians
Why anyone would want a half-zip western
And Manresa
...
2022-06-151h 07
Heddels Blowout96 - Pre-Peed Jeans (peeview)Hear the full episode on Heddels+:
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If peeing your pants is cool, you can buy some jeans that already look like they've been peed in at Wet Pants Denim (complete with pisscoin). We also discuss the rise of Fettermania and what a Dickies and Carhartt clad Senate candidate means for the future of political dress and the agony and ecstasy of trying to sell your used clothing online.
2022-06-1104 min
Heddels Blowout93 - Ernest Speedo, Attorney at Law (preview)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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Praise be to Ryan for salvaging this episode that was recorded in undisclosed locations in northern Nevada. We discuss the California look after I witnessed a significant amount of it on a recent trip, swimsuit options available to the modern man, and how the trends are swerving into Reed's lane.
2022-05-2305 min
Heddels Blowout91 - Surfin' Safari ShirtsDavid here, I wasn't here for this episode and I haven't listened to it yet, but I'm sure it's great and it's about everything the notes claim:
Critiquing Met Gala fits
The colonial history of Safari shirts
Reed goes on a tangent about candy themed clothes
Etc. etc., I can't wait for both of us to listen to it. Also, join Heddels+ and shop at the Heddels Shop!
2022-05-1145 min
Heddels Blowout90 - Hogs on a Plane (preview)Listen to the full episode on Heddels+:
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When you get on a plane, are you dressing for yourself? For your fellow passengers? Or for a certain Washington Post op-ed writer? We dive into the airplane dress code debate and the validity of all dress codes in general.
We also discuss the multitude of items in the Wachowski's prop auction and our picks for best general releases, including:
Birkenstock Boston
Nike Blazer
Reebok Club C or Reebok Leather Original
Nike Cortez
Adidas Samba
Jordan 1 Low
990 series
Adidas Campus 80s
Gazelles
...
2022-05-0305 min
Heddels Blowout89 - Daisy Mae Bucket ListIt may very well be a bucket that drains your bank account this spring. We're talking hats of course, the pocketable fabric cap that looks like it's ready to peak this summer season. We look back on its origins in the Irish countryside, adoption by the military, and eventually taking its place in mainstream pop culture. We also have a few picks to put on your bucket list:
Blluemade’s bucket hat in steel blue linen
Kapital’s Old Man and the Sea Bucket Hat
Propper ripstop boonie hat
And Wander pe-co hat
Universal Works seersucker bucket hat
Pl...
2022-04-271h 05
Heddels Blowout88 - Around the World in 80 Liters (preview)Hear the full episode on Heddels+:
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Cat's out of the bag! I (David) am planning an extensive six month trip through Europe and Asia for the latter half of this year. I'm going to ride as many trains and eat as many weird things as I possibly can (more on this to come in future articles), but how does one pack for being continuously mobile across 30+ countries, climates, and time zones? Reed and Albert help me sort through the good, bad, and ugly that will and won't fit into my bag.
2022-04-1904 min
Heddels Blowout87 - Fully Vested Urban WarfareOn the mean streets of San Francisco, one garment is ready to tear the entire city apart: the Patagonia fleece vest. What you wear is often the first thing you can say to the world, and in the Bay, the vest is an extremely loaded statement. We get into Bobby Allyn's NPR piece about the agony and the ecstasy of going vested in San Francisco.
We also discuss the following:
Knickerbocker x Kleman Dimori Sandal
North Face Purple Label Mountain Field Pants
Unique Garment Urban Type 2
Burgus Plus Overdyed Hoodie
Remember to join Heddels+ if y...
2022-04-1153 min
Heddels Blowout86 - Summer Trend Showdown (preview)Hear the full episode on Heddels+:
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How old were you when you had your first job? Hopefully it was older than what's showing on Nike's interactive production map, where the average age of some country's factories is listed at 15. Have a look at their interactive map. [UPDATE 4/7/22: Nike has addressed what they're calling a "data error" and the information on the map has changed since recording and no countries currently list an average age below 20.]
We also dive into our Spring/Summer trend predictions, so buy up your alt-Crocs models...
2022-04-0604 min
Heddels Blowout85 - Google's Algorithmic Best FitWhen buying a new product these days, the search often starts (and ends) with Google. But how does Google tell you what to buy and where to go? And how are publishers telling Google what to tell you? The world of ecommerce has become more and more concentrated around a single source and we explore what that means when trying to buy something like a pair of sneakers or a toaster.
We also discuss the state of retail and what it's like to work on a sales floor these days with ever shifting customer expectations.
...
2022-03-3050 min
Heddels Blowout84 - Oops! All Product Talk (preview)Listen to the full episode on Heddels+:
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It's been a minute since we've gone deep on product so we thought we could catch up and catch up in style with a whole episode devoted to our product picks and misses (with a short aside on Victorian era crotchless underpants). We get into the following:
Burgus Plus Ripstop Cargo Pants - Leopard
Viberg Wholecut Derby Boot - Taupe Horsebutt
Epperson Mountaineering - Large Climb Tote w/ Vintage NASA Patch - Clay
Master-piece Potential V3 Waist Bag Black
The Rite Stuff Atlas Salt...
2022-03-2207 min
Heddels Blowout83 - Problematic Camouflage with Charles McFarlaneA few weeks ago we had a discussion about Burberry’s use of Wehrmacht-esque Nazi camoflauge patterns in their winter collection and that put me back in touch with Charles McFarlane, who is one of the most well informed individuals I know on all things military uniforms. Charles is a second-year masters student in Costume Studies at NYU, whose research focuses on the intersection of military uniforms and popular fashion and the soldier as a consumer of fashion. He has also been a contributor at GQ, Put This On, Gear Patrol, Heddels, and his own substack Combat Threads.
...
2022-03-1647 min
Heddels Blowout82 - Dressing Like JackassHi, I'm David Shuck and welcome to Blowout! We were recently graced with a new entry in the Jackass franchise and we thought it appropriate to detail the many fits and stylings that the band of pranksters and stunt artists have donned over the last 20+ years. Reed, Albert, and I run through the clothing of Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Wee Man, Bam, and many more.
