Serfontaine Cruiser Crash Jean with Purple Ropestitch cute with wide cuff at the bottom; casual denim capri. The stitching is pronounced and purple. 25" Long. 99% Cotton, 1% Lycra. These run a little big, go down one size. $188

Serfontaine Jeans

Serfontaine, the LA-based denim company that originated the rope stitch, takes an eco-friendly stance with its trademark "organic wash" denim.While other denim companies spray their jeans with Potassium Permanganate, an abrasive oxidizing agent, Serfontaine makes use of hot and cold rinses and various hand-grinding techniques to create the lived-in look sought after by denim couturiers.

Organic (vs. engineered) enzymes take the place of stone washing – a process utilizing pumice stones often strip-mined in third world countries and devastating the environment -- to help speed up the desizing process, both conserving energy and neutralizing run-off into the ocean. The different color intensities are obtained by meticulously hand-sanding the denim. By eliminating the presence of man-made chemicals, Serfontaine denim effectively retains its shape and hue without sacrificing an authentic vintage look.

The company adopted these techniques as a matter of policy to help preserve the environment and, as designer Mik Serfontaine has put it "to reclaim the soul of denim". "Our customers are not rabid consumers," he insists. "They prefer to support those brands that are conscientious about their methods. The end doesn't always justify the means."