Jason Trotzuk, founder and creative director of Fidelity Denim, is among the lengthy roster of designers that have been inspired by the laidback and effortless cool style of California. So much so, that the native Canadian has quietly built up Fidelity into the premium Los Angeles-based brand it is today, tapping into the city’s cut, sew and wash facilities starting more than a decade ago.
Known for flawless fits, premium fabrics and wearable interpretations of trends, Fidelity has become a wardrobe staple in the closets of rock stars like Dave Grohl and Eddie Van Halen and California girls Gigi Hadid and Jessica Alba alike. And whereas most L.A. denim labels gain a foothold through women’s, Fidelity’s sales are led by men’s.
“Jeans are a constant in [men’s] wardrobe. We sell at Nordstrom doors all over North America, and that introduces more and more men to our product,” Trotzuk told Rivet. “Women’s denim is more changeable as trends ebb and flow, but business for both has been very steady.”
Here, Trotzuk shares the trends to know for Spring ’19 and why sustainability begins with the suppliers Fidelity works with.
Rivet: Which fits are trending up for Spring ’19 in men’s and women’s?
Jason Trotzuk: For women’s we’re seeing a shift away from skinnies into a wider leg. Think looser-fitting, stolen-from-your-boyfriend type looks. Also, the straight leg, and wider or flared fits. There will always be that customer who wants a skinny, but there’s now a push into something different, as it always goes. Men’s is moving in the opposite direction. Guys are looking for slimmer to skinny fits. Our skinniest fit, the Vantage, is having a comeback moment.
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Rivet: Which washes and finishes are trending?
JT: We’re seeing heavily distressed pairs, hem interest like a raw, released or step hem, acid wash and cream colored denim later in the season. Also, the Bermuda short is back!
Rivet: Are there any notable shifts in retailers’ buys for next fall?
JT: I think the majority of the silhouettes from Spring ’19 will remain, just in slightly heavier fabrics, deeper washes and more luxe fabrics and finishes.
Rivet: What qualities do you look for in the fabrics that you select?
JT: The quality of the denim is first and foremost, but it’s also super important that it has a good hand feel. We source from industry-renowned mill Candiani, known for their top quality, ultra-buttery fabrics, usually with a little stretch integrated in the fibers. The number one thing that people say when they try our jeans for the first time is, ‘Wow, these feel so good.’
Rivet: Has it become easier to be a company that cuts, sews and washes in Los Angeles, or are there more challenges now?
JT: There are always challenges, no matter where you manufacture, but we’re proud to still have all our processes based in North America and to be able to work with the experienced denim contractors that Los Angeles has to offer.
Rivet: Which environmental and social compliance standards do you look for in the suppliers you work with?
JT: We are always conscious about the suppliers we choose to work with and their footprint. Our major denim supplier, Candiani, is known as the greenest mill in the world, and a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, sourcing raw materials sustainably. As a denim company, we’re working to reduce our footprint by experimenting with new leading-edge technologies in sewing and washing that use less water and chemicals, allowing us to make jeans that are more environmentally conscious and eco-efficient.