Thursday, September 2, 2010

Hands On: Rugby Limited Edition Jean

Last week Rugby released their Limited Edition Jean Box Set.  The good folks at Polo were nice enough to send me a pair to test out and talk about if I liked them.  Well, as you can imagine, I like them - I like them a lot.  These made in the U.S.A. jeans are the real deal.  By "the real deal" I mean ultra-dark indigo-washed selvedge denim sourced from Cone Denim's White Oak Plant.  The small batch (only 100 pairs were produced) are hand numbered and also feature an array of thoughtful details.  The pocket bags are blue oxford cloth and the back yoke is lined in blue university stripe oxford cloth.  Silk twill, in a handsome rep pattern, is used as trim on the 5 button fly and makes up the back patch to add some of Rugby's signature collegiate aesthetic.  The jean is cut in Rugby's Vintage slim fit - low rise (though they can be worn at your natural waist), trim through the thigh and leg.  The box set not only comes with some serious denim, but a made in Italy silk rep tie and a style manual.  Not that anyone who reads this blog needs a style manual or anything.  It's truly a special package, but don't take my word for it. Check them out for yourself.


-L.A.S

[Editor's Note: A big thank you goes out to Lance over at Polo Ralph Lauren.]

19 comments:

  1. Wow - outstanding. I like the extra touches.

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  2. Sick. I wish these weren't limited edition.

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  3. So you got a pair of $400 jeans for free? Lucky bastard.

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  4. These are noice! Especially as a gift valued at $400. Well deserved my friend.

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  5. Beautiful pair of Jeans ... you're a lucky guy congrats :)))

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  6. I'm not a denim head, but those are fire. It's all about the details.

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  7. Las, how does the fit compare to the Levis 514? I am always afraid to buy slim jeans because they are too tight in my quads, and sizing up to a 31 makes my waist feel baggy and droopy which is not cool. I have a pair of their vintage chinos in a 31x30 which aren't too baggy in the waist.

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  8. Does it matter how they fit? They cost $400 and there are 100 of them. I don't see any reason to buy these over the myriad ~$200 offerings out there. Unless you really want the tie!

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  9. I also got a hands on look at these this week, and I'm truly disappointed. What a load of bullshit from the folks at Rugby. The quality is horribly sub par amongst a laundry list of other defects. The silk patch on the back of the pair I looked at was poorly stitched and was even sewed on cockeyed. Don't let them fool you that these were produced at Cone Denim's White Oak Plant. They weren't. Trust me. As a "denim junkie" I've owned my fair share of selvedge jeans that WERE produced at Cone Denim's White Oak Plant and looking at the craftsmanship of these was clear that they were produced likely in a third world country.

    The tie is also a piece of shit. The silk is made of such low quality that it could have easily been mistaken for a $15 The Tie Bar tie.

    Bottom line: Save your money kids. The folks at Rugby will do anything to get you to overpay for poorly constructed clothing made from the cheapest materials possible.

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  10. Dave- The jeans, while made of Cone Denim, were not sewn at the White Oak Plant. Rugby used an unnamed US sew house for the actual construction of the jeans. Just clarifying.

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  11. Lawrence - Thanks for your honesty. I wouldn't scoff at them either if I got them for free. But based on the $$ they want for this "limited edition set" it's completely asinine. The children need the facts, however brutal they might be.

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  12. @David Miller re: "The silk patch on the back of the pair I looked at was poorly stitched and was even sewed on cockeyed."

    Same deal in the photos posted here.

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  13. Dave Miller,

    You obviously are not a "denim junkie". White Oak is a mill. Get up on your denim history. I'm sure if the salesman at Cone read this they'd understand what an idiot you sound like.

    Your probably just a guy with your pants around your knees trying to act like you know something about denim or style or what a hand made tie looks like.

    Go to college Dave, learn something.....X-Polo designer

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  14. I somewhat agree with Dave—albeit his stance is somewhat harsh. I don't think the folks at Rugby have any clue who their customer is, which is probably why you'll be able to find this limited edition set on sale for $49.99 in the coming months. Denim enthusiasts aren't shopping at Rugby for jeans. Period. End of story. And the college crowd that flock to Rugby like it's a religion won't have to the cash flow to fork over $300 for a sub par pair of denim.

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  15. I love how the first pic clearly shows the shoddiness of the construction. I believe a jeans patch shows a lot about a company. This looked like a poorly done afterthought.

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  16. I agree
    For rugby fans just have a look at the Brooklyn Circus
    Better identity
    Better personnalities
    and a real autheticity
    youll love it for sure
    http://thebkcircus.com/bkc/

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  17. I bought a # 20 pair at RL outlet for $115, as usual great material and style. I can brag over 60 pairs of jeans, viz. YSL, D&G, Armani, Diesel, Double RL Japan selvedge, Levi's Capital E, made in USA, Levis made in France and UK, Polo purplelable made in Italy, all great stuff, but RL quality clothing is tops, always you can trust and buy. My only complain the back patch could be of leather, and washed, not rigid.

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  18. does anyone know what the denim oz weight is for these jeans?

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