Skip to main content

Simply Good: Noble Denim

People can’t stop talking about Noble Denim this spring. Maybe it’s to do with the fact that it joins Raleigh Denim and Baldwin Denim as some of the best-looking denim America has produced in recent years. Or maybe because after selling exclusively online since its 2012 launch the brand will land this fall in 13 of the finest independent stores across the country. One thing’s for sure: its founder Chris Sutton is giving budding entrepreneurs everywhere plenty of inspiration to follow their dreams and do good in the process.

Recommended Videos

Three years ago Sutton, then an event producer who relocated from Washington state to the Northwest to be with his wife, didn’t even know what raw denim was. But, fueled by his passion to create jeans from scratch, Sutton bought his first sewing machine and never looked back. Today, the fledgling business Sutton started with an apprentice doesn’t just make great denim; it’s a force of good, forging partnerships with small craft businesses, including one of America’s oldest and most exclusive denim manufacturers in Tennessee, which it rescued from the brink. Once employing about 160 expert craftsmen at its peak, the Tennessee factory now works exclusively with Noble Denim to produce 20 to 40 jeans a week—slow by industry standards. Yet each piece is painstakingly chalked and cut individually and hand-pressed. Pocket bags too feature the exclusive handwork of a local letter press. Noble Denim, as Sutton would have it, strives to conceive, design and manufacture the best-made garments possible. “We didn’t want to just be a denim brand, but we also didn’t want to a brand that has 60 items a season,” insists Sutton.

As a result, Noble Denim less resembles a conventional fashion brand than a lab, consisting of everyday basics executed to perfection to create the ultimate, edited wardrobe for guys. A case in point: its new athletic fit jean, which answers the call for jeans that would accommodate the guy who works out and rides a lot so he’s small in the waist but built up in his quads. Another new style on the way fits comfortably like Noble Denim’s best-selling regular fit down to the knee, but narrows from there to the ankle to create a flattering, modern silhouette well-suited to any guy. In shirting, Noble Denim is gearing up to offer a new over-shirt, made from an exclusive Japanese fine vertical stripe fabric with corozo buttons. The company, we also learn, has plans for a limited edition run of denim sourced from Kuroki Japan. The label’s recently launched sweatshirts are sourced from Canada for their superior quality, but overall the company focuses much of his attention on growing the local economy, whether it be through the local coffee roaster or letter press, and paying its tradesmen nearly double the going rate. Might Cincinnati be the next hub of cool? Says Sutton, “There are just so many people doing exciting and cool things.”

Look for Noble Denim this fall in stores such as Man Ready Mercantile in Houston, Armitage & McMillan in Denver, North Menswear in Laguna Beach, as well as Journal Standard in Japan, and online at East Dane.

Tim Yap
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Contributing writer Tim Yap was born in Kuala Lumpur and lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, Vancouver and Toronto prior to moving…
Marathon unveils special edition Canadian flag timepiece
Marathon Watch Unveils Limited-Edition ADANAC Red Maple in Honor of Canadian Flag’s 60th Anniversary
LIMITED EDITION 41MM SSNAV-D AUTO TYPE II - PILOT'S AUTOMATIC

In a grand celebration of Canadian heritage, Marathon Watch Company recently released the ADANAC Red Maple Stainless Steel Navigator Pilot’s Automatic — a limited edition timepiece paying homage to the 60th anniversary of the Canadian flag. Limited to just 500 pieces worldwide, this exclusive combines military-grade precision with patriotic design, making it an essential for collectors and proud Canadians alike.

A striking homage to Canadian pride

Read more
A$AP Rocky x Ray-Ban drops a statement-making Wayfarer remix
A$AP Rocky remixes the Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunglasses
a$ap rocky wearing ray-ban sunglasses

Considered the ultimate sunglass brand, Ray-Ban isn’t afraid of innovating itself. Known for their Aviator and Wayfarer models, the sunglass brand is a household favorite, partly because its silhouettes are classics that have remained timeless throughout various generations. No matter the look or situation, you can always count on a classic pair of Ray-Bans to elevate your style and make it even cooler and chic. No stranger to style, rapper A$AP Rocky is another force that welcomes innovation at every turn. Whether it’s in his music or wardrobe, the rapper is nothing less than a trendsetter. Now, with his flair for style, A$AP Rocky has taken his distinct touch to Ray-Ban for a new iteration of the classic Wayfarer glasses. Blending the world of hip-hop and classic design, this collaboration goes beyond just another pair of sunglasses.

A$AP Rocky brings his artistic touch to Ray-Ban’s Wayfarer sunglasses

Read more
Nicks Boots and Carl Murawski drop a boot made for the long haul
Nicks Boots, Carl Murawski launch new boot
lace up Nicks boots

Known for their work boots and heritage silhouettes, Nicks Boots is once again elevating your footwear with the goal of maximum durability and comfort. Just in time for their yearly collaboration, Nicks Boots is reuniting with Carl Murawski for a new boot designed for style and meant to last for years. As with most of the shoes in Nicks Boots’ lineup, this latest pair is designed to blend ruggedness with a refined element, creating a work boot that you can wear off-hours. While featuring various stylish elements, these boots are designed to be worn, and their personalized aging features allow them to patina over time, becoming even more of a fashion statement. 

Nicks Boots and Carl Murawski introduce The Blackwood

Read more