Listen to the episode above, sign up for Heddels+, and get 10% off at the Heddels Shop with the code BLOWOUT.
2022-03-071h 01Heddels Blowout81 - Strange Vibes Ahead (preview)Listen to the full episode at Heddels+:
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A vibe shift is coming, are you prepared? Reed and David dissect the idea of a "vibe shift" and the previous vibes we have experienced in the last 20 years while riffing off of a recent New York Magazine article.
*Spoiler alert: if you're listening to this, you probably didn't survive the last vibe shift.
2022-03-0205 min
Heddels Blowout80 - Just Shirt, No Shoes, Please EnterJoin Heddels+ http://heddels.plus and shop at the Heddels Shop https://shop.heddels.com !
What is the shoe policy in your home? Are you a sane person that asks guests to take their shoes off at the entrance? If so, you may not want to invite WSJ columnist Kris Frieswick into your home because they made their stance loud and clear in a piece titled, "Here’s Why I’ll Be Keeping My Shoes on in Your Shoeless Home”: https://www.wsj.com/articles/heres-why-ill-be-keeping-my-shoes-on-in-your-shoeless-home-11644503227
We go over Kris's errors as well as the apparen...
2022-02-2147 min
Heddels Blowout79 - Riveted Reviewed (preview)Hear the full episode and much more on Heddels+:
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If you own a tote bag and have my phone number, chances are you have texted me about a new PBS documentary that just released this week. I’m of course talking about “Riveted: The History of Jeans”, the latest in PBS’s “American Experience” series directed by Michael Bicks and Anna Lee Strachan. The documentary traces indigo twill cloth from its origins in Northern Africa, Italy, and France in the late Renaissance through the American enslaved peoples, gold miners, biker gangs, high fashion, and...
2022-02-1805 min
Heddels Blowout78 - Levi's Inflating Denim PricesIt took over a decade, but Levi's finally upped the price of the 501 and it still hasn't matched the rate of inflation. We discuss Levi's latest statement on raising their prices, Uniqlo getting into the repairs game, Burberry using a Nazi Waffen-SS camo pattern in their latest collection, and David's experience at the Outdoor Retailer tradeshow.
Get 10% off your order at the Heddels Shop with the code BLOWOUT, and join Heddels+ for even more Blowout episodes!
2022-02-0452 min
Heddels Blowout77 - Double Vaxxed Double Knees (preview)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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Inadvertently or not, Carhartt has waded into the culture war with a recently leaked memo saying they're going to maintain their company vaccine mandate after the Supreme Court struck down OSHA's federal mandate for employers. We discuss the efficacy of burning bought and paid for items for a political end and the cynicism inherent in being a brand making statements to begin with. Also Albert discusses some tiktok #drama about the ethics of buying dupes. All that and more on Heddels+!
2022-01-3105 min
Heddels Blowout76 - Funky Denim MonksTo pick up the newest release from G-Star, you just have to renounce all of your worldly possessions. We've got discussion of denim monk habits, including what other religious brand collabs we'd like to see, plus another brand (Aime Leon Dore) being sacrificed on the altar of global capital. We also go deep on a few products:
Shaggy Melton Wool CPO Sloppy Shirt Coat - Black
Vague Watch Company Every-One “Explorers” Automatic Watch
Hikers Suspender Things
Subscribe to Heddels Plus, shop at Heddels Shop, and email us at blowout@heddels.com.
2022-01-2447 min
Heddels Blowout75 - $7,000 Santoni Sins (preview)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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New York state could pass the most comprehensive and impactful fashion transparency bill in history and a man supposedly owes Santoni $7,000 for a pair of Oxfords gone awry. We've got that plus trying to figure out how I can hurt myself with food for my birthday. (Yes, those are all real shoes from the Santoni website.)
And don't forget, all listeners get 10% off at the Heddels Shop with code BLOWOUT.
2022-01-1804 min
Heddels Blowout74 - New Balance Legally 70% AmericanI hope you got something good for the holidays, because New Balance got a federal lawsuit. The Boston-based shoemaker is being sued for false advertising that their "Made in USA" line of sneakers isn't entirely made in USA per the Federal Trade Commissions guidelines. We look into what 70% of a shoe could entail, talk about our holiday hauls, and play "Is it too costumey?" on a fresh edition of product talk:
Freenote Cloth Western Rambler Shirt
Pendleton Wool Zip up Sweater
Post O’alls Craftmaster 3 Ikat Indigo Pullover
Check out the Heddels Shop and consider joining Heddels Pl...
2022-01-0753 minHeddels Blowout73 - Rumble in the Bronx (but actually Vancouver) (preview)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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In the pantheon of classic denim movies, we all know "Rebel Without a Cause", "The Wild One", "The Outsiders", etc. but there's room for one more: the 1996 classic Jackie Chan romp "Rumble in the Bronx". No costumer would take credit for the outfits seen on screen, but there sure are a lot of them. Hear how this little Hong Kong/Canadian production promoted Jackie Chan to worldwide stardom in a sexy union suit.
2021-12-2104 min
Heddels Blowout72 - Choking on Boa FleeceBWOOOMP! BWOOOMP! It's the trend alert sound! We're talking Boa Fleece this week, the retro deep polyester pile that it seems every brand has put out in the last year. We talk it's history, how it's made, and why we think its tufted head is popping up so prominently in this particular moment. We also talk about our most difficult break in experiences and do a product lightning round, including:
California Diner Roll Returns: Barns Cozun Sweat Parka
Yuks Type 1 Moccasin F OG Brown
Alaska Sleeping Bag Viking Safari Jacket
Kapital Snowflake Denim
Subscribe for more of...
2021-12-1542 minHeddels Blowout71 - Shoplift this Episode (teaser)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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While there were many deals this past week, there were also STEALS! We're of course talking about the shoplifting mania that's sweeping the nation (and how for the most part it doesn't exist). We also discuss our respective Black Friday hauls and remember Virgil Abloh after his untimely passing.
