Franco Vitale (aka Marco Maxxx) is a male fitness model, MMA athlete (Tae Kwon Do black belt x3 Pan American champion, Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt), and content creator. Marco, a dad, lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marco’s birth date is 18-May, which makes him a Taurus.
Interviews
Infobae
Marco had another interview with Infobae, a Spanish-language publication. His parents are attorneys and his brother is a Roman Catholic priest. Marco will get a law degree.
Es Jueves Santo y no hay un alma en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Marco baja a abrir la puerta, sonríe a la distancia y saluda con un abrazo. Tiene 22 años y acaba de llegar de Gualeguaychú, donde nació y donde está a punto de terminar la carrera de Derecho. Es hijo de abogados y es, además, hermano de un sacerdote de la Iglesia Católica. Tiene un jean negro, una remera blanca y una tonada cálida y, a simple vista, podría ser solo eso: una pieza más de un tradicional rompecabezas familiar.
Marco had an interview with News Digitales in Argentina (en Español). The following section asks what his childhood dream was. Marco discusses his participation in martial arts.
ND: – ¿A qué te dedicabas antes y cuál era tu sueño de chico?
MM: – No hablaría del pasado como un “antes” porque nunca dejé de hacer lo que me gusta y elijo. Hago artes marciales desde que tengo siete años, y mi sueño era ser campeón argentino. Lo logré a los 12 años, y luego de eso, cinco veces más. Estuve en la selección cuatro años y logré tres campeonatos panamericanos consecutivos representando a Argentina: en Paraguay 2014, Argentina 2016, y Brasil 2018. Ahora estoy estudiando abogacía, estoy en quinto año. Planeo recibirme el año que viene.
(Franco’s friend, Kito Shelby, also had an interview with the same reporter.)
Photo Shoots
Florence, Italy
Marco’s first photo shoot. The photographer was Pablo Lonardi.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Conclusion
Marco has a whole life pursuing the activities he loves. I wish him well. What is the favorite thing that you learned about Marco? Let me know in the comment section.
With the pandemic, I was fortunate to have a full-time job that I could do from home. My employer is starting to make plans to open to a hybrid arrangement (part of the workweek at home and part of the workweek at the office).
While working from home, I did not have much need for the dress clothes that I wore to the office. I did not do telework in casual clothes, as I found that I could not get into work mode without dressing somewhat more formally than jeans and a t-shirt.
Now that I will return to an office commute (maybe?), I had an interest in refreshing my wardrobe. Perhaps, the reader is in the same position. First, I looked for pants. I tend to wear wool dress pants that I pair with a blazer or sports coat.
It is a neat outfit. However, rain can present a problem—soaking the wool and ruining the crease. This happened to me several times. While I will not give up on wool pants, I was searching for pants that are formal enough for the office and can deal with rain well.
I found a category of pants called men’s tech pants. The pants typically have cotton, some elastane for stretch, and polyester for some water resistance. I found several brands that sell this type of pants. Most are formal for a workday, and a few others have a casual design.
I also added two pants from Mott and Bow for comparison: The Everyday Chino and the Mercer Twill Denim. Both pants have mostly cotton with some elastane for stretch.
I ordered the Chino Charles to use as pants for work at home space and the Crosby jeans to have as another pair of jeans. According to the label in the chinos, they designed in New York and made in China.
The chinos feel soft to the touch. The pants are wider at the hips and become narrower at the calves and ankles.
I decided to try Mack Weldon’s Maverick Tech Chino. I was familiar with Mack Weldon through previous orders. I decided to try the Maverick Tech Chino because it was like the pants I had worn for work from home days (100 percent cotton). I bought the belt that Mack Weldon recommends for the pants. I wore the pants as some when I received them.
Despite the cotton in the pants, the fabric is a little stiff. (The pants get a little less stiff with wear.) They are comfortable for my sedentary job. While I planned to use the pants for work, I also wore them to the supermarket and the coffee shop.
The pants have been working well for me. I will likely buy another pair.
Review: Joseph A. Bank Traveler Collection
I needed to buy some pants to replace some wool pants that had reached the end of their usable life. I returned to the office for some days in the week. So, I was looking for clothes suitable for office wear with some contact with the public.
