Day 2: Origin Work Jeans Made in Maine
I’m always looking for good domestic-made workwear, not the stuff peddled for hipsters who wear Carhartt WIP. During the last year I have been wearing Origin Work Jeans, which are made in Maine. I have been unable to wear them out.
First, the inseams are triple-stitched. Yes, it looks overdone. Because it is. The denim is exceptionally strong – I have yet to rip the legs or tear the knees. And the pockets – oh, the pockets. They are lined with denim and not some tissue-thin cotton drill that disintegrates in a few months. The pockets last and last, even when filled with keys, knives and what-else-you-got.
The cut is forgiving for the woodworker’s physique (Body by IPAs). Your thighs will not be squeezed. Your “other organs” will also avoid the Denim Constrictor on fashionable jeans. These are real work jeans, and you can even order them with a double knee if your work is especially gravel-based. The jeans are available in three cuts: straight, boot cut and relaxed. I wear the straight cut.
The jeans normally cost $129. But you will find them on sale regularly for $99.
I honestly think I prefer the Origins to my Grease Point jeans, which are much more expensive. The Grease Points look nicer (I am constantly asked where I got them), but the Origin jeans have been more durable, especially the pockets.
Highly recommended.
– Chris
My frugalness would never let me buy $99 jeans no matter how good they are. It’s not a matter of not being able to afford them I can. Thriftiness has been ingrained into me. The $12 ones I bought from Atwoods, our local farm store, have done the job so far without any complaints. My wife sews so she can patch them if the knees wear out. I’m glad you like the jeans but there’re something I won’t be getting.
“That’s way too much to spend on a piece of furniture, I know it was made in the US and is all hardwood but the ikea down the street has furniture that works just fine even though it’s mostly plastic and glue. Don’t get me wrong, I can totally afford real woodworking it’s just something I won’t be getting”
I’m very frugal. But I’d rather spend more for something made here than in a sweatshop overseas.
My current framing technique is converting cost to time. $12 is a very poorly paid hour when professional labor goes at $80-120/hour. So, either someone can make 10 pairs of jeans in an hour (not even including materials, overhead, or other costs) or some person out there is not making a living wage.
Convert the cost to time in your paid hours and you’ll think about consumption differently. Beginning to wonder about fast food dollar menus now…
You could sell “Body by IPAs” t-shirts all day long.
I have worn a pair of these jeans for 20 months, 5 days a week every week, with no signs of wear. Built to last. Love to see them on this list.
Re Grease Point: There are now a number of 400$ jean makers, most seem to be using the same Japanese or Vidalia material. NC and ME, and OR based outfits. All first class, all custom, all American . All 400$ or so, or even more. You’d better get your sizing right too- they are all different. And carefully consider the Oz ‘weight’ of some of these- the heavy stuff takes forever to break in, is like cardboard; probably not really necessary. People have really gotten crazy with the denim religion esp Japanese.You have to have some real disposable income to justify the price, too. Chris has expensive taste, nothing wrong with that either. American Clothing is an OH outfit, is on internet, does make it all here, and are much more reasonably priced too. Consider them.
Price is $75 today, Cyber Monday. Many sizes are about to run out.