2021-12-0805 minHeddels Blowout70 - What No One Will (Likely) Buy for UsWe've officially entered the holiday shopping season, and if you're like us, very few people in your life know what to buy to satisfy your strange clothing obsession. But that doesn't stop us from dreaming about it! Reed, Albert, and I go over our fantasy holiday wishlists including the following:
Anonymous Ism Sweaters
Quoddy Ring Boots
TCB 40s Jeans
And much more!
We also answer a listener question on our "desert island" brands. If you have a question or comment, email us at blowout@heddels.com or call us at (720) 675-7098. Also, join Heddels+ and visit Heddels Shop...
2021-11-2750 minHeddels Blowout69 - 6,600 Styles of Women's Denim (teaser)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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We live in an age of unprecedented choice. Whether it's jeans, hair conditioner, or marinara sauce; the western consumer has a skull crushing variety of options to choose from. But is that a good thing? The New York Times seems ambivalent and so are we. We discuss their piece "Is Denim Having an Identity Crisis" as well as Thanksgiving fits, the necessity of shampoo (it's not necessary), and these weird Margaret Howell house socks.
Use the code TODAYISNTFRIDAY for an early 20% off everything...
2021-11-2307 min
Heddels Blowout68 - Gigatonney HoneysClothing production isn't as bad as we thought for the environment! (It's still very bad, though (it's confusing, no one understands all the implications (but we understand even fewer of them (even the metric system)))).
What we do know now is that "recycled clothing" is mostly a greenwashed lie and brands that based their entire identity around "this shirt is made of plastic bottles" are going to have to find a new schtick.
We also discuss the following:
Heimat Knits
RRL Ackworth suede jacket
William Ellery
Join Heddels+, shop at Heddels Shop, email...
2021-11-1649 min
Heddels Blowout67 - The Peloton of the Kitchen (teaser)To hear the full episode, join Heddels+:
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It's the midseason blues and Ralph Lauren's answer to it is letting people dye whatever they want in store. That is also far from the most ridiculous product concept we have today because this is the return of PR Plop! Our series where we dive into the best of the worst of the PR emails we receive. We've got NSFW NFTs, "The Peloton of the Kitchen", virtual clothing and more!
2021-11-0905 min
Heddels Blowout66 - (Terrible) Denim Takes the US SenateIt only took a little less than 250 years for denim to go from niche work fabric to presiding over "the world's greatest deliberative body" and we couldn't be more disappointed. We discuss what senator Kyrsten Sinema's denim vest means for dress codes for legislators, leading Reed to go on an extremely niche exploration of what senators would be into what streetwear brands. We also talk about the end of the brand Unis and Albert's experiences at a tiktok influencer party. Plus discussions of:
The Real McCoy's MC18122 Waffle Thermal Long John Underwear Black
Raleigh Denim Jones OGMP
KAPITAL...
2021-11-0144 min
Heddels Blowout65 - SaksWorkers (teaser)Listen to the full episode on Heddels+:
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Have you ever had a particularly rough day at work and thought, “You know what would make me feel better? Buying a pair of Ferragamos and a Moncler jacket while on my way to the bathroom.” Well this could soon be your reality! We dig into the transformation of one of the retails most exclusive names into another coworking space.
Also discussion of the following:
Potent Poten Hats full of Potential
Howlin' Pretzel Sweater
Whitesville Wool Melton Award Jackets
As always 10% off...
2021-10-2807 min
Heddels Blowout64 - A Polyester Free HalloweenAmericans are poised to spend over $10 billion this Halloween, over a third of that on costumes that will likely hit the dump before the pumpkins rot. Me and Albert and Reed think back on costumes from years past as well as discuss the end of Scott Sternberg's latest clothing brand Entireworld plus answer some reader questions.
Product Talk:
Blue Blue Japan x Fruit of the Loom
Nigel Cabourn x Vans Vault
William Gibson x Buzz Rickson’s Fishtail Parka
Support the show by joining Heddels+ and visiting the Heddels Shop, 10% with the code BLOWOUT.
2021-10-1951 min
Heddels Blowout63 - How the Supply Chain Stole Christmas (teaser)To hear the full episode join Heddels+:
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As you may have noticed, global supply chains are a little wonky, to put it mildly, and this could affect everything from your new phone to toy Tonka trucks. Basically when everything shut down in the spring of 2020, it didn’t start up at the same time and this incredibly precarious global supply chain we have basically went out of balance and now has the speed wobbles as it’s doing 110 on the highway.
We also update the Space Force uniform controversy, discuss some...
2021-10-1303 min
Heddels Blowout61 - Uninformed Space Force Uniform Opinions (teaser)Hear it all on Heddels+ first month free with code EXTRABLOWOUT:
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The newest branch of the US military, the Space Force, has revealed its first draft of uniforms. With new militaria to mine, we dig in on the tactics of said uniforms as well as Todd Snyder's attempt to do LL Bean right and Haruki Murakami's obsession with t-shirts.
We also got a phone call! You too can call in at (720) 675-7098 or email us at blowout@heddels.com
2021-09-2703 min
Heddels Blowout59 - Remembering the Straw Hat Riot of 1922 (teaser)To hear the full episode and much more, subscribe below:
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Traffic stopped on the Manhattan Bridge, blood spilled in Mulberry Bend, thousands of stick wielding teens in the streets. New York City came to a standstill over the straw boater hat 99 years ago, and we're here to remember it.
Also, check out Stan Ray restocks and more in the Heddels Shop, 10% off with code BLOWOUT!
2021-09-1207 minHeddels Blowout58 - Transformations Upstream with Andrew Olah of Kingpins ShowAs consumers, we have the tiniest window into how the products we use are made. Maybe you get a single country of origin or the fiber content, but that hides the many other chemicals, countries, and suppliers that contributed to its production. Andrew Olah has been in the upstream world of denim and clothing production for nearly 50 years and has run the Kingpins Show, one of the biggest markets and informational resources for denim and jeans manufacturers, since 2004.
We talk with Andrew about everything from his early days in the denim business, how to run a trade...