The wool-blend dress pants I wore to the office when there was an outdoor function. These pants were surprisingly comfortable. I will buy more of these.
Once during the summer, there was an unexpected rainstorm and I forgot my umbrella in the car. I quickly walked to the car and these pants were wet. However, with the air conditioning, the pants quickly dried out.
Pros and cons of 100 percent polyester pants
I have liked the Traveler Collection at Joseph A. Bank, but I noticed a recent change, the increase in synthetic material. In the performance pants version, the fabric used is 100 percent polyester. I am wary of 100 percent polyester, but the price was right, so I bought them. I miss the cotton-based version, though. (There is a golf chino that has a cotton-polyester blend, but the colors are more suitable for casual use.) That version I had bought for many years and had no complaints.
Pros
Cons
Durability and longevity
Lack of natural fibers and breathability
Wrinkle resistance and easy maintenance
Static cling and potential discomfort
Moisture-wicking and breathability
Environmental impact (e.g., reliance on fossil fuels, microplastic pollution)
Wide color and design options
Affordability
100 percent polyester? For dress pants, no.
Gym shorts have a 100 percent polyester. They are comfortable while exercising, but what about office clothing?
The feel of the Joseph A. Bank Traveler performance pants fabric is smooth, but in photos, there is a definite sheen on the pants. I am not a fan of these pants, as I love the wool and polyester version.
Brooks Brothers Performance Series Stretch Chinos
I am a fan of Brooks Brothers. I found that they have a pair of tech pants available, called the performance series stretch chinos. These pants have a higher price point, $148. The fabric composition of the pants is 59 percent cotton, 35 percent polyester, 6 percent elastane.
Conclusion
New pants to suit at-home or in-office wear. Also, they can be used for casual events.
Have any of the stretch chinos discussed interested you? If so, let us know in the comments. If you have any questions about these pants, please send a message or write a comment. I will try to answer it in the blog.
After working out consistently, you have built a solid muscular physique. Perhaps you are newer on your weight training journey, and you are planning to have a physique like Mauro Fialho (mens physique pro), Laszlo Kiraly (classic physique), or Chris Bumstead (classic physique pro) one day.
The physique that is favored in physique competition—broad shoulders, thickly muscled back, lean waist (a V-shape), and well-developed legs—is a rare body type. So, outside of athletic clothing, it can be difficult to find clothing for non-gym activities—a date, a job, and so on.
(Fit guys like Josh Riquelme, Diego Sechi, and Fraser Wilson have physiques that mass-produced clothing can accommodate. Still, most of the brands that I will discuss would suit these physique types as well.)
Fortunately, there are clothing brands that specialize in making clothes for muscular guys. The goals of this article are
To help the reader determine the right colors to pick for their skin tone.
To help the reader pick out wardrobe essentials that are easy to coordinate and easy on the wallet.
To compile the brands that provide clothing for bodybuilders for easy reference.
Note: While there are different levels of muscularity in a physique competition
for the purposes of this article, I will consider all levels as bodybuilding. The gym-built bodies differ significantly from the general population of guys.
The Right Color for Your Skin Tone
The Undertone
There are two types of undertones—cool and warm. Skin tone is different from skin color. The best way to tell whether you have a cool or warm skin tone. Stand in front of a mirror and hold a sheet of white copy paper next to your face.
If you see a red, pink, or blue undertone you have a cool undertone.
If you see a peach, yellow, or golden undertone, then you have a warm undertone.
When you determine what type of undertone you have, you can tell which colors look best next to your skin.
Color Theory
I have provided a very quick explanation of how to apply a portion of color theory. However, if you are interested in viewing the topic in-depth, I recommend Marcel Floruss‘s video on color theory (at right). Marcel is a fashion school graduate and provides technical information in an easy-to-understand manner.
Neutral colors should be the foundation of a guy’s wardrobe. Neutral colors are black, white, grey, beige, and khaki. Once you build a wardrobe based on neutral colors, you can begin to mix in more colors.
