Finding a great pair of jeans that fit right, are comfortable and have a classic look that will never go out of style is not always easy to do. Now, with Nashville Denim Company, which launched in July, many people feel the search is over.
“We wanted to bring a quality product to the market, so we found a leading independent textile mill for high-end denim right here in the U.S.A.,” says Guerry Simmons, NDC president and co-founder. “We have also sourced the best denim; it’s a sustainable cotton that is grown in the U.S.A. as well.”
Because neither Guerry nor the company's other co-founder, Thurston Cromwell (who is also his brother-in-law), had any expertise in fashion, they brought in Thurston’s longtime friend, Emily Keener. With 20-plus years of experience as a fashion designer for major brands, they say her guidance was invaluable.
“We spent about a year and a half developing these jeans,” says Guerry. “During that time, we bought jeans and studied them to find what we liked and didn't like about them. With Emily’s help, we came up with a great pair of jeans that I know Nashville will be glad to have.”
Its flagship product, a classic cut men’s denim jean called the 37203 (named for a postal code in Nashville), has a slightly tapered leg and the iconic button fly. Each premium pair of jeans is made with 14 ounces of heavyweight raw selvedge denim. “The way it’s woven into the loom makes the fabric very heavy duty, and therefore, much less likely to break down over time,” explains Guerry.
Another NDC offering is a stylish T-shirt with the company’s logo. Initially, products are being sold online, but if a local buyer wants to purchase a pair of jeans in person, Victoria’s Final Touch Alterations in Nashville will have some available.
“We're obviously going to expand our jeans selection to include other types of cuts and dyes, and each style is going to be named after different zip codes in Nashville,” says Guerry.
He and Thurston also feel it’s important to partner with other local businesses. Guerry lives in Nashville with his wife, Sallie, who helps with marketing, and Thurston lives in Brentwood; both men grew up in Nashville, and because it’s the Music City, they would love to create opportunities for musicians by hosting concerts and events.
“Our vision is not just denim, but to be a brand in Nashville that supports and showcases independent venues, musicians and labels,” says Guerry.
Nashville Denim Company is already partnering with local radio station 100.1 FM WRLT. “We're sponsoring the 615 show on Lightning 100, which highlights local musicians. We're very excited about that.”
