https://www.alpkit.com/blogs/develop/developing-the-jeanius-and-sequence-jeansBack in 2008, we launched ‘Jeanius Jeans’: innovative in their day, the water-resistant jeans were made with EPIC denim for cragging, hiking or just generally hanging out. They are a much-loved product that people still remember to this day. Our big-budget promotional video (see below) no doubt adding to their cult status.
Jeanius Jeans strike a real chord with our customers though, and we’ve had many requests to bring them back ever since we stopped making them in 2012. So we’ve gone back to the drawing board to re-think jeans to hike, bike, climb and just spending time outside.
Back to the drawing board We spent years checking out denim mills all over the world, from US to Japan, trying to find performance denim that met our criteria. What was that criteria? Primarily, they had to look and feel just like our favourite jeans, with specific tailoring so they’re comfortable to hike, bike and climb. Plus added technical features to stand up to the demands of an active outdoor lifestyle. Most of all they had to be sustainable: cotton sourced from ethically and environmentally responsible sources and long lasting so you will want to wear them for years to come.
Denim is a wonderfully comfortable fabric; there's a reason so many of us wear jeans day in, day out. To reimagine jeans designed specifically for outdoor use we decided to go back to basics, asking ourselves: why do we choose to wear jeans, what are their limitations, and how could we make them even better for active use?
Technology responsible jeans that are better for our environment...
None of us would deliberately choose to pollute the wild places we love. After studying new research covering the environmental impact of chemical based water-resistant treatments, we decided DWR's have no place in jeans as Alpkit is looking to be totally PFC-Free next year.
So we ruled out making water-resistant of fully waterproof jeans early on.
Working within this constraint has led us to a new and much better fabric. Our denim is truly innovative and as step on from our EPIC jeans of 2008-2012. Its mix of sustainable cotton, Thermalite and Coolmax has an authentic denim feel that is both temperature-regulating and better at moisture management. It keeps you cool when its hot; warm when its cold; wicks away moisture when you're active and is quicker drying than regular denim. Applying a PFC-Free DWR would actually work against the moisture management qualities of our jean denim.
Denim can have serious social and environmental consequences. But this isn’t the way it has to be. So we have used denim that is sourced from sustainable farms, certified as free from slavery or forced labour and tough enough to last a lifetime.
Taking a different approach to the humble denim jeans - this time focusing on unhindered movement rather than water resistance where it isn't needed
Drastically Different Denim So, what is special about the denim we’ve selected after all that research? Firstly, we looked at how we could make your favourite pair of jeans last longer by building durability into the very fabric of the denim. Enter our old friend Cordura®, the brand behind high tenacity nylon 6,6 – a fabric which you might more commonly associate with packs and bouldering pads. By adding Cordura® yarns into the fabric blend we were able to increase the durability (specifically tear strength and abrasion resistance) by a factor of four when compared to regular denim.
Not satisfied with that, we also looked at how we could improve the comfort of the jeans through temperature regulation and moisture management. The addition of Thermolite Core (a hollow core polyester that we also use in our much-loved Woodsmoke shirt) gives the jeans more warmth than their weight would suggest extending their use into the colder months. On the flip side, the inclusion of Coolmax All Season polyester helps to manage moisture better than pure cotton denim would, meaning you stay cooler and drier on warmer days or during a stiff walk uphill.
Conventional jeans can be a bit restrictive for the type of activities we often end up using them for. With that in mind, the final ingredient in this special denim blend is a mixture of stretch T400® polyester and a touch of Lycra®, to provide great stretch properties and prevent the jeans from losing their shape over time. They needed to still feel and look like a traditional pair of jeans though, so the fabric blend is still 57% cotton.
The cotton we’ve selected is certified by the Better Cotton Initiative which ensures it is grown using sustainable methods
Made for movement With the magic baked into the fabric, the next task was to bring the design of the beloved Jeanius Jeans up to date. No-one was keen to bring back the almost bell-bottomed bootcut style! We all have our preferences when it comes to the cut and wash of our jeans, so we developed two very different styles. Both have specific fits for men and women and a host of practical features.
First up, the original Alpkit jeans’ namesake: the Jeanius. In a darker wash, these are the stealth performance jeans that you can wear anywhere. With a subtly articulated side seam and diamond crotch, they are made for movement whilst maintaining a modern shape. The men’s style is a slim, straight leg, while the women’s is a slim-fit without being too skinny. This cut lends itself to use on a bike, where the narrow leg is less likely to get caught in your chain, or for climbers who like to be able to see their feet clearly without needing to roll up their trousers.
Then there’s the Sequence: a mid-wash denim with a worn-in look that will develop more over time, and a regular fit through the leg. If ultimate freedom of movement and comfort are your priority, these are your go-to jeans. With a panelled articulated cut and a diamond crotch, they’re fitted looser through the lower leg than the Jeanius. They also have a handy drop pocket on the thigh for your phone, guidebook or bouldering brush.
We’ve included all the usual design details that you’d expect from a pair of jeans: rivets, metal buttons and the classic five pocket layout. We’ve also taken particular care to make sure the pockets are a useful size – yes, even on the women’s! We’re offering Short, Regular and Long leg lengths in both styles for men and women too so you can get your perfect fit.
It’s been a long time coming but we can finally say that Jeanius Jeans are back!
Jeanius Jeans Put to the TestTry them on here:
Hathersage - Main Road, S32 1BB
Ambleside - 100 Lake Road, LA22 0DB
Keswick - 48 Main Street, CA12 5JJ
Gateshead - Metrocentre, NE11 9YS
Or buy
online