Wardrobe Essentials: The Foundation of Your Personal Style
Your wardrobe for non-athletic places should include essential pieces. If money is tight, you can slowly buy new clothes or find pieces at a trusted thrift shop until your wardrobe is complete.
For the thrift shop idea and style ideas for muscular guys, see the video with Nathan McCallum and Marcel Floruss (right).
Brock McGoff, The Modest Man at YouTube, explains why the foundation of your wardrobe should be based on neutral colors. He also provides his advice on what he would by if he were building up his wardrobe.
Wardrobe Essentials
Jacket
Dark grey suit
Shirts
White dress shirt, casual button-down shirt, t-shirt
Pants
Dress pants, casual pants (chinos), dark denim jeans
Leather boots, dress shoes, white or black leather sneakers
Accessories
Watch, bracelet, leather belt
Denim Jeans for Muscular Thighs
Jordan Morello, a social media personality, online trainer, and owner of Shortys Apparel, enjoys leg day and built hard-won thigh and hip muscles. He tried on four pairs of denim jeans to see which pair suited his weight-trainer thighs the best.
Jordan ranked the jeans he modeled in the video as follows:
The clothing offered: jeans, chinos, shorts, and shorts.
The brand has a specific sizing guide. (According to a blog post, the brand specifically added upper arm measurements to its sizing.)
Sizing
The sizing for Oxblood is based on particular dimensions of a bodybuilder’s x-frame (wide shoulders/upper back, narrower waist, and wider hips, and bigger thighs). For example, the “Greyman” fit is recommended for a guy who is 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet two inches tall, up to 225 pounds.
Arms: 16.5 inches to 18 inches
Chest: 43 inches to 48 inches
Waist: 30 inches to 38 inches
Neck: 19 inches
Hips: 45 inches
The Angus fit is interesting. The 212-pound bodybuilding category is for guys that are 5 feet five inches tall or shorter. The Angus fit for this height recommends a body weight of up to 175 pounds for guys who have a height from 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 9 inches.
The brand does caution that not everyone can fit its sizing, but the brand can provide clothing for some big guys. Each product page has a bodybuilder’s photos and his measurement’s so that the reader can compare.
Dress shirt
Light-blue dress shirt, the Stallion.
111.99 U.S. Dollars
100 percent cotton
Jeans
Note: The bodybuilders featured at Oxblood have tree-trunk thighs.
Medium-blue denim jeans, the Mustang Athletic Fit Stretch Jeans
118.99 U.S. Dollars
97 percent cotton, 3 percent Elastane
Quote from the brand’s product description: “Tested up to a 300 kg squat”
Chinos
Black chinos, the Mamba Ultra-flex
97.99 U.S. Dollars
97 percent cotton, 3 percent Elastane
The lengths for the chinos can run long if you have squatter’s legs but are short.
The sizing for Tapered Menswear shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and unflexed biceps measurement. The sizes range from S to XXXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 45 inch to 47-in chest and 17.5-inch upper arms. For polo shirts and t-shirts, the arm size decreases by 0.5 inch. For more questions about fit, the reader can email or chat with a company representative.
Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.
Dress shirt
White tapered fit shirt
55 Great Britain Pounds
96 percent cotton and 4 percent Elastane
Polo shirt
The brand’s polo shirts are available in short- and long-sleeves. I have chosen the short sleeve shirt for this article.
Black tapered fit polo shirt
40 Great Britain Pounds
100 percent cotton mesh fabric
T-shirt
The t-shirts have a muscle fit, meaning that the t-shirt fits closer to the body and emphasizes a bodybuilder’s V-shape. The close fit of the t-shirt’s sleeve shows off the wearer’s biceps peak.
The clothing offered: jackets, jeans, jumpers (sweaters), pants, shirts, and t-shirts.
The brand’s sizing chart for shirts and for pants. (There is a context-based size guide tab at the right side of the screen for each product type.) The brand shows how their clothes fit on different types of physiques (one of them is a muscular physique, Andrei Deiu, an IFBB pro (mens physique)).
The sizing for Father Sons is not explicitly designed for bodybuilders but they do have muscular models wearing their clothes, such as Andrei Deiu and Regan Grimes. Both Andrei and Regan wear shirts with stretch in it.
