Landlubber Jeans
Landlubber Jeans were originally founded in 1964 by the Hoffman Corporation of Boston.....[1]. Landlubber jeans and clothing were sold in the 1960s and 70s, and were known for their production of bell bottom jeans[2]. The brand briefly went dormant in the 1980s as straight leg pants became more popular. Landlubber was revived in the mid-1990s with an interest in “retro” fashion, and again in 2019 with an even greater emphasis on vintage fashion trends.
HISTORY
The name “landlubber” (meaning someone who is unfamiliar with the sea or sailing) is an homage to the original use of bell-bottom pants. Bell bottoms were created in the early 19th century by Navy seamen who wore flair legged pants. It is believed that these pants were worn so that they may remain clean while they scrubbed the ship's decks.[3]. This style of the flared legged jeans were also easy to remove without first taking off shoes. Consequently, if a seaman fell overboard, he could quickly remove the pants. It is also possible that the flared leg may have been used as a makeshift flotation device.[4]. Over time the flared legged pants became the official uniform of the U.S. Navy.
As a company, Landlubber first came into being by distributing bell-bottom pants at Army Surplus stores. During the 60s, as the younger generation started to reject supporting expensive fashion items, shopping at secondhand shops and discounted Army Surplus stores became more common[5]. Thus, Landlubbers grew in popularity, being worn by the general public rather than only the military. Patti Boyd once asked Eric Clapton for Landlubber bellbottom jeans and that led to him writing the music for the song Bell Bottom Blues[6]
By the 1970s, Landlubber was seen on many members of the Flower Power movement.[7]. Their memorable silhouette of a low-rise, tight-fitting, curvy waist and flared bottoms is one of the defining images of the 60s and 70s. Supermodel Christie Brinkley was even quoted as saying she grew up with the jeans as part of her usual wardrobe[8]. The clothing was affordably priced and a cotton denim jacket by Landlubber was priced at $20 in Macy's[9]. Landlubber jeans had wide belt loops to allow people to wear wide belts. Additionally the jeans were worn low on the waist as hip-huggers[10]
DEATH AND REVIVAL
Landlubber jeans became less popular when the Levis 501s and straight leg and bootcut jeans came out.[11]. However, bell bottoms became popular again in the mid-90s as fashion looked towards vintage clothing. During this time, Landlubber sales increased. This time they were manufactured by the Old Boy Network in Greensboro, North Carolina, under a licensing agreement from Hoffman Apparel[12]
Much of Landlubber’s brand and bell-bottom jeans' revival can be credited to the millennial generation. Many millennials have turned to vintage fashion as a means to be sustainable (thus shopping for goods that would normally end up in a landfill) and wear something with a story[13]. Because of this, brands such as Landlubber, Wrangler, and Lee jeans are all seeing a renewed interest in clothing that was once only associated with protests and Woodstock. Fashions from the late 1960's and 1970's are popular with young people at clubs. One entrepreneur Mr. Pollack said he is dying to rid people's closets of their old Landlubber bellbottoms and Huck-A-Poo tops and split the profits 50-50.[14]. Mr. Sullivan, who was a pop culture critic at The San Francisco Chronicle for seven years, mentioned brands, both past and present, including Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler, Landlubber, Jordache and states, "limited-edition “super-collectible” jeans that cost as much as $2,000"[15].
TODAY
In 2019, Landlubber went through another change and revival when businessman David Douenias[16] decided to bring the brand back.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Vintage Fashion Guild : Label Resource : Landlubber". vintagefashionguild.org.
- ↑ Hochswender, Woody (June 26, 1990). "Patterns" – via NYTimes.com.
- ↑ "Bell-bottoms | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ↑ "This is why the Navy wears bell-bottoms, and it's not for fashion". We Are The Mighty. September 1, 2017.
- ↑ Tribune, Jeffrey Steele Special to the. "SURPLUS OF GOODS, SAVINGS AT ARMY-NAVY STORES". chicagotribune.com.
- ↑ Rolling Stone. "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Eric Clapton Songs". rollingstone.com.
- ↑ "WHAT JEANS LOOKED LIKE THE YEAR YOU WERE BORN, ELLE". elle.com.
- ↑ "What's a Landlubber? Let Christie Brinkley Tell You All About the Favorite Jeans of Her Youth". InStyle.com.
- ↑ "Shell Game". NYTimes.com.
- ↑ Tommy Hilfiger; Peter Knobler (1 November 2016). American Dreamer: My Life in Fashion & Business. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 58–. ISBN 978-1-101-88622-9. Search this book on
- ↑ "My Life In Jeans". HuffPost. August 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Patterns". NYTimes.com.
- ↑ Staff, Rivet; Staff, Rivet (December 13, 2017). "Vintage Rebound: Why Is Vintage Denim Bigger Than Ever?".
- ↑ "Fashion; Where 60's and 70's Are Still Right On". July 8, 1990.
- ↑ "Jeans Now Need Their Own Specialist Scholars: Call It Jeanitics". August 8, 2006.
- ↑ "Landlubber Announces Re-establishment Of Their Historical Brand O Jeans | FinancialContent Business Page". markets.financialcontent.com.
Rbiweb (talk) 18:28, 22 October 2019 (UTC)
Rbiweb (talk) 18:30, 22 October 2019 (UTC)
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