New denim titles trace the roots of hard-wearing workwear, unpack the history of one of the industry’s “big three” and so much more.
Refresh your denim library with these five new releases, compiled by SJ Denim.
Wrangler Archives
“Wrangler Archives” tells the story of Wrangler’s heritage from the perspective of a collector.
From denim jackets and jeans to flannel shirts, the 152-page book features more than 200 vintage Wrangler garments owned and curated by renowned collector Rikiya Kanamaru. The selection demonstrates the U.S. brand’s ever-evolving place in the cultural zeitgeist, from producing jeans to cowboys to its jackets being a canvas for 1970s hippie self-expression.
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Jean Genius, Repair, Restyle and Repurpose Your Denim
Have you ever seen a pair of upcycled jeans and thought, “I could do that.”
Put that confidence to the test with “Jean Genius, Repair, Restyle and Repurpose Your Denim,” a new book that provides step-by-step instructions for 18 repair and recycling projects.
Janelle Hanna, circular fashion consultant, denim specialist, and founder of White Weft, shares the expert insights and practical guidance, offering inspiration and know-how to DIY enthusiasts and aspiring upcyclers alike.
The book covers pocket, knee, crotch and belt loop repair techniques, taking in and expanding the waist, hemming, adjusting leg widths, transforming jeans to shorts and skirts, splicing. Readers will also learn how to repurpose existing garments into new items such as hats, bags, slippers and other patchwork pieces.
American Denim: The Supposed Final Days and Resurgence of a Manufacturing Icon
White Oak’s legacy lives on in the jeans treasured by denim heads, but a new photography book captures the storied mill’s final days in production.
“American Denim: The Supposed Final Days and Resurgence of a Manufacturing Icon” features over 200 color photographs captured by Matt Sharkey during three visits to the Greensboro, N.C. property. Sharkey said the book serves not only as a photo essay on White Oak’s role in building the U.S. denim industry but also as a reminder of the urgency to maintain the country’s denim expertise and know-how.
Let’s Talk About Jeans
Denim heads love to talk shop and “Let’s Talk About Jeans” gives them a soapbox to stand on.
The 128-page German-language book provides a journey through time, from the invention of jeans to the present day. A blend of vintage advertising, history, details about construction and personal stories bring the story of blue jeans to life.
The book was co-edited by Michaela Breil, the deputy director of the State Textile and Industry Museum in Augsburg and Dr. Tanja Roppelt, the director of the Levi Strauss Museum Buttenheim. Contributors include Tracey Panek, Lynn Downey, Ruedi Karrer, Ian Berry and Wouter Munnichs.
Worker
Photographer, vintage workwear collector and specialist Cory Piehowicz brings his collection to print in “Worker.” The 370-page tome, published by Endrime, serves as a catalog dedicated to providing historical context to rare workwear garments and artifacts.
The book features over 70 historical workwear garments—some predating the invention of modern blue jeans—and more than 350 photographs spanning cabinet cards, cartes de visite, real photo postcards, tintypes, and stereoscopic photo cards.