2021-09-0855 min
Heddels Blowout57 - The Blowout Labor Day SpecialHappy Labor Day in the US, it's time for us to reflect on the hard fought labor rights victories we enjoy in this country...AND SAVE! We're taking 25% off all of our Teamster Union Made tees and hoodies this weekend.
So tune in to hear about the origins of Labor Day the holiday, the current status of our fall trend predictions, and David's bleach eccentricities.
And get a great deal on a tee made with unionized labor through this Monday at the Heddels Shop:
https://shop.heddels.com/collections/vendors?q=Teamster%20Union%20...
2021-09-0358 min
Heddels Blowout56 - Apparel Policy Power Hour (teaser)To hear the full episode, join at:
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So last week we talked about the personal aspects of climate change in regards to some practices we can all do to reduce our own impact. But as we all know and even mentioned, the actions of an individual, even all you beautiful individuals reading right now is like one drop removed from the rising ocean.
We need policy and regulation enforced by governments if we hope to have any chance at minimizing the effects of the coming climate apocalypse. I’m sure th...
2021-08-2305 min
Heddels Blowout55 - How to Stop the World From Melting Your ClothesThat UN climate report was a doozy, wasn't it? While we've been mulling the habitable future of the planet over, we thought it was a good time to revisit some old practices one can do to make the most infinitesimal dent in the human impact on the climate. While the real change that needs to happen is systemic policy regulation, Reed and I discuss some easy habits you can do to reduce consumption and save some money.
For more info, have a look at the article that inspired this episode:
https://www.heddels.com/2016/12/11-ways-your-clothes-can-help-the-environment-and-your-wallet/
2021-08-1640 min
Heddels Blowout54 - Division Road Heads East with Jason Pecarich (teaser)To hear the full episode and much more, subscribe below:
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A move is not an uncommon occurrence in the life of a retail store, but moving to the opposite side of the country is. Division Road is picking up roots in its original home in downtown Seattle and headed some 3,000 miles east to a rural plot just outside Charlottesville, Virginia. We talk with owner Jason Pecarich about the store's future plans and where he thinks retailing in general is heading.
You can find more on Division Road at their website:
2021-08-0405 min
Heddels Blowout53 - Kapital Frees Tibet, Trolls, and BidetsJapanese brand Kapital's latest Kountry collection created waves in ways they didn't expect (but probably should've) when its "Free Tibet" imagery awakened thousands and thousands of angry comments on Instagram, putting the release in jeopardy. Kapital photographer Eric Kvatek rejoins us to discuss what happened and his own photoshopped response to the incident. We also discuss our fall trend predictions and the origins of Englebert Humperdinck on this week's episode.
Support the show by becoming a Heddels+ member and by visiting the Heddels Shop, we've got new Teamster tie-dyes and hoodies for 10% off with the code BLOWOUT.
2021-08-011h 10
Heddels Blowout52 - The Losers of ChampsWe finally get a long read of the entire Alden embezzlement controversy, lament things that have been confiscated by the TSA, and Albert has a Champs gift card we can't figure out how to spend. All that and more on this week's Blowout!
Support the show by becoming a Heddels+ member (first month free with code EXTRABLOWOUT) and by visiting the Heddels Shop (10% off with code BLOWOUT). Also email us at blowout@heddels.com or call us at (720) 675-7098
Here's that Boston Magazine piece on Alden:
https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2021/07/13/richard-hajjar-bianca-de-la-garza-alden/
...
2021-07-2744 min
Heddels Blowout51 - The Timeless Look of Tremors with Gerald OrtizThe year is 1990: Michael Bolton is on the radio, the first McDonald's opens in Moscow, and a group of carnivorous worms known as "graboids" are terrorizing the residents of a remote Nevada town called Perfection. The world may have changed, but the looks live on as Reed, Albert, David and former Heddels editor Gerald Ortiz dig deep on this creature horror classic. Hear about the sunbaked denim, boots, and entrails on this week's Blowout.
Support the show by becoming a Heddels+ member, visiting the Heddels Shop (10% off with code BLOWOUT, more Quint Caps back in stock), or...
2021-07-1941 minHeddels Blowout50 - Lying Flat for Garment Worker Protection (teaser)To hear the full episode, become a Heddels+ member here:
http://heddels.plus
A recent study found that "sewing machine operator" was number 7 of the jobs with the greatest increased risk of death during the pandemic in California. Reed, David, and Albert discuss the implications and the dark realities of the people who make our clothes, even in a country where we would hope workers have the greatest protections. We also get into a cool new Chinese subculture of "lying flat" and generally refusing to work. All that and more on this week's Blowout.
2021-07-1504 min
Heddels Blowout48 - Goodbye Fur, We Hardly Knew Ye (teaser)Join Heddels+ to hear the full episode:
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The big sea change in the fashion industry appears to be that fur is going the way of the dodo. Just this week, luxe parka maker Canada Goose announced they would be joining labels like Burberry and Prada in ending the use of fur in their collections. We've got that plus the willful destruction of perfectly good product, Reed's takedown of denim trousers, and our favorite summer totes and more on this week's Heddels+ episode.
2021-07-0606 min
Heddels Blowout47 - We Watched JawsHappy 4th of July, may all your limbs stay attached! We watched the quintessential summer movie Jaws, which just so happens to coincide with the restock of our Quint Caps. Hear our thoughts on the clothes, the characters, and how it feels like a way to prescient parable for pandemic living.
Pick up a Quint Cap for 20% today and today only with the code AMITYMEANSFRIENDSHIP. Or become a Heddels+ member and it's 20% off everyday!
2021-07-041h 10Heddels Blowout46 - The Store Credit Spend OffIf you've followed the show for any time, you're aware that I (David) don't buy much. It has been over a year since I have bought any new garment for myself, until that streak was broken with a pair of Engineered Garments x Sebago moccasins...that I immediately returned due to low quality.
However, the store I returned them to (Lost & Found) has a policy of only store credit for returns. Considering I've been unsuccessful at buying something for the past year, I put the task to Reed and Albert who will be responsible for spending my $400.18...
