Whisker-A-NoGo

Ever wanted to design your own pair of jeans, just the way you want them?  Thanks to LA-based out-of-the-box thinkers: Den.m.Bar, this dream just became a reality.

Four easy steps to creating the ultimate pair of custom jeans (per their website):

1- Pick a style. (Slim-tapered, Skinny, Straight, etc.) 

2- Pick the fabric/material.  (Choose from over 8 different kinds of denim!)

3- Let these professionals take your measurements, on the spot.

4- Specify any accessories that you’d like added. (Unique buttons, zipper color, thread color, pocket lining, etc.)

These guys have everything you need to make yourself a badass pair of jeans that you’ll never want to take off.

Visit their site here, and get a feel for the simple process: www.denmbar.com/

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Here’s my Q/A with Derek Yip, one of four partners in this brilliant operation:

1- Introduce yourself, where you’re from and where you live now.

den.m bar has 4 partners: Richard Wang, Derek Yip, Steve Chiang, and Kelwyn Yung.  We all grew up in the Los Angeles area.  

2- Introduce your company and website.

den.m bar was founded on the notion of bringing customized, personalized denim jeans to the masses using traditional denim craft methods. We want to offer a kick butt pair of premium denim at reasonable prices.

den.m bar provides discerning customers with an unique pair of American made jeans, hand-crafted one at a time. To us, there are three essential components to solid denim—quality materials, fit, and personal style. You can turn your creative ideas and concepts into reality with our wide selection of materials, threads, and fabrics.

Our expert in-house seamstresses use the finest materials sourced from denim mills in the US, Japan, and Europe to create a pair of jeans you can hold onto for a damn long time.  

Our website will have an eCommerce section up in a few weeks for all those that are not in the immediate Los Angeles area.

3- Did you come up with the concept? When and where were you when the idea came to you?

This concept percolated for a long time, we just never got around to it. Then we saw a really cool inspiration in New York called 3×1 and decided that there was nothing like that here in Los Angeles. One of our friends specialized in pant construction and denim construction, so we thought we should try and do something similar.

4- How many people currently work with the company?

We have 4 partners and 4 tailors/seamstresses.

5- Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?

Yes we do. After all, we did start our own business from the ground up.

6- If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?

To be more proactive vs reactive.  

7- Any advice to other up-and-coming businesses?

What you put into your business is what you get out of it.  

8- In your opinion, what’s the greatest way to market your product/website?

Find influential people of your niche and try to get them to write/talk about your product.  Luckily for us, we got a local popular blogger to visit and write about us on opening day.  The next day we had an overwhelming request for our custom jeans.

9- Have you ever experimented with Facebook ads? Feedback in that regard?

No, we have not used Facebook ads yet as we want to grow our brand organically.

10- What are your thoughts on having a capital investor help an up-and-coming company in the beginning stages?

Having a capital investor to help an up and coming company in the beginning stages is very important.  Without the proper backing in the early stages, the company might run into some hardships resulting in premature closures.  However with proper backing, the startup would avoid running into such problems.

11- Your favorite thing about being a designer:

Being able to offer a product / service to our customers and seeing them love their new pair of custom jeans.

12- Your least favorite thing about being a designer:

None.  We love what we do!

13- Who is your direct competition?

We don’t have any direct competition that is in the same market.

14- How do you feel about the current status of the economy? Have the recent changes affected your business?

From our perspective, it looks like the economy is getting better especially in the downtown Los Angeles area.  We see local shops like us opening up everywhere which must mean things are picking up.  

15- Ever consider branching out into another market in addition to LA? If so, where would it be?

Once we feel we’re ready to branch out into another market, we would probably pick either San Francisco or New York.  

16- Approximately how long does it take for you to make a pair of jeans from scratch?

It takes about 10-15 days from beginning to end. Each pair of custom jeans is handmade by hand one at a time at our shop.

17- Do you offer any kind of warranty against defects?

Yes, we do. If you feel that we did something wrong, we will be more than happy to take back your pair of jeans and make sure the your custom pair fits you like a glove.

18- What’s the best method of customer service that your company exercises?

Listening to what the customer wants, providing prompt service, and doing it right the first time

19- Do you guys do any trade shows, swap meets, etc.?

We are currently participating in the LA Art Walk that occurs every 2nd Thursday of the Month.  We showcase local artists in addition to selling custom jeans during  these events.

20- Random question- Who would win in a fight: Ru Paul, or Sir Paul?

Sir Paul of course! 

@whiskeranogo