What Makes Hudson Denim Resurrection Jeans Worth $995?

by Annie Scott (RSS feed)
Apr 12th 2010 at 11:02AM

Hudson Jeans, a denim company with celebrity fans including Sandra Bullock, Pink and Gisele Bündchen, has a new concept hitting stores this month: one-of-a-kind, hand-cut and hand-sewn jeans, available at your usual fine retailers for the steep price of $995.. They may not be bespoke, but the result is the same; you can find a pair that's uniquely "you," whether that means sideways back pockets and zippers everywhere or whitewashed denim with artfully placed seams in unusual places, and be certain no one else will have the same pair of blues.

The collection is called Resurrection (right), and comes at a premium price of $995 per pair (most Hudson denim goes for $215 to $325). We chatted with designer Ben Taverniti (below), who has been creating couture pieces featured in the likes of French Vogue since age 19, about the collection, his philosophies and all things Hudson Jeans.

Luxist: What makes Hudson jeans so special and worth so much more than other brands?

Benjamin Taverniti: The Spring/Summer 2010 HUDSON Collection is the ultimate expression of the HUDSON brand consisting of four distinct groups - Minimalist, D.I.Y., Subversion and Resurrection (each jean is one of a kind). We source our fabric from the finest mills in Japan and Italy. Design, construction, and quality are our utmost priority.

L: How has your notorious couture past influenced the way you design jeans?

BT: It's trained my eye to be extremely critical and precise with fits, which is the most important thing when it comes to denim.

L: Do you have any advice for men and women who want to look hot in their jeans? What should they look for?

BT: Jeans do not make you ... you make the jeans ... Style should be fearless and confident.

L: What's your favorite style of jeans? What do you wear (and why)?

BT: Skinnies -- they just feel right.

L: So, let's talk about Resurrection. What makes each pair different? Are there any similarities between pairs?

BT: Each pair is completely one of a kind. To create the jean, we sew blankets out of past samples and vintage Hudsons, then cut a pattern from there. We never use two of the same jean to create a single pair.

L: How did you decide on the placement and usage of buttons, pockets, cut, color, zipper style, seams, etc.?

BT: I created the first pair with placements that I like, but I really wanted each pair to be an individual expression of the person creating it. Every resurrection jean is hand cut and hand sewn, so it portrays the unique style of the person who made them, and the wearer.

L: I like that they are recycled from previous styles -- but why? Were they left over from past seasons?

BT: We keep archives of all of our past collections going back to the start of the company. I wanted to find a way to breathe new life into them -- they are a reinterpretation of Hudson history.

L: What is the size range for Resurrection jeans?

BT: Sizes 24-32.

L: If you could design a pair of jeans for anyone in the world, who would it be -- and what kind of jeans would they be?

BT: Georgia May Jagger is the "face" of our brand. Her genetic DNA and our brand DNA are one and the same ... her mother Jerry Hall is American (born in Texas) and her father is Mick Jagger (British rock royalty) and Hudson is born in California, but rooted in London. She is also the ultimate Hudson girl -- the personification of rock-and-roll meets glamour, who embodies California freedom and British cool. She is effortlessly stylish and isn't afraid to take risks or to be herself while creating her own destiny.

To purchase Hudson Jeans Resurrection or any of their other collections, visit the website for a list of stockists (like Barneys and Jeffrey).

Tags: ben taverniti, benjamin taverniti, denim, designer interview, designer jeans, expensive jeans, hudson, jeans, pricey denim

Filed under: Apparel

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JJ Bergstrom Apr 12th 2010 4:42PM

Gisele has better taste than that!

S. Josenhans Apr 13th 2010 8:43AM

I would rather have my $14.99 sale jeans from JCPenney and no extra bill! Please, this is nuts!

Carolyn Apr 13th 2010 11:15AM

Right on. I"m with you. ANYONE who would spend that kind of money on a pair of pants that were made originally for farmers is out of it totally. They need to put that same money on something worth while like saving animals who have problems because of STUPID humans who think they are so cleaver.

lredmondstrip Apr 13th 2010 11:32AM

These jeans are for people who have too much money on their hands. Instead od paying nearly 1000.00 dollars for a pair of jeans, why not take that same money and donate it to schools. Its a selfish purchase, turn it into a selfless purchase.

Kent Apr 13th 2010 11:32AM

Hmm .. jeans are great and tailor-made to boot. I understand now why Hudson sells their products at a premium. It may be a phenomenon than a trend and not for the financially weak. Walking through the Harajuku boutique area in Tokyo the other day, I came across a pre-worn jean selling for 1 million Yen ($12K). My guess it was a publicity stunt to attract customers to buy premium jeans. Hudson may want to try this marketing tactic to isometrically make their jeans appear reasonably priced.