2021-06-281h 13Heddels Blowout45 - Yumiko Sakuma on Japan-American Cultural Appropriation (teaser)Join Heddels+ to hear the full episode:
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If you're American and you're listening to this episode, you probably own something Japanese. If you're Japanese and listening to this episode, you probably own something American. But you probably don't know the cultural histories of these countries nearly as well as Yumiko Sakuma (@yumikosakuma), a Japanese writer who has lived in and written about the United States for nearly 25 years. Yumiko is currently exploring how to cover Japanese products from a non-appropriative angle and joins us to talk Japanese-American history, the influence of western...
2021-06-2803 minHeddels Blowout44 - Where Have All the Malls Gone?David waxes on about a recent trip to the mall and the future of retail, Albert discusses his new New Balance plug and a Saint Christopher medal, and Reed scored some ts(s). All that and more on this week's Blowout.
If you like this episode and want to support the show, join Heddels+ for more episodes, exclusive discounts, and bi-weekly giveaways.
2021-06-2058 minHeddels Blowout43 - Cotton Tracing with Blake Ulves of Sewn WestDo you know where your cotton came from? Probably not as the world of cotton buyers and sellers is about as murky as it gets. Blake Ulves, a clothing production vet who's made knits for the biggest retailers on the market talks to us about his new t-shirt project Sewn West, which represents his uncompromising idea of what a tee (and cotton) can be.
Visit https://www.sewnwest.com/ for 15% off with promo code SWHEDDELS15 valid thru June 30, 2021.
And support our show by becoming a Heddels+ member for more discounts, giveaways, and episodes like this...
2021-06-0744 minHeddels Blowout42 - Albert Owns the Concept of Pants (teaser)Access the full episode by joining Heddels+:
https://www.heddels.com/join-heddels-plus/
You can own pants, but can you own all pants? Albert apparently does as he was recently gifted an NFT of the entire concept of pants as a whole. Listen to our uneducated discussions of NFTs, and our slightly more educated discussions of Converse potentially ripping off a potential intern, Etsy buying Depop, if Guayabera shirts are something appropriative, and how we don't recognize a Paul Newman t-shirt when we see one.
2021-06-0403 min
Heddels Blowout41 - The 15 Legal Haircuts of North KoreaAlbert and David discuss North Korea's ban on denim and mullets and how it relates to denim behind the Iron Curtain in the Cold War as well as the reclaimed styles of French imperialism, long socks, and a breakdown of irregular denim.
If you like this episode, be sure to join Heddels+ for discounts, giveaways, and more episodes. Also, here's our old piece on denim in the Soviet Union:
https://www.heddels.com/2014/09/soviet-denim-smuggling-history-jeans-behind-iron-curtain/
2021-05-3135 min
Heddels Blowout40 - It's Apparently 501 Day? (teaser)To listen to the full episode, join at http://heddels.plus
Yes, I know Levi's got the patent on May 20, but they didn't even call it the 501 for like 20 years later. It doesn't make any sense. Aside from that, we chat about Nick Wooster's new NFT, Brendan Babenzien's move to J.Crew, weird shorts, and our personal history of mask usage in the past year.
If you want to support brands and artisans in Palestine, you can do so here:
https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1651034
If you want to support...
2021-05-2104 min
Heddels Blowout39 - The Shoes of SummerThe weather is warm, masks are coming off, toes are coming out. David, Reed, and Albert discuss inexplicable English text on Japanese t-shirts, the possible comeback of Evisu, and the complexities of warm weather footwear. Plus Albert has an update on the abuse story at the Colorado franchises of vintage retailer Buffalo Exchange.
Join Heddels+ for more episodes, exclusive discounts and giveaways, and our discord forum.
2021-05-1843 min
Heddels BlowoutUNLOCKED - The Denim Cult of Tony AlamoUnlocked from our Heddels+ Blowout feed, the middle part of a Venn diagram that includes denim jackets, cults, and rampant abuse.
We’re talking about Tony Alamo, and yes that’s spelled like Alamo as in “remember the” but it’s pronounced like Alamo. Regardless, he was about as despicable a human being as they come. From the late 60s onward, he ran a religious cult that separated families, forced people to work without pay, beat and sexually abused children, tried to summon people from the dead...and made some pretty cool rhinestone denim jackets.
These jack...
2021-05-0336 min
Heddels Blowout36 - Canada's Shameful Denim Jacket OlympicsThe Canadian Olympic team announced their outfits this week and their closing ceremony jacket is a doozy. David, Reed, and Albert Muzquiz discuss that as well as the Met Gala's "American Fashion" theme, the benefits of Kapital basics, the new Aime Leon Dore New Balances, Albert's article on blazers, as well as ripping into a Federalist essay that claims overseas sweatshops are for girlbosses.
If you like this show and want more of it, or just want to support us, join Heddels+ today. It comes with an Blowout extra episode every week, more Heddels content, exclusive discounts...
2021-04-1544 min
Heddels Blowout35 - Flight Jacket History 2; Aces of WWIIn our last episode we talked about the earliest experiments of humans with aviation, which mostly included people covering themselves with feathers and jumping off of tall buildings. However, that lineage eventually got us to the Wright Brothers, who pioneered the first powered flight in 1903.
They sold the first plane to the United States Army in 1909, but that would be far from the last plane bought by a military. Soon, every powerful nation on the face of the planet would be buying planes by the thousands, and also, of course, buying jackets for the people who flew...
2021-04-1328 min
Heddels Blowout34 - Flight Jacket History 1 - We Don't Talk About JacketsStrap in and put on your oxygen, we're taking off on another ambiguously long historical series! Aside from jeans, I can't think of another garment that tracks the history of the twentieth century better than the flight jacket. Starting in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903 and leading all the way to putting a man on the moon, the garments of aviation had to advance just as quickly as the aircraft themselves.
In our first episode, we get into the prehistory of flight and what people wore when they were strapping chicken feathers on to themselves and serving...
