Are there any places that can "copy" my pair of jeans?

Soul Power · #1 06-26-2011, 11:02 AM

So I literally only have two pairs of jeans that fit me perfectly and look good, but the problem is that the one I love the most are like five year old levies that were made in Egypt, an I just happened to see them in the levies store long ago and I'm pretty sure they aren't made any more. I was only In high school, and was pretty much clueless to fashion and dint know how hard it is to find the perfect pair. I would love to just get like five copies of these made because they are *very* worn out, to the point where the butt cover is falling apart and there are shreds all over them.
So is there a place that can like copy the dimensions and material and make me a few pairs?

seventhson · #2 06-26-2011, 11:11 AM

prolly any competent tailor.

Tat2dHeart · #3 06-26-2011, 11:19 AM

Get a good tailor or seamstress who does more than alterations. Here are some good places to find them:

* Yellow pages (look under tailor, seamstress, alterations, costumer, costume services)
* Go to a menswear store and find the alteration department. Ask to speak to the person in back who really does the alterations. Tell them what you're looking for and ask if they can refer someone who can do that kind of work.
* Go to a fabric store and ask the store clerks if they have a bulletin board of local tailors/seamstresses who are advertising. Most fabric stores get scads of business cards that they can pass along.
* Ask your dry cleaner if they can refer you to someone (dry cleaners nearly always outsource alterations and repairs to local tailors and seamstresses)

A few tips to get the right one:

* Ask to see pictures of their other custom work
* Ask if you can talk to some of their clients to see how they liked the finished clothing
* Don't expect to get a pair of jeans made for $29; prepare to pay $70-$80 a pair or more
* Don't expect to get that well-worn feeling from brand new jeans made using a tailor/seamstress; there are a lot of things done to break in new denim before it gets to the store that these folks can't do and you might have to do yourself

I sew a lot of my own clothes because I have to alter everything off the rack. When I do find something I love and it fits, I copy it often and in lots of colors and fabrics. And yes - I'm guilty of copying jeans because jeans are so hard to fit to the right places.

i_got_a_mohawk · #4 06-26-2011, 11:22 AM

Ive made the same mistake in the past. If I ever find a pair of jeans that fit properly, I'll usually end up buying 2-3 pairs!

hover · #5 06-26-2011, 03:23 PM

the inseam tag usually references the specific model cut. find a match, you have the same cut. the "washes" may be different, but the fits usually don't change unless they are trendy-fits. Levis, for instance, have been making 501's for decades.

Unrepresented · #6 06-26-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

the inseam tag usually references the specific model cut. find a match, you have the same cut. the "washes" may be different, but the fits usually don't change unless they are trendy-fits. Levis, for instance, have been making 501's for decades.

Unless the pair of Levi's you own is a specific cut that they stopped making a decade ago. I'm in the same boat as the OP, I'd love to duplicate the cut on my favorite pair of jeans, everything else right now is either too narrow at the leg opening or too wide at the thigh. I can't justify spending $300 on boutique jeans, but if there's an alternative in the two figure mark that'll give me a product that's equivalent to what I've got I'd pay for it.

hover · #7 06-26-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Unless the pair of Levi's you own is a specific cut that they stopped making a decade ago.

That's what I just said. Match the cut # to the inseam tag and you should be good, otherwise, out of luck.

lunarpollen · #8 06-26-2011, 04:00 PM

It'll probably be easier/cheaper to find jeans that are a little bigger than yours and have them altered to match the fit of your favorite ones than to have new ones made from scratch to match your favorites...

Soul Power · #9 06-26-2011, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Unless the pair of Levi's you own is a specific cut that they stopped making a decade ago. I'm in the same boat as the OP, I'd love to duplicate the cut on my favorite pair of jeans, everything else right now is either too narrow at the leg opening or too wide at the thigh. I can't justify spending $300 on boutique jeans, but if there's an alternative in the two figure mark that'll give me a product that's equivalent to what I've got I'd pay for it.

I have tried going to levi's stores in several locations, and none of them even have the same fabric as the pair I have. It's thicker and softer and a soft piece of pinstripe fabric around the inside of the waistband. I probably will only be able to pay for one pair if i go to a tailor, but I might go with the idea of getting bigger jeans and then having them altered..

Tat2dHeart · #10 06-26-2011, 10:44 PM

I've personally had hit and miss luck with taking in a larger size to fit the way I like. As sizes go up, the slopers (sewing term for specific curves and angles of the pattern) change and it changes the way the grain of the fabric lays when sewn and altered. It's not that it can't be done, but how well the cut down jeans fit will depend highly on the skill of your tailor.

Other options you might consider are consignment shops, thrift shops, Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other places where people donate clothing. Depending on the market, you can find racks and racks of jeans, and usually at really good prices.

Unrepresented · #11 06-27-2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Power

I have tried going to levi's stores in several locations, and none of them even have the same fabric as the pair I have. It's thicker and softer and a soft piece of pinstripe fabric around the inside of the waistband. I probably will only be able to pay for one pair if i go to a tailor, but I might go with the idea of getting bigger jeans and then having them altered..

Yeah. I have an old pair of Levi Silvertabs that are cut "modern boot." Not the same as 517 boot cuts, and as far as I can tell in this age of pegged pants, unavailable for consumers.

MJ5150 · #12 06-27-2011, 09:41 AM

Boot cut jeans can still be purchased. Stop shopping at those trendy joints in the mall and go to a western store.

-Mike

6jase5 · #13 06-27-2011, 12:23 PM

Expect to pay around $150 from a tailor who will need to buy extra fabric and spend the time disecting your jeans to get the "exact" size. I would be surprised if you can pay less and it actually fits just like you want it to.

rr5025 · #14 06-27-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Boot cut jeans can still be purchased. Stop shopping at those trendy joints in the mall and go to a western store.

-Mike

Many shops still carry boot cut.

hover · #15 06-27-2011, 04:58 PM

Hell, Old Navy carries Boot Cut.

MJ5150 · #16 06-27-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

Hell, Old Navy carries Boot Cut.

I'm talking real boot cut jeans, not those pansy pants from Old Navy.

-Mike

Elegant Mule · #17 06-27-2011, 05:12 PM

Your jeans were the perfect jeans because they were your perfect jeans. If you could find an identical copy of them, as they were when you bought them, those jeans wouldn't be perfect! You've changed, and they have changed with you.

A good tailor can work wonders, but not miracles. Perfect jeans come around once in a lifetime, if you're lucky. Remember the good time you two shared, but know that nothing can replace them.

Unrepresented · #18 06-28-2011, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Boot cut jeans can still be purchased. Stop shopping at those trendy joints in the mall and go to a western store.

-Mike

Quote:

Originally Posted by rr5025

Many shops still carry boot cut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

Hell, Old Navy carries Boot Cut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I'm talking real boot cut jeans, not those pansy pants from Old Navy.

-Mike

I bought the bootcut jeans in question in Nashville, which seems as good as you're gonna get in terms of paying homage to "western" (without of course, actually being in the west). And yes, there are bootcut jeans still out there for sale, but the variety is not what it was a few years ago when they were "in style." Fashion stores tend to not go wide enough at the ankles, and western stores so far only carry two brands Levi's 517's and Wranglers, neither of which have the same cut as my holy grail pair.