Earnest Sewn is a denim brand that sets itself apart by updating the American heritage lifestyle and offering an uncompromising collection of denim and denim related products that reflect an unprecedented commitment to quality and workmanship. Designed and launched by Scott Morrison, the Earnest Sewn design principle is literally translated as ‘product sewn in earnest’. In staying true to this ageing value system, they incorporate ingenuity, integrity, detail and authenticity in every item they make. The production of each garment is typically overseen by three people, and they monitor the garment’s progress from start to finish, at every stage: design, sourcing, cutting, manufacturing, dry processing, wet processing, trim, inspection, packaging and ultimately, shipping.

Earnest Sewn avoid as much of the standard ‘assembly line’ manufacturing process as possible, reserving some operations to specialists, but wherever possible, allowing one sewer to complete the majority of the garment. Additionally, the wash process incorporates hand-drawn techniques ensuring that no two pairs are alike. The three people overseeing each pair’s production, along with the President and designer Scott Morrison, hand stamp the jean after each step of the process is complete. By signing their names they are committing their reputation to the product and validating its authenticity and quality, and thereby ensuring that every pair is indeed sewn in earnest.

Earnest Sewn, by definition, is a denim brand that pays homage to its Americana past and mixes, for perhaps the first time, traditional denim workwear with the ancient Japanese style aesthetic, Wabi-Sabi. Designed by Scott Morrison, formerly the designer/co-founder of Paper Denim & Cloth.

Paper, Denim & Cloth R.I.P.

• Mark Bage

Red Monkey Company needs very little introduction, as the Jeans have become one of the most coveted fashion garments out there. In Japan, Red Monkey Jeans are the most searched jeans in Yahoo, surpassing Levi’s and Diesel.

RMC by Martin Ksohoh is the brain-child of Martin Yatming, the design genius and fashion guru behind the Red Monkey Company. Martin is renowned throughout the world as a denim master whose attention to detail is unrivalled. The designs are based on the concept of exquisite embroidery, stitching techniques and authentic eastern designs with a contemporary twist, that has developed a wide following in Europe & USA. . RMC by Martin Koshoh is originally from Hong Kong, and was founded in 2002. The name Red Monkey Company abbreviated “RMC” carries two connotative meanings. “Red” symbolizes the searing red sun as well as Oriental. Whereas, “Monkey” signifies evolution, of which apes evolved into human being. “Company” is the workshop consisted of creative persons, ideas and projects.

These jeans are made in very small limited editions so getting the one you want can be a real pain. Of course with so few being made it’s not exactly friendly to your wallet. A pair of Red Monkey jeans, with its signature embroidered dragons and what not, will set you back between £265 to £375 a pair! That’s some pretty expensive pair of jeans but you get the consolation that there are perhaps only 20 pairs in the whole wide world.

England striker Darren Bent is a big RMC jeans fan as is football star DJ Campbell and Micah Richards.

• Mark Bage

D.I.E. or Denim Is Everything takes you on a walk to the darker side of things, where everything isn’t quite as it seems to be. Beneath the bright colours lurks a sea of horror movie, 1950’s Zombies, punk rock inspired design finishes and graphics.

Reynald Gautier and Marcus Martinez formed D.I.E in 2004. D.I.E was born from their common preferences for comic books, horror films, and music by bands such as The Guana Batz, The Meteors, in addition to the their most influential interest and concrete fascination: skateboarding. The latter helped them form a sense of independence and life philosophy, which was instrumental in the creation of D.I.E.

D.I.E or Denim Is Everything, is not as its name may suggest, a puritan denim brand. It is however, a way of thinking, a lifestyle taking its inspiration from life interests, friendships, experiences, memories and family from both Reys’ and Marcus’ lives past and present. In the collection denim may be dead but as they say it’s ‘better dead, than buried!’

• Mark Bage