Yes, of course. My name is David, and I’ve spent most of my adult life (and teenage years) working in denim tailoring. It began in my early teens when I couldn’t find jeans to fit in exactly the way that I wanted. I’m a little particular about fit, so I would take my denim apart to study the patterns and then put them back together in the way that I wanted. A lot of trial and error, but it taught me a lot. I moved to London straight from uni, as I was playing in bands, and the city is where the action was. At the same time, I found a job tailoring with Levi Strauss. It was super flexible, and the management there would let me go on tour for months at a time, and then just fall right back into the tailoring side. I’m really grateful for the freedom it allowed, and all the lessons I learned in my time there.

It’s going well so far, thank you. In many ways, it has been a tool to rebuild my confidence after I was badly injured in a cycling accident in the city. It was a one in a million kind of thing where a driver made a right turn across my path like there was nothing coming in the other direction. Some reconstructive surgery in my upper body meant that I had a lot of physio hours to put to good use, so I had to make the decision to leave my job to focus on rehabilitation. I’m glad I did. I started Claxies to remind myself of the things that I used to be good at, and with the desire to be good at them again. I’ve been very lucky to work with some wonderful people, and had some great responses to my craft, which has gone a long way to restoring a small sense of self-belief!

Aside from spending most of my childhood dressed in denim, along with my brother, I love the way that denim is an open door to whoever wears it. It doesn’t exclude anyone. From the very poorest in society, all the way up to the 1%, denim is an option that people go for, they make it their own, and it tells their story. It means something different to each of us, and I love to see that. It can be expensive, it can be cheap, it can be smart, and it can be casual. it’s rock’n’roll, it’s hip hop, it’s metal, (it’s rarely jazz), and for most of us, our relationship with it changes throughout our life, but it’s always there.

Personally, the first thing I look for is the fit. That is shortly followed by materials, and detailing. I’m not a purist in any sense, but I like it when a piece has been properly considered, with elements of heritage, and an eye to push things forward a little. Delicate detailing on a boxy fitting piece often feels out of place, and similarly if iconic workwear styles are cut too slim it can feel forced to my taste. I don’t like stretch fabrics in general, though I appreciate that they provide a lot of comfort from the offset for people, and I LOVE to see a properly constructed seam, without the shortcuts that a lot of brands fall prey to.

I have to say I’ve been really fortunate to work on some projects this year which have really broadened my vision of what is possible. From going solo, my friend Fred Nieddu who founded the remarkable Taillour; brand with Lee Rekert has been really encouraging, and has championed my work no end. He contacted me one day early in the year to ask if I’d be interested in making some pieces for a film project. The film turned out to be The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and I ended up making the denim and workwear for The Thing character, both in rock, and human form. It ticked a lot of boxes for me. For obvious reasons it was a challenge; The Thing is abnormally wide, and stumpy, as well as being seven feet tall, but at the same time, with the film being set in the 60’s, there was a lot of mid-century referencing that we could bring in, including triple stitched seams, and exposed steel rivets . Then of course the garments had to be scaled down and made in regular human size. I still haven’t seen the film, but I will.

Actually it is for many of the reasons I pointed to in the previous question about outerwear. To me, Lavenham draws on it’s heritage, without lazily leaning on tradition. Things are being decidedly pushed forward in a considered way. I also like the catalogue of collaborators you have chosen over the years, as they show the brand cares as much about modern culture as it does about good design, and solid construction. It was an honour to be invited. Thank you for having me!

I think it’s a bit of a battlefield at the moment, so I would advise to approach with caution. A lot of the pure vintage denim pieces have made their way from America to Japan, and now sell for eye watering amounts. Even the mainline USA Made Levi’s and Lee jeans from the 90’s are reaching a peak in terms of value. Obviously there is some great stuff out there, and in terms of inspiration, it’s difficult to put a price on them, but the grind and dedication to find the pieces in the first place is real.

My friend Sam of Stamp London has brought me some pieces to work on which I never thought I would see with my own eyes. Jeans and jackets from the 40’s and 50’s, but his working day is often longer and possibly more gruelling than anyone else I know.

If you really want to pursue vintage denim, I would say be prepared to spend a lot of time and patience on bidding sites, and let the frustration wash over you like a sea of tranquillity. I certainly don’t have the patience!

When it comes to new denim, I really like the jeans I make for myself (I told you I was particular), so that is my go-to when a new fabric catches my eye. Then I can get the fit just right. But on home soil we have some really great denim brands to choose from, with styles for all shapes and sizes. Hiut have been making solid products for those with an eye for detail. There’s also Dawson Denim who do some great heritage cuts, and Tender always have a really interesting and original take on their denim design. (I’m also partial to the jeans that Claxies have being producing for their collaborators this year!)

I think community is hugely important, and the company wouldn’t be in the place it is today without the support of some really open and welcoming people. For some, the world of ‘the denim head’ can appear impenetrable, exclusive, and elitist. I’ve found quite the opposite. There is a warmth that comes with the denim community, because I think it is so personal. Denim that is, and our relationship to it.

I do feel lucky though, as all of the brands that I’ve worked with are ones that I genuinely admire, and who each have a slightly different approach to their denim. As I said, Fred has been really supportive, and in turn recommended my work to Simon Crompton at Permanent Style, who I’ve had some really inspiring projects with. My work with L.E.J. came about because Luke and I live in the same area of North London, and one day I said hello. I’m really relishing working with him at the moment, as the process with the team is so free and inspiring. It makes work feel like play. The way it should be.

I think it’s really important to talk about the things that we like, and sing their praises to others, to build a community which can thrive, but also because it’s fun and interesting to talk about the things we like, rather than the deluge of negativity which we are so often, justifiably, preoccupied with.

Well, we’re kicking off the new year in a new town to the one we began 2025 in. We’ve taken the decision to move out of London after a unreasonable rent hike by our landlords, but in many ways it has opened a lot of doors for us as a business, and as a family. We have much more space now, so I’m building a dedicated studio space, where everything can be done under one roof, and I’d really like to focus a little more on working with new brands to develop denim projects, and bring their vision to life. I’m excited by the idea of made-to-order denim, and am about to start work with a brand that I’ve loved for years in building that option for their customer base. I’m not allowed to say which brand yet though!

Make sure to check out the Claxies Instagram account to keep up to date with all the exciting project they have planned for the new year - https://www.instagram.com/claxies.official/