The Jean Shop is back. On Friday, the legendary denim store unveiled a new online shop and released a collection of its trademark Japanese orange selvedge denim jeans and limited-edition workwear.
“We are pleased to announce the return of the most respected American denim brand, Jean Shop, with our new online store,” said Scott Milden, Jean Shop co-owner.
The company teased the news on April 16 with a photo of its neon pig logo, a nod to its original retail location which was a refurbished slaughterhouse in New York’s Meatpacking District. The store, which closed in 2018, was described as an “illicit speakeasy,” where stacks of raw and distressed denim jeans draped the brick walls inside the “windowless meat locker.” The shop provided denim heads with a sensory experience that Louis Vuitton New York City Guide called a “must-see” before it eventually relocated to a different location in the city’s Soho neighborhood.
Though Jean Shop opted for a digital-only strategy for its comeback, a return to physical stores is in the works. Jean Shop has plans to open a store in Los Angeles near its manufacturing facility, followed by another location in New York City.
Jean Shop was launched in 2003 in New York City by Gene Montesano and Barry Perlman—the founders of Lucky Brand—and Eric Goldstein, whose previous experience spans Ralph Lauren’s RRL and Gap. In 2017, Goldstein and his wife, Jill Goldstein, launched an online one-stop-shop for fast and affordable denim repair, and a year later, he spearheaded the denim category for Collection by Michael Strahan at J.C. Penney.
The brand’s Made in America status adds to its allure in an age where society is shifting to locally made goods. An expert in washing, dyeing and finishing, Goldstein sources the fabrics in Japan, sews them in California and then hand-finishes them himself in New York.
The first drop centers on the “Rocker” slim straight leg jean made of 13.75 ounce selvedge denim featuring its iconic orange taping. The jean is offered in unisex sizes 26-38 and retails for $275.
Though the brand will exclusively feature its own products for now, it has plans to invite select brands to its site in the future.