Kent Apr 13th 2010 11:35AM

Hmm .. jeans are great and tailor-made to boot. I understand now why
Hudson sells their products at a premium. It may be a phenomenon than
a trend and not for the financially weak. Walking through the Harajuku
boutique area in Tokyo the other day, I came across a pre-worn jean
selling for 1 million Yen ($12K). My guess it was a publicity stunt
to attract customers to buy premium jeans. Hudson may want to try
this marketing tactic to isometrically make their jeans appear
reasonably priced

Bernie Apr 13th 2010 3:37PM

Totally stupid. Obviously these jeans are only for the rich and famous. Hey rich and famous people, stop going on TV and asking the common people to help support the needy. Use the $1,000.00 that you just paid for a pair of ugly old looking jeans and utilize that money for the needy. Hey for you it is a tax right-off. So you will be in a win-win situtation. Helping the needy and a tax right-off. Now wouldn't that feel better in your heart, mind and soul.

A. Morgan Apr 13th 2010 3:04PM

give me a break. I don't know how to sew, but, I bet I can make a pair of unique jeans just by sewing a bunch of pieces together and little seam here a little seam there and you have your own signature jeans. lets just call them do it yourself jeans from creative crafts.

LOL Apr 13th 2010 5:12PM

There's a fool born every minute, and there will surely be folks who'll pony up for the perceived 'prestige' of the raggy looking jeans.

Leah Apr 13th 2010 7:12PM

Not only is this stupid...they are UGGGGGLY!!

P.T. Barnum was right!

ovcheung Apr 14th 2010 4:55AM

Hudson's fit extremly good, I never find a denim brand's fit so comfort & also looks good on different style : skinny, boot leg, wide leg.
As an technical designer, I'm wondering how an American Brand making product for US market but it also fit nice on Asian body.
Another reason for buying Hudson is the finishing, it's so soft & comfort that you'll not feel you're wearing a heavy, stiff denim jeans but it still have the denim texture, after I try the 1st pairs I don't want to put on other brand anymore. Now I got 8 pairs from 2008.
On pricewise, it's expensive but I will recommend to try it on & feel it, if you have the same feeling as mine......buy one for your life !!!

diab Apr 16th 2010 2:28PM

when will these fools ever learn. a handful of dumb celebrities cant support your business model.

paper denim cloth; bankrupt
rock and republic; bankrupt
hudson; soon-to-be bankrupt

go back to business 101

dm Apr 17th 2010 10:27AM

THE ONLY REASON TO PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THIS UGLY IS TO SAY YOU SPENT THAT KIND OF MONEY!!!
People who do this have obviously have self esteem issues! Get realk people

Joy Apr 17th 2010 3:37PM

Most of the comments sound judgemental. I cannot afford $995. To me it is foolish. But there are people who could not dream of owning a home with the space I have in my back yard. It is common to me, but to my husband we don't have enough space. He grew up in a farm setting. What is the point? There are people in extremely poor countries that can not fathom having money to spend at JC Penneys, and to them $14.95 is like the $995 is to me. I think expensive is what it cost in porportion to your income.
I believe we all should donate at minimum 10 % of what we earn. My mom gave more and she never earned more than $25,000 a year.

I believe that I can make the jeans, but if $995 is a small amount of money in proportion to your income. I am not qualified to judge because I don't know how much you donate.

NotAFool Apr 17th 2010 5:21PM

Joy, your point is well taken, however, being on that end of the spectrum that can easily afford these jeans, one of the main reasons I CAN afford the jeans is that I don't buy in to the marketing hype that surrounds these types of 'luxury' items. This type of marketing and pricing is directed at folks with very low self-esteem who define themselves by their possessions. It makes them feel better about themselves when they are stepping out in overpriced designer apparel. Very sad for those folks, but the marketers are laughing themselves all the way to the bank!

rlspinden Apr 17th 2010 5:34PM

They look like crap to me.

Ruby Apr 17th 2010 6:22PM

Well everyone is different, not everyone feels the same, no two people are alike, which is what makes this world go round and round. The world would be a bore otherwise. The hudson jeans look really comforatable, just by looking at them, they look well made and sexy too. I would buy a pair if I could, wouldn't even think twice about it. Everyone needs to make money, this is his edge, this is his creative talent. He just like everyone else has the right to put it out there, and make bank. My thoughts in life are this, if you have it flaunt it, if you dont then you have no room to talk and your opinion is worth nothing. However, everyone has the right to their own opinion and I totally respect that. Ruby