Throwback photos stir up laughs, memories—and for denim heads—a wealth of vintage denim inspiration. This new weekly column on Rivet asks individuals in the denim industry to take a look back and reminisce about a denim moment in time captured on film.
This week, the Rivet team shares their favorite #TBT snap shots from their childhoods.
Angela Velasquez, managing editor
This is from the early ’90s at my parents’ restaurant. I’m probably breaking a few health code violations there, but I was always hanging around the restaurant rolling silverware, refilling my soda cup or sitting out back in the kitchen. I have to give my mom credit for the embellished acid wash jeans because she always dressed me in stylish clothes. We would spend hours wandering around the mall and still do. And I was a very neat kid, so I’m not surprised to see that my clean white shirt is perfectly tucked in.
Liz Warren, staff writer
This is a very meta photo of my mom and me twinning in mom jeans. Mine were a little baggy— probably unintentionally so—with an elastic waist. This was in the mid ’90s, and even though a couple of decades have passed, my style hasn’t changed all that much. I still wear loose denim and simple white shirts, and almost always pair it all with a bold red lip. I’ve since ditched the headbands, though.
Edward Hertzman, founder and president
Here I am with my brother Eric in the early ’90s. We were in the driveway at our parents’ house, but I’m not sure where we were heading. What stands out the most about this photo, though, is how indicative it was of the future: more than 25 years have passed, and Eric and I are still side-by-side, sharing our special dynamic as both siblings and business partners. I always knew our relationship was extraordinary, and this photo provides a small glimpse of that. And I still make more adventurous fashion choices than my brother, as you can tell from my acid wash cargo jeans.
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Eric Hertzman, senior director of sales and marketing
This is me in my element back in the late ’90s. I was in my backyard working on my golf swing and wearing the standard outfit most 10-year-olds would wear at that time: T-shirt, baseball hat and denim shorts. My style has since evolved—as has my golf swing. I’ve been playing for more than 20 years in high school leagues and tournaments, and those decades of practice have paid off: I’m now down to a single-digit handicap.
Sarah Sloand, sales assistant
This photo is from the late ’80s when I was just a little one. It was rare for me to wear something other than a dress, but here I am in overalls. They didn’t get much wear and tear, considering I basically refused to be put in anything that lacked frills. My mom, on the other hand, was always fashionable. Here she is in her vintage acid wash jeans which, at the time, were not so vintage.
Allix Cowan, client service coordinator
This picture was taken in the early ’00s. I’m sporting a denim jacket, something I still love wearing to this day (though I can’t fit into this one anymore). In this photo, my brother and I were watching a basketball game. My mom said it was always hard to get me to wear jeans, but jean jackets were never a problem.