I do not think that an undershirt would fit under the shirt. Muscle guys can avoid layering clothes. The brand’s sizing for upper-body clothing (XS to XXXXL) is based on chest size. Bodybuilders tend to have huge arms that will not fit in fitted sleeves.
For example, Andrei wears the super-slim stretch black denim long-sleeve shirt (US$61.81; 69 percent cotton, 28 percent polyester, and 3 percent stretch). An interested reader may have to size up with Father Sons to ensure a good fit.
In the leather jacket (US$418.92, lightweight lambs leather), Andrei wears a t-shirt under the jacket. While the body of the jacket fits Andrei well, the sleeves look too tight (you can see the veins on top of his biceps through the material). The brand explains that Andrei is demonstrating the tight, fitted look (size XXL, 50-inch chest).
Still, I added this brand for consideration because of muscular models wearing the clothes. I think fit men like Elad Michaeli, Josh Riquelme, or Kyle Hynick would fit these clothes well.
The brand’s sizing (30 through 38) for lower-body clothing is based on a bodybuilder’s waist (up to 38 inches), hip (up to 44 inches), and thigh (up to 27 inches) circumference. The pants come in four lengths (28, 30, 32, and 34).
The brand’s pants sizing would explain IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Regan Grimes’s experience. In Regan Grimes’s try-on video, he showed that it took some effort for him to put on the brand’s jeans.
The clothing offered: chinos, dress shirts, dress pants, jeans, and polos.
Readers can contact the brand for sizing advice (For example, see the chat function at the bottom-left of the screen.)
Sizing
The sizing for Barbell Apparel shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest. The sizes range from S to XXL (38 inches to 52 inches). For example, for all brand shirts, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 52-inch chest. For pants, the sizes range from 28/S to 40/XXL. The pants sizes are based on a bodybuilder’s waist and thigh circumference. The length of the pants is 34 inches, which may be too long for shorter men (including me).
Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.
Dress shirt
Motive Dress Shirt
Shirt sizes range from XS to 4XL (36-inch to 61-inch chest).
118 U.S. Dollars
78 percent polyester, 13 percent rayon, and 9 percent Spandex
The brand has size information on each product page.
Sizing
The sizing for Legend London shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and hips. The sizes range from S to XL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 46-inch chest and 44-inch hips. For pants, the sizes are based on waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches)
This brand is not marketed for bodybuilders, but there are some UK-based YouTube Fitness channels that feature try-on videos with the brand (for example, Brandon Harding and Joe Delaney).
Dress Shirts
Smart Super Stretch Button Shirt in Muscle Fit
51 U.S. Dollars
“High stretch dense mesh”
Casual Pants
Beige Spray-on Trousers
71 U.S. Dollars
“Signature four-way stretch”
The model on the product page is muscular and lean. Tree-trunk thighs likely would not fit or look awkward.
Harry Simonis, CEO and Founder of Tailored Athlete
The CEO (and founder) of Tailored Athlete is Harry Simonis. Harry started the brand in 2016 (when he was 22 years old) to serve athletes wanting better-fitting shirts without having to go to the tailor. He explained his idea in creating his brand’s “true muscle fit”.
Working out of his bedroom at his mother’s house in the United Kingdom, Simonis sourced hundreds of fabric samples, started sketching numerous new designs and began conducting market research on his own by measuring thousands of athletes at nearby gyms. “I got a lot of funny looks at first,” the entrepreneur laughs. “Some people agreed, some thought I was mad.”
However, it was through this arduous process that Simonis began to develop the “True Muscle Fit” – scientifically designed for their athletic physique.
I found several interviews with Harry. One was with Jim Galvin, a UK military veteran and former Olympic athlete.
Also, Harry recorded a promotional video with Sergi Constance, an IFBB pro (mens physique) from Spain.
In addition, Harry recorded a video in 2020 to celebrate the 4th anniversary of the brand. He provided details from his life as well as his vision for the company.
Sizing
The sizing for Tailored Athlete shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest and waist. The sizes range from S to XXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 48 inch to 50-in chest and a 38-inch to 42-inch waist.
