How We Rivet Our Jeans
All good things take time and this is especially true of our ED-1 jeans. We wanted to use the best rivets to secure our denim as it is the rivet that gives the 5 pocket jeans style it's distinctive look. After all it was Jacob Davis that came up with the idea and helped make jeans what they are today. To create as authentic a look as possible we sourced Universal Brand 100% copper rivets and burrs plus the machine to use them. We first load up the machine with a burr and rivet, line up the jeans then stamp them through (making a very satisfying “clunk”).
You will notice that a small piece of fabric often pokes through the top of the rivet, this means that it has been fastened onto your jeans properly as it secures the burr in place. The next step for us, which very few brands do, is to further stamp the rivet with an indent often seen on early 20th Century overalls. The indent further forces the copper outwards making sure it can’t come undone.
This gives not only an authentic look that will age beautifully, it will also reinforce those key areas of your jeans that need the strength a rivet provides.
If you have any questions about any aspect of our ED-1 then drop us an email at enquiries@unitedoveralls.com or go to our Instagram or Facebook accounts and give us a message there.
An aged example of the rivets after about 6 months wear
Levi's Is No Longer Making Jeans In America
We see this as the outcome of a continuing trend in the fashion industry. The brands that shout the loudest about their heritage and history are often the ones most eager to stop production in the country of their origin in favour of cheaper production overseas. This comes with the price of reduced workers rights and added environmental damages that can't be controlled by the brand. It is sad to see an icon of the 20th Century go this way but there are still many brands that produce their jeans in the USA!
https://www.heddels.com/2019/09/levis-no-longer-producing-501-jeans-america/
Report: Levi's, Wrangler, Lee seamstresses harassed, abused
It is a sad state of affairs when three of the biggest names in jeans manufacturing are linked to the kinds of factories where this is allowed to happen. As a supporter of British manufacturers, there is no chance that workers can be taken advantage of like this.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's "Jeans Redesign"
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has released a plan to try to redesign Denim Jeans to implement more circular manufacturing practices. There are some very good points in there but we would argue that our 100% copper rivets are needed to add strength to the jeans. Unlike cheaper rivets that usually do have the problem of popping off as they are merely for decoration, ours are stamped down after being pushed through. This is an extra step in production but we think it is worth it to ensure they stay strong. Our jeans are already untreated and 100% natural fibers so we are already way ahead of the "Jeans Redesign" plan!
https://www.vogue.com/article/ellen-macarthur-foundation-denim-industry-sustainability
The Horrendous Environmental Impact Of Cheap Jeans Manufacturing
This article by Green Peace vividly illustrates how disastrous the manufacturing of garments and jeans especially can be when in countries that have little to no regulation on the manufacturers. These factories produce clothing for the lowest possible price point but its the people and the local environment that ends up paying.
https://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/stories/toxics/2010/textile-pollution-xintang-gurao/
Removing Plastic From Our Clothing
Here is an article looking at the problems of garments containing plastic and its effects on the world. Our jeans are 100% natural fibers so there is no need to worry if you wanted to wash them.