Blue Blanket and Candiani’s Homage to Denim History
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Italian brand Blue Blanket pays homage to denim’s history across continents in a new concept collection with Candiani Denim.
Blue Blanket founder Antonio Di Battista culled inspiration from jeans’ Genoese roots as a sturdy cotton fustian with indigo-dyed warp and its evolution into the five-pocket design patented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss 150 years ago. It also nods to Japan’s efforts to preserve tradition in weaves and indigo applications.
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The result is a six-piece collection that harmoniously blends all chapters of denim history, while balancing heritage, fit and quality.
Candiani Denim’s line of Riserva selvedge is used throughout the line. Made on original shuttle looms, the fabrics are inspired by select pieces in Di Battista’s denim archive which spans 2,000 historical jeans.
The purpose of the partnership is to show designers like Di Battista and suppliers like Candiani are keeping traditions alive, and to “combine ethics and authentic aesthetics, as only the centuries-old Italian textile heritage can,” the mill stated.
Comprised of one blazer and five pairs of jeans, the fits also reflect archival reference pieces.
A right-hand twill selvedge jean from 1890 is reimagined as a 3×1 right-hand twill jean with a beige weft for an aged appearance. A white canvas blazer from 1920 is remade with Candiani’s beige color cotton selvedge with an open weave construction for a vintage aesthetic. A 1930s jean purchased at the Rose Bowl Flea Market in California is remade with a super compact construction for a clean look.
All the pieces are left raw without the typical industrial washes that have become common since the end of the last century, allowing fabrics to age naturally.
Last month Candiani and Blue Blanket both participated in GenovaJeans, the city-wide cultural and educational event that celebrates Genoa as the birthplace of jeans.