The dimensions favor a V-shaped torso. For more questions about fit, the reader can email a company representative. See also the brand’s size advisor (a button above the “add to cart” button).
Each product page has a photo of a bodybuilder and height, weight, and chest measurements.
Dress Shirt
The brand states that its shirts have a “true muscle fit,” which includes wider sleeves for bigger upper arms. Big arms of pro physique guys or open class bodybuilders may be too big for the sleeves, despite Tailored Athlete using stretchable performance fabrics for their clothes. I am thinking that fit, muscular guys (like the brand’s CEO, Harry) would be ideal for the dress shirts. (Examples are Kyle Hynick, Josh Riquelme, and Fraser Wilson.)
The brand explains that their jeans fit true to waist size and there is no need to size up for big thighs. The jeans seem like they can accommodate moderate muscular thighs (like Dan Tai, former pro rugby player, and current CrossFit athlete).
Tree-trunk thighs would seem to be too big to fit. (The models on the product page do not have tree-trunk thighs like Regan Grimes.)
Premium Stretch Jeans in Dark Blue
125 U.S. Dollars
95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane
Dress Pants
The dress pants appear to be able to accommodate bigger thighs. (It would be good for an interested reader to contact the brand to confirm.)
The clothing offered: dress pants, dress shirts, hats, and polo shirts.
The brand’s sizing guides for each product type are on the bottom-right of the webpage. The sizing shows that the clothes are made for guys with a lot of muscle (like a pro bodybuilder).
The brand’s sizing guides for each product type are on the bottom-right of the webpage. The sizing shows that the clothes are made for guys with a lot of muscle (like a pro bodybuilder).
The brand owner participates in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting, which involves many leg exercises. He could not find jeans to accommodate his big thighs and also fit his lean waist. This experience was the motivation for starting Fran Denim.
This brand is not marketed for bodybuilders, but the owner seeks to make clothes that can accommodate muscular people with larger thighs. Tree-trunk thighs may be too large, but some muscular builds could find jeans with this brand.
Sizing
The sizing for Fran Denim jeans is based on the waist circumference (30 inches to 38 inches with 2 inseams-31 inches and 34 inches). The brand explains that you can focus on the waist size only without making an adjustment for your thighs.
The brand’s sizing guides for each product type are on each product page.
Readers can contact the brand for sizing advice (You can also use the chat function at the bottom-right of the screen.)
Sizing
The sizing for Kojo Fit shirts is based on several measures
Height
Weight
Chest circumference
Waist circumference
Neck circumference
Biceps circumference.
The sizes range from XS to XXXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with the following measurements:
Height 5’11 1⁄4″ to 6’4 3⁄8″ (in feet and inches)
Weight 216 pounds to 238 pounds
Chest circumference 45 11⁄16 inches to 47 1⁄4 inches
Waist circumference 35 13⁄16 inches to 39 3⁄4 inches
Neck circumference 17 1⁄2 inches
Biceps circumference 19 5⁄16 inches
Dress Shirt
Bamboo Satin Stretch Shirt
74 U.S. Dollars
Bamboo, polyester, and Elastane
T-shirt
Essential Bamboo T-shirt
46 U.S. Dollars
“Organic bamboo Elastane jersey blend”
Jeans
Ultra Stretch Jeans-Tapered Slim Fit
89 U.S. Dollars
The sizing for Kojo Fit jeans is based on the waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches with the inseam ranging from 28 inches to 30 inches). With the relatively low inseam options, the brand seems to be focused on shorter men.
Chino
Ultra Stretch Chino Pants
89 U.S. Dollars
Viscose, polyester, Elastane
The sizing for Kojo Fit pants is based on the waist circumference (28 inches to 36 inches with a 30-inch inseam). With the relatively low inseam options, the brand seems to be focused on shorter men.
The sizing for Olympvs shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s chest measurement. The sizes range from S to XXL. For example, for a dress shirt, an XXL size would fit a bodybuilder with a 46 inch to 48-in chest.
For Olympvs pants, the sizing is based on a bodybuilder’s waist, hip, and thigh (leg-day lovers’ dream) measurements. For example—
Waist: 36 inches
Hip: 42 inches
Thigh: 26 inches to 30 inches
For more questions about fit, the reader can email or chat with a company representative.
