I’ve had my A.P.C. Petit New Standard jeans for almost six years now. Yes, six years - quite a stretch for any item of clothing, right? But for me, these jeans mean so much more than just a pair of pants.
When I first got them back in late 2015, the A.P.C. Petit New Standard jeans were as stiff as a board.
But, oh, how they’ve grown on me. They’ve witnessed a lot of moments and stories over the years - more than just fades and creases. These jeans have been with me through thick and thin, from work to travels, and every little imperfection adds to their character.
Before these A.P.C. jeans, my first raw denim experience was with the Nudie Tight Long John. Those jeans were solid, and I still wear them, but their stretch blend never quite gave me that raw denim experience. They were snug from the start, and while they fit well, they didn’t really mold to my body the way raw denim would. Enter the A.P.C. jeans: from day one, they were stiff, uncomfortable, and made a weird "crackling" sound as I moved. But after a week or two, they softened, and every wear just made them more comfortable. The fading started, and they began to fit like a glove. They molded perfectly to my legs, becoming more and more personal each time I put them on. They were no longer just jeans; they were a companion, worn everywhere with me, from daily life to adventures abroad. Every stain, tear, and imperfection became a part of their story.
But after all these years of constant use, it was time for some repairs if I wanted these jeans to keep going. Here’s how they looked before I sent them for some TLC:
The left pocket had a tear, and the lining was completely worn through after years of me lugging around increasingly larger phones 😂.
The back crotch… let’s just say it was a disaster.
And the knee tear? Well, that one has a special place in my heart. It happened during my 2019 trip to Spain, when I was helping a friend move. As I bent over to lift something, the jeans couldn’t handle the pressure and gave way.
I decided to leave the knee tear as is, a symbol of that trip, and focus on fixing the pocket and crotch. After a deep dive into denim repair forums and talking to enthusiasts, I found an "artisan" who could handle the job just how I envisioned.
The tear on the front pocket was repaired using light blue stitching, perfectly matching the faded color of the denim.
The back crotch area? Like new again. The repair is seamless.
And the inside? The artisan reinforced the entire crotch area - since this part of the jeans takes the most strain when sitting - so everything looks fresh and solid again.
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