Look Sharp, Sconnie - Midwestern Fashion Nerd, Chronic Over-thinker

Nicholas Schmidt USA.

It all started with alcohol.

Well, a lack of alcohol, I should say. 

Nicholas was expecting a daughter, and decided to make a change.
His mentored recommended that he take up a hobby, to fill his free time.

So, because earlier in life, Nicholas had been forced to tailor his store-bought jeans in order to fit his unique and bulky frame (a product of his days of heavy power-lifting), he decided to make a pair of his own jeans. 



his first pair
And so it began. 
Moderately melo-dramatically, but interesting nonetheless. 

A few awkward pairs of roughly-constructed, oddly colored (read: neon green), jeans later, 
Nicholas had a nearly perfected the laborious process and built up a loyal customer base
of folks unwilling to go back to H&M-quality denim. 
[these things fit like a glove  - 
if a glove were measured, drafted, and hand-tailored, to fit every single curve of your hand]

It's noticeable, too. 
The jeans don't look like anything else. 
In fact, the way I first learned about Nicholas Schmidt's jeans not by an advertisement, or a website, 
or a well-timed networking opportunity, 

but because of their sheer quality. 

Upon complimenting a friend's jeans, she mentioned that she'd had them custom made by a local denim artist. 

My narcissism flame was irrevocably lit.

Tailored jeans?
Made for me? 

Just for me??? 

So I asked Nicholas about what makes his jeans so different from most? 
He told me that his are made from "selvage" denim - a hand woven type of denim made on a shuttle loom. 
He also pays incredible attention to small details - 
like from where he sources his buttons, 
and with what he dyes his leather patches. 


Which brings me to my next obnoxiously cool thing about Nicholas ... 

not only does he make custom jeans, but now leather goods as well. 
Both of them, as he describes it, allowing you to be "an artist."  

You might not be a fledgling Picasso, but the ability to take a material that may start off pristine, and slowly wear it to reflect the movements of your lifestyle (like the right knee on Nicholas's first pair - which is worn deeper than the left as a result of the time he spent teaching his daughter how to walk), is an absolutely unique experience. 

color darkened over time
hand-stitched

wallet worn from use
keychain darkened from use
It's rare to find such uniquely-made and personal goods in today's mass produced world, which is why I find these handmade, custom-fit to your body pieces of art so appealing.

 Nicholas's fascinating self doesn't hurt either. 
This guy oozes sincerity. 


You can check his 
work, or commission a pair, here. 

(or head to his FB page here)


 
3 photos by Andrew Schmidt via Nicholas Schmidt USA



Cheers.

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3 comments:

  1. CollectionsMay 20, 2013 at 6:02 AM

    this is awesome! I would love to hear more about local artists in my area as well (was just thinking about this last night) as I'd love to support more boutiques and less chains but it seems harder and harder these days which is why I love etsy!

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  2. SimonaMay 20, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    so so awesome! I would love to have a pair of custom made jeans, they are so cool, yay for no alcohol.
    Simona
    www.lakenmoon.com

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  3. Shug AveryMay 20, 2013 at 3:36 PM

    I can't agree more with you about the great feeling of owning a pair of jeans (but an entire wardrobe wouldn't hurt too) custom made for your legs and butt. His leather items are no joke too.
    Well, because my student life doesn't indulge in satisfying my shopping needs I won't buy Nicholas Schmidt jeans BUT I will definitely be following him on FB. My student state won't last forever and hopefully I hope I will be earning enough money to buy such beautiful items.

    Shug Avery of Incognito

    http://www.thinkincognito-eng.blogspot.com

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