Dress Shirt
The brand makes muscle-fit shirts (basically accommodating a v-tapered physique (wide shoulders and narrower waist). Its shirts are designed to be worn without an undershirt.
The sizing for Tailored Titan shirts is based on a bodybuilder’s height as well as chest, waist, and flexed-biceps measurements. The shirts have a small brand logo on the chest.
For more questions about fit, the reader can contact a company representative.
Dress Shirt
The Flex
91 U.S. Dollars
95 percent cotton, 5 percent Elastane
Conclusion
Dedicated weight training produced your muscular build. You should be able to find clothing that suits a more muscular physique. While you can go to a tailor for made-to-measure or bespoke clothing, those options can be hard on the wallet.
Fortunately, there are some brands available that offer essential clothing for muscular guys at a reasonably affordable price. These essential pieces can be assembled in multiple outfits. Are you a weight training enthusiast that loves leg day or a competitive physique athlete? Perhaps, you are a friend or significant other of a muscular guy. What has been your experience finding non-gym-related clothes that fit well? What brands work well? Tell me in the comments or by email.
I was interested in finding out more about Luis, and I found out through a web search that Luis is a YouTuber. His first video was a podcast that he filmed with his friend Nano Azpurua. I found the story about his background interesting, as I am a first generation U.S. citizen and have family from South America.
It is a treat to hear the model that you see in photos speaking. In the podcast, Luis and Nano touch on many topics. I recommend watching the video. I have picked out some information for the introduction to this blog post.
Biographical Information
Luis’ birthdate is September 4 (Virgo).
Luis was born in the United States; his parents are from Venezuela in South America.
Luis’ height is 5 feet, 10 inches (1.78 meters). Luis mentioned in the podcast that he went to a model open call (where scouts look for models). The scouts told him that he was too short. (Usually models are 6 feet or above in height.)
Other Information from Luis’ Podcast
When Luis started a TikTok account and began to get a lot of views, Luis then attracted interest.
Luis prefers not to live the full-time job life. Luis has worked several jobs since he was 16. In the podcast, Luis mentions that he attended online college courses. He did not mention a course of study.
Luis commented briefly on his workout goals. He stated that he will talk about the subject more in another video.
At the time of this blog post, Luis and Nano were looking for a name for their podcast and podcast ideas. You can enter suggestions at Luis YouTube video.
The year 2020 was eventful with a pandemic as well as several painful events involving fatal citizen encounters with law enforcement officers. One notable case was the one involving George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ample witness videos ultimately became a macabre film of 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
The aftermath of this event spread worldwide. Luis attended one of the protests.
Photoshoots
Lester Villarama and Maximo Magazine
As mentioned earlier in the post, Luis had a photo shoot with Photographer Lester Villarama in Los Angeles, California. (Grooming was by Keon Cruz.) One session was featured in Maximo Magazine.
Luis has attracted a huge follower base for his TikTok content and has been making the best of a challenging 2020. I wish him best as he pursues his career path outside of the salaried 9-to-5 life. (Model Dominic Calvani has a similar opinion.)
It is interesting to hear the perspective of a first-generation U.S. citizen, as it is the same experience as mine, with family from South America (former British colonies), which is also a similar experience as mine.
I look forward to seeing more photos and social media content from Luis.
If you have any favorite photos or social media content that you have seen of Luis, please leave a comment or send me an email.
I am new to the world of slim jeans. But after having tried on some slim fit jeans from Mott and Bow, I have grown to like the style. In this blog post, I will cover my reviews of the slim fit jeans that I own.
We source from some of the most well-respected denim mills in the world – Orta Anadolu in Turkey and Candiani in Italy – and buy their most premium denim. This high quality cotton not only looks better; it also performs better. The pricier denim is robust, keeping its shape and aging well over time; unlike cheaper denim that lacks the ability to bounce back after wear. Our goal is to make all our jeans like the vineyard’s finest bottle, and we don’t cut corners to get there, but we’ve set up our business in a way that allows a fair price.
Orta Anadolu
Orta Anadalu, according to its website, started as a spinning and weaving company In 1953. In 1985, the company transformed into a denim manufacturer.