2021-04-0635 min
Heddels Blowout33 - White Oak's Legacy with Ralph Tharpe (teaser)To listen to the full episode, subscribe at http://heddels.plus
When you think of the legendary Cone Mills White Oak plant, you should also think of Ralph Tharpe. Ralph was one of the longest serving individuals at the plant, working in textile development there from 1975 up until near the mill's closure in 2017. He's now started the White Oak Legacy Foundation, a non-profit group focused on not only preserving the history of the White Oak facility, but also making new denim on White Oak's old looms and pioneering new developments in denim production technology. Listen in for...
2021-03-3002 min
Heddels Blowout32 - The Hard Part of Easy PantsWe're running down the posts of the past week with the Heddels team featuring Albert Muzquiz, James Smith, Reed Nelson, and David Shuck. Hear about our product picks, a history of abuse at a Buffalo Exchange franchise, and the story behind recreating the Quint Cap during Covid.
To support the show, you can pick up a Quint Cap for 10% off with the code BLOWOUT, or 20% off with a Heddels+ subscription.
2021-03-2850 min
Heddels Blowout31 - Miko Underwood of Oak & Acorn on Indigo's Untold HistoriesThe history of America is often one of oppression and exploitation, and the stories of American clothing are no different. Even more important than the details and the fabrics of uniforms and work clothes is who was allowed or forced to wear them. We had the chance to talk to Miko Underwood whose new denim label Oak & Acorn shines a light on the Black American experience of denim and indigo with historically inspired pieces. Learn about indigo dyeing in Western Africa, the clothes of incarceration, and the most important but undiscussed court martial of WWII.
You can...
2021-03-1856 min
Heddels Blowout30 - The Blue Denim (1959) Bait and Switch (teaser)Join Heddels+ to listen to the full episode:
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We review and discuss the elusive tale of denim and teen pregnancy, Blue Denim from 1959 (thank you Phillip from Denmark for sending us a copy!) Hear about 1950s morals on teenage delinquency, family values, and abortion.
2021-03-1501 min
Heddels Blowout29 - Eric Kvatek 10 Years After FukushimaOn March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake rocked the country of Japan. It moved the entire country over two meters west and reset the Earth's axis and caused a subsequent tsunami that hit the east coast of the Japanese region of Tohoku with a 133 foot tall wave. The influx of water lead to a failure and meltdown of three reactor cores of the Fukushima nuclear power plant, sending nuclear radiation throughout the area.
Photographer Eric Kvatek was on the ground in Tohoku a few weeks later to help with the relief effort and document the destruction that killed over 20,000...
2021-03-0954 min
Heddels Blowout28 - The Denim Cult of Tony Alamo (teaser)To hear the full episode, subscribe at https://www.heddels.com/join-heddels-plus
We’re talking about Tony Alamo, and yes that’s spelled like Alamo as in “remember the” but it’s pronounced like Ah-lah-mo. Regardless, he was about as despicable a human being as they come. From the late 60s onward, he ran a religious cult that separated families, forced people to work without pay, beat and sexually abused children, tried to summon people from the dead...and made some pretty cool rhinestone denim jackets.
2021-02-2805 minHeddels BlowoutPLEASE JOIN HEDDELS+Shameless plug here for our new membership program Heddels+ that'll get you more Blowout episodes, more written content, up to 2 product giveaways a month, a Discord forum where you can show us your pants, and discounts all across our niche. Get a free month trial with the code EXTRABLOWOUT:
https://www.heddels.com/join-heddels-plus
C'mon! C'monnnnnnn
2021-02-2803 min
Heddels Blowout27 - Denim Trend Tea Reading with Amy LevertonWe all know her, we all love her, we all follow her. Amy Leverton, aka Denim Dudes, has been at the bleeding edge of the denim business for almost two decades now. Much of it working as a "trend forecaster", which is basically the person who interprets culture and the world at large to determine what looks are going to pop and when so manufacturers can get the wheels in motion to meet the moment. Listen in as we try to predict how the zeitgeist of today will make the pants of tomorrow.
Support this show and...
2021-02-2458 min
Heddels Blowout26 - Denim History 13; The Story of Japanese DenimThis is the end, my denim friends, the end. After over 7 hours of denim history, the beginning of Japanese denim will be our last stop on our 13-part denim history series. Learn all about why Japanese people became culturally obsessed with American jeans, early pairs of knockoff 501s, how Okayama became the denim capital of Japan (and arguably the world), and more on this final installment. This is the Heddels stuff that you probably all tuned in to hear in the first place so we hope you enjoy.
This episode is brought to you by Heddels+, our...
2021-02-1939 min
Heddels Blowout25 - Denim History pt. 12; The Stretched and the DistressedAt least 99% of denim on the market today isn't raw, it's been stonewashed, lasered, or sandblasted into what mimics an authentically worn pair of jeans. But this wasn't always the case, pre-distressed denim is a relatively recent phenomenon, which we're going to be getting into how the fashion market took over denim and they took the indigo with them. Learn all about Jackie Kennedy's favorite denim brand, an infamous Calvin Klein ad that was banned in a dozen markets, and how the denim industry mined so much pumice stone it caused widespread environmental protests on our penultimate episode of...
2021-02-1227 min
Heddels Blowout24 - Denim History pt. 11; The Workwear of Civil RightsWe’ve talked about gold miners, we’ve talked about ancient sailors, we’ve talked about cowboys, soldiers, and poets. Today we’re going to get into something a little heavier, and we don’t mean Iron Hearts.
Since practically its inception, denim has had a role in institutional racism in the United States. As we mentioned a few episodes ago, one of Levi’s earliest selling points was that it was “the only brand made by white labor.” Well today we’re going to be talking about the other kind of labor, non-white and often non-paid, which is a very eu...
2021-02-0526 min
Heddels Blowout23 - Denim History pt. 10; The Teen Jean SceneWe've arrived at the Baby Boomer section of our indigo narrative. The transgressive postwar counterculture may have been the first to embrace denim and workwear for its style over utility, but it would be the teens of the 1950s to create the mass appeal. Join us as we discuss denim being banned in schools, jeans on screen heartthrobs, and a pop singer being denied entrance at a Vancouver hotel.
