Holy mustache wax! The most extraordinary American denim produced in the last century is in the hands of a beneficent creator who is too middle-aged to cut it all up and sew it into low-rise, skinny jeans.

In 2015, the Cone Mills White Oak denim plant in Greensborough, North Carolina, celebrated its 110th year of operation by teaming up with American indigo farmers to weave the first yardage of natural indigo-dyed denim in 100 years. The color is mesmerizing, and looking at it is comparable to staring into Frank Sinatra's eyes. In an attempt to solidify the longevity of the prized textile, they produced the denim in a 16-ounce weight - much heavier than their standard 12.5-ounce denim.

This high-minded, high-waisted endeavor began in 2017 when I heard the devastating news that evil private equity raiders had purchased Cone Mill’s parent company, International Textile Group, and were closing the mill for good. I jumped on the phone and secured every available yard of the anniversary denim. Since then, I've been sitting on the mountain of denim in lotus pose, waiting for fit enlightenment. A few years ago, the vision came as an old-school blue jean with a higher waist, generous seat, and slightly tapered legs. I ran to my pattern maker, who could translate my excited babel into an actual pattern.

As I was preparing to sell these jeans, an extortive devil appeared on my shoulder and scrolled through his phone, showing me examples of far less unique jeans priced at $400. He almost swayed me, but I am offering them at an angelic price in exchange for future karmic textile credits.

Sewn in Los Angeles. Hardware and thread are made in the USA.

I suggest buying one size smaller than you ordinarily do unless you want to wear them a little bigger - which is very groovy, too.