Skip to main content

BLKSMTH is a beautifully forged new denim line

Blksmth, denim, coney mills, jeans
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A former designer at Levi’s, Loren Cronk opened his Williamsburg, Brooklyn based store Loren in 2010. A retail space cum design studio, it offers denim repair and alteration services and sells his handmade Loren jeans line and BLKSMTH, a less expensive collection that is created from selvage denim from the legendary Cone Mills (one of the few U.S. fabric mills left in existence) and sewn at factories in Los Angeles.

Now in its second season, the traditional, clean workwear-inspired collection, which offers three five-pocket jeans silhouettes that start at $179 along with a few barn/work jackets, shirts and bags, is already a cult favorite at five boutiques in Japan and is currently looking to expand to stores in the USA. “The Japanese tend to really like the product and we have been trying to get ourselves a little bit more out there in the market,” Cronk explains. “It’s not super well-known. I am independently financed and don’t have a lot of big money behind the brand.”
Denim-2

Recommended Videos

While his designs appear to be simple, Cronk is a stickler for the little details that set his product apart in the sea of other denim labels, including using a fabric that is dyed with natural indigo that results in a very rich and warm blue tone. “I think it’s a combination of things that make us special,” he says. “One is the aesthetic and the fabric and combining all the different small details: the stitch per inch, the color of the thread and the hardware — the details that you think about inside and out. It’s things that most people don’t notice but it’s a subtle thing that you really appreciate.”

“Denim to me is such a core item that it’s small things like the pocket shape,” he continues. “I don’t put making denim into the category of regular fashion design because you are not making new silhouettes. You are really just working with core items. It’s a hands-on thing where sometimes we finalize the design as we are making it. I love that way of designing. I have basic idea and then hash it out as I am doing it. Actually working it through and working out where you are going to place the pocket as you are making it is really nice and it’s really practical. It’s even just picking the thread color as you are making the jean. I think the size of your thread and stitch per inch is a huge thing.”

Denim-3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

And although the brand is still young, it is based on a well-established heritage. “BLKSMTH was named after my third great grandfather who was an actual blacksmith,” he says. “I wanted to come up with something that seemed like it was around 100 years ago. My family keeps a pretty in-depth genealogy so in the logo we have is a portrait of my third great grandfather William Cronk and I had my friend do an illustration of him with a pair of jeans on an anvil, which is a nod to what we do since it is hand-crafted.”

For now, aside from shopping in Japan, the only way to score a merchandise from this up-and-coming line is to visit the store or contact Cronk via his website.

Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
Our Top Picks for the Best Men’s Denim Jackets
best mens denim jackets men s jacket

A great denim jacket is an essential addition to every man's wardrobe. Not only do they provide a classically cool look, but they're practical, too, thanks to their durability and versatility. Most denim jackets work as a perfect middle-temperature layer during the spring or fall, some are light enough for a hot summer day, and others still are extra heavy to provide warmth in the winter. Whatever the case, a subpar Canadian tuxedo top won't cut it, as they tend to fit poorly and fall apart fast.

These recommendations have been selected based upon a combination of firsthand trials by the writer as well as reviews from top industry experts and actual customer ratings. In other words, these are suggestions you can trust.
Best Overall: Woodies Trucker Jacket

Read more
What Are Dad Jeans and Should They Be In Your Denim Rotation?
what are dad jeans mam standing in room at home

From my jokes to the way I offer advice, usually without much provocation, to my uncontrollable grunts every time I get up out of a chair, I’m constantly exhibiting dad-like tendencies. Considering my age -- 44 -- and the fact that I am the father of two kids, everything I do is automatically classified as “dad-like” by anyone younger than 30.

The only part of my life that isn’t very dad-like at all is the way I dress. People younger than me might disagree with that statement, but judging myself against other dads at middle school functions, youth soccer games, and even the gym, I look like a style icon.

Read more
Georgia Red Clay Inspires Tremaine Emory’s New Denim Tears-Asics Collaboration
Tremaine Emory's Denim Tears x ASICS GEL-MC Plus “Georgia Red Clay" sneakers.

Tremaine Emory's Denim Tears x ASICS GEL-MC Plus 'Georgia Red Clay' sneakers. Denim Tears / Denim Tears

Fashion consultant Tremaine Emory, aka Denim Tears, lit up the sneaker community this summer with an Aug. 16 tease that featured light red running shoes as part of an upcoming collaboration with Asics. Now, as of Sept. 28, the Red Clay Denim Tears x Asics GEL-MC Plus running shoes are available online at denimtears.com. 

Read more