This episode is brought to you by the Heddels Shop, listeners get 10% off with the code BLOWOUT. Also, if you like what we're doing, please leave us a...
2021-01-1735 min
Heddels BlowoutBonus Blowout - The Wild One (1953) Riff Over CommentaryWhat's up, Frogface? We're here with a bonus episode of Reed and David talking over all 80 glorious minutes of Marlon Brando's biker bad boy flick The Wild One. The movie is not good, with lots of gender dynamics that have aged poorly but it also has a lot of jeans, leather jackets, hats and knits that haven't. It's got Perfectos, Cafe Racers, A-2s, B-3s, top hats, beanies, 5-panels, 501s, ringer tees, and more!
Sync up with the movie and listen to us prattle on. It's available for a $3 rental on Amazon and iTunes:
...
2021-01-131h 33
Heddels Blowout22 - Denim History pt. 9; Rebels Without a CuffThe US government did it's best to reintegrate the young people returning from WWII, but an sizeable portion returned wanting nothing to do with it. Instead of getting a middle class job and starting a family, they wanted to do drugs, ride motorcycles, push sexual boundaries, and wear jeans. This didn't go over well at first. Our series continues with bikers and beats as Reed and David navigate denim's role in postwar culture.
This episode is brought to you by the Heddels Shop, listeners get 10% off with the code BLOWOUT. Also, if you like what we're doing...
2021-01-1129 min
Heddels Blowout21 - We Talk Take Ivy with W. David MarxWhile on a road trip through New England in the summer of 1965, eight Japanese men unwittingly created some of the most influential images of late 2000s menswear. We're talking about Take Ivy, a cultural sensation that's become the de facto document of the 1960s prep look.
And we're talking with the person who wrote the book on the intersection of Japanese and American fashion, W. David Marx, author of Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style. Learn about how teens wearing blazers scandalized Japan's image for the 1964 Olympics, how the name Take Ivy is a Japanese Dave Brubeck...
2021-01-071h 07
Heddels Blowout20 - A Very Blowout 2020 Year in ReviewThis was quite the year for a variety of reasons. And what better way to reflect upon it than to count down the most read articles on a pants website? Reed and David are joined by Heddels Features Editor James Smith to run down our top hits (not necessarily greatest, but top) this year and look forward to what may be yet to come.
This episode is brought to you by the Heddels Shop, listeners get 10% off with the code BLOWOUT. Also, if you like what we're doing, please leave us a review on Apple podcasts, just...
2020-12-3152 min
Heddels Blowout19 - The Secret Life of Zippers with John GluckowLike the light switch and the steering wheel, zippers are one of those things that we interact with so much they just seem like perpetual fixtures of everyday life. The story of the humble zipper, however, is one of continuous failure unending iteration to bring us the cheap and easy thing we enjoy today. Designer, vintage dealer, and zipper enthusiast John Gluckow takes us through the history of the zipper from a chain link hook and eye fastener to high end riri zips.
You can find John on Instagram, both at Strongarm Clothing & Supply and at John...
2020-12-1757 min
Heddels Blowout18 - Denim History pt. 8; JEANS AT WAR!DATELINE DEC 14, 2020: JEANS GO TO WAR! As the United States exited the Great Depression, the world had to contend with a few other new powers flexing their military might on a global stage. And America did so in denim! This episode, Reed and David explain the different military and domestic applications our fabric had during WWII and how wartime rationing would change the look and feel of jeans forever.
If you'd like to support the show, head over to make a purchase at the Heddels Shop. Get 10% off your order with the code BLOWOUT. Be sure to c...
2020-12-1330 min
Heddels Blowout17 - Navy SEALs Wore Jeans in Vietnam with Chris DanforthWhen stalking the jungles of Vietnam, many of the elite US Navy SEALs didn't sport their standard issue camo, but rather opted for Levi's 501 and 505 denim jeans instead. We're talking with Chris Danforth, a writer and researcher who investigated this story and spoke to some of the SEALs who wore jeans on their night raids for its utility on the battlefield. Hear all about how they customized their kit and avoided leeches in their urethras and more on this episode.
If you'd like to support the show, head over to make a purchase at the Heddels Shop...
2020-12-1025 min
Heddels Blowout16 - Denim History pt. 7; Jeans End the Great DepressionDenim soldiers forward through one of the darkest times in recent American history, the Great Depression. Reed and David explore the denim histories of both the Dust Bowl migrants and the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, whose denim uniforms built much of the infrastructure we still enjoy today. Hear about all that and more in part 7 of our ongoing podcast series.
If you'd like to support the show, head over to make a purchase at the Heddels Shop. Get 10% off your order with the code BLOWOUT.
If you have any questions you’d li...
2020-12-0739 min
Heddels Blowout15 - Harley-Davidson vs. Japan with Eric KvatekThis week we're on with renowned photographer and former vintage dealer / cigarette security guard Eric Kvatek. After getting an initial lucky break, Eric has shot for everyone from 45rpm, Strongarm, Battenwear, W'menswear, Holubar, Heddels, and most notably all the books for Japanese brand Kapital.
One of his passions from his collecting days is printed t-shirts, specifically Harley-Davidson t-shirts from their xenophobic anti-Japan era of the 1970s and 80s. As the US manufacturing economy waned and thousands of blue collar Americans were out of work, Harley lashed out with a series of both authorized and bootleg t-shirts aimed...
2020-11-291h 16
Heddels Blowout14 - Denim History pt. 6; The Cowboy EpisodeSaddle up, partner! We're here to talk about how the image of the cowboy is a manufactured piece of myth-making that helped spread denim pants all across these United States. In part 6 of our denim history marathon, Reed and David discuss the origins of the actual cowboys in the tradition of Mexican vaqueros and how that morphed into denim clad gunslingers on the silver screen.
Listen in for all that and more on this week's episode. As always, listeners get 10% off at the Heddels Shop with the code BLOWOUT.
If you have any questions you’d...