Denim Production at Orta
Orta Anadolu describes its denim production process at its website. The process starts with raw material (cotton, Tencel/Modal/viscose, polyester/Elastane)). Then these materials go in the spinning process (blowroom, ring spinning machine). Next, the indigo dye is applies (rope dyeing, slasher dyeing). Sizing follows, then weaving, finishing, quality control, and denim service where Orta works with their customers (businesses) to combine designs and fits with washes using Orta’s fabrics. Finally, the fabric is shipped to customers.
Candiani Denim
Candiani Denim, according to its website, is a family-owned business, which started in 1938 in Milan, Italy.
The blog, Green Matters, describes Candiani’s sustainable denim fabric production process.
Denim Production and the Environment
Denim production has a definite effect on the environment at each stage. A report by the International Solid Waste Association discusses this point in more detail. [upload document]
Elastane and Denim
The addition of Elastane, a fabric that has some elasticity, to men’s clothing was once controversial, according to an article in the Atlantic Magazine. Elastane or Spandex was associated with female clothing. Men appear to have had concern about clothing showing their body. SAs a result, clothing companies associated Elastane with athletic activity, as gym clothing already had Elastane in it, for example, compression shorts.
When Elastane is combined with cotton, the resulting fabric cannot be recycled. In particular, blended fabrics, accessories (zips, buttons, and stitching threads) prove to be difficult for cotton recyclers, according to an article by Adrian Wilson in the International Fiber Journal.
Yet when it comes to recycling, blended fabrics – as well as accessories, such as zips, buttons and stitching threads – can prove highly problematic, which is why most recycling programs for cotton generally concentrate on pre-consumer waste and those for polyester prefer to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles rather than post-consumer clothing.
Most denim mills are keen to highlight the use of recycled PET in their ranges, yet these are inevitably in blended fabrics, putting limitations on further recycling in the move towards achieving truly closed-loop manufacturing systems.”
Mott and Bow jeans have some (2 percent) Elastane in them. Mott and Bow’s denim is made to a standard that can help denim recycling process
The Jeans Redesign project of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation states that denim fabric should be 98 percent by weight of natural fibers and no more than 2 percent of plastic-based fibers, according to a Fast Company article.
What is LYCRA/Elastane/Spandex?
According to Sewpoint, Elastane is the generic term (used in Europe) for the synthetic fabric with the trademarked name LYCRA. Another generic name for LYCRA is Spandex. The owner of LYCRA’s trademark is the LYCRA Company.
Elastane is made from polyurethane. The fabric is elastic and can withstand high temperatures.
While Elastane was developed in the United States, most Elastane is made in China.
Review of Slim Fit Jeans
Mott and Bow
As stated earlier, I have bought several pairs of jeans from Mott and Bow. I own the slim fit in the Mercer, Mott and Bow’s summer weight denim, and Stone styles. Initially, I found out about the company with a Facebook ad, which led me to the brand’s website. I signed up for the email list. I bought the Stone in grey first to replace a pair of grey jeans.
Mott and Bow Stone model in grey.
Mott and Bow’s slim fit jeans have a mid-rise and zipper fly. The fit is straight through the hip, slim through the thigh, and has a 15.5 inches (39.4 cm) leg opening.
During the summer time, I received a brand email informing me about the jeans for the summer, the Mercer brand. I tried one in the slim fit, liked how it felt and bought two more pairs.
I had to contact Mott and Bow’s customer service for one of the Mercer jeans. An olive pair of jeans developed a situation where the zipper came loose from the pants. I emailed the company about the situation in order to exchange the jeans. I was contacted by one of the customer service representatives who asked for a photo of the issue as well as the inside label.
After I had sent it, the customer service representative sent a replacement pair of jeans and since the same color was not available, the representative included a free t-shirt, which was a nice gesture.
Conclusion
In writing this post, I was able to learn more about Mott and Bow, a brand that I have bought from. I have been enjoying the jeans I have bought.
Let me know about your experiences with slim fit jeans, with Mott and Bow or another men’s jeans brand through a comment or through an email, info at menswearnews.com.