2020-11-2250 min
Heddels Blowout13 - Denim History pt. 5; The Rise of the Big ThreeAs the rivet cold war subsided out west, blue jeans went national. We dig into the effects rail connectivity had on the expansion of jeans eastward and how certain companies began dividing up the map into regional territories, establishing the modern day "Big Three" of Levi's, Lee, and Wrangler/Blue Bell.
Listen in for all that and more on this week's episode. As always, listeners get 10% off at the Heddels Shop with the code BLOWOUT.
If you have any questions you’d like us to answer, topics to cover, or people to talk to, email us...
2020-11-1531 min
Heddels Blowout12 - Denim History pt. 4; The 17 Year Rivet WarWe're back in 1870s San Francisco and Reed and David are exploring the fallout of Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis's exclusive patent to put rivets on pants, creating the first iteration of what we know as jeans today. The resulting period kicked off an arms race of competing brands trying to make their own inventions to compete with the patent-protected riveted Levi's pants.
If you'd like to learn more, much of the reference for this episode is from Michael Allen Harris's phenomenal book Jeans of the Old West. If you'd like to support the work we're doing, c...
2020-11-0934 min
Heddels Blowout9 - Denim History pt. 2; The Most Unwittingly Evil Man in AmericaThe story of denim continues—into the newly formed United States! David and Reed explore the development of mass production textiles in the early days of America and what life was like in these mill towns of 1800s New England. And then we discuss a person who unknowingly created the conditions that lead to millions of people being enslaved and probably caused the U.S. Civil War (and then he knowingly invented a faster and cheaper way to build guns).
All that and more on this week's episode! If you want an easy entry into the world of...
2020-10-1955 min
Heddels Blowout8 - Denim History pt. 1; Serge de Nîmes and Italian SailorsDenim is the thrust of what we discuss on Heddels - and our original namesake in Rawr Denim. It’s become the people’s fabric, democratized into ubiquity around the world in just 150 short years.
But how did it get there? How are we at the point where jeans can be the “default pant option” for a large part of the globe? We’re getting into the history of denim on a new series, and in this episode we're starting at the beginning in the "Speculation Zone" around the origin of our favorite fabric. We dig into the etymol...
2020-10-1130 min
Heddels Blowout7 - The Rise and Fall of Made in USAWe could put a man on the moon, but recently we couldn't put a piece of fabric on our collective faces. What happened to the mythical "Made in USA" of yore? Was there ever a Golden Age of American manufacturing? How did we get there and can we recapture it again?
David and Reed put on their historian speculation hats and dig into why things used to be made in America, why workers used to be paid more, and why things in this country once functioned much more equitably than they do now.
If you...
2020-09-281h 13
Heddels Blowout6 - Are People Buying Fall Clothes?Reed and David discuss what fall fashion and the typical "back to school" buying season will look like as they wear their respective basketball shorts and t-shirts. Is there going to be a need to buy clothes for this upcoming season as so many stay inside and many more face financial uncertainty? We also get into our favorites on the Taco Bell menu and ponder if celebrities can use mask wearing as a way to send body doubles out to do public appearances.
If you want to support the show, have a look at the new Teamster...
2020-09-011h 18
Heddels Blowout5 - Postal Problems, Retail in NY, Too Much PR PlopHeddels writer Reed Nelson and managing editor David Shuck run down the issues of the day including the mass exodus of retail in NYC (and what's left to fill it besides real estate speculators), how postal slowdowns/shutdowns affect small business, and should Patagonia be given any credit for taking this long to cut ties with potential forced labor in Xinjiang. Also we make fun of random PR emails for a long time.
If you want to support the show, have a look at the new Teamster Tees on the Heddels Shop. We're currently backordered but should...
2020-08-311h 37
Heddels Blowout4 - NYC Garment District with Blluemade's Alex RobinsIn the early twentieth century, it's estimated that 70%-95% of all clothing worn in America was made in a small section of midtown Manhattan. In 2020 it's less than 3%, but NYC's Garment District is still one of the most crucial communities in the entire global fashion industry. However, it's shrunk to the point where it's at risk of being uprooted and destroyed entirely.
We're talking with Alex Robins, one half of the linen-focused brand Blluemade, about what it's like to do all of their production in the Garment District, transporting their collections via subway, and their fight to...
2020-07-291h 07
Heddels Blowout3 - Ruedi Karrer aka Swiss Jeans FreakThe man, the myth, the legend. We've got an hour with the most passionate man in denim, a Swiss geographer named Ruedi Karrer who also has one of the largest private collections of denim in the world. Since the early 1970s, Ruedi has grabbed up nearly every scrap of raw indigo he could get his hands on, amassing a total of 16,000 denim garments in his "Jeansmuseum of Heaviest Fadings". Learn all about Ruedi's life in denim (doing everything from climbing Kilimanjaro to attending weddings and funerals), his days of environmental activism, and his future plans for the Jeansmuseum and...
2020-07-151h 04
Heddels Blowout2 - Veganism in Denim, Jaime Wong of Raggedy Threads VintageWe're back this week with another two discussions. First we chat with our editor James Smith about a recent article of his documenting his journey buying clothes as a vegan and avoiding all animal products (https://www.heddels.com/2020/06/my-experience-of-navigating-quality-menswear-as-a-vegan/) and all the difficulties and decisions that requires. Then David talks with Jaime Wong, the owner of Raggedy Threads (http://www.raggedythreads.com/), about her 20+ years buying and selling vintage workwear. Learn about The Real McCoy's Polish horse farm, the history of the Buddy Lee doll, what it takes to sell at the Rose Bowl and more!
...
2020-07-082h 00Heddels Blowout1 - Introducing Blowout, Corona Closures, Mohsin SajidWe're back! Unfortunately a lot of other brands and retailers aren't. In this Heddels podcast reboot, David talks with writer Albert Muzquiz on his articles following the fallout of Covid-19 on the clothing business (spoiler: it hasn't been great). Then we have a lengthy chat with all-around denim renaissance man Mohsin Sajid about his 20 year career designing, consulting, and educating about all things indigo, including his latest push for a greater use of hemp in the textile industry.
Also, take 10% off your next purchase at the Heddels Shop this week with the code BLOWOUT, including our newly s...
2020-06-292h 53