Joe & Co Interview with China White

CHINA WHITE INTERVIEW

Joe & Co are pleased to interview 'LIAM' of the wicked band 'CHINA WHITE'

We caught up with Liam after we had a night out at Manchesters famous Band On The Wall 

J&C

You have worked with some great artists in the past, Kermit being one of them. Do you have any plans working together again and if so in what capacity?

CW

Yeah I'm sure we'll work together again. We've spoke about it and it's something we'd both like to do, maybe even a side project separate to China White...who knows? Danny Saber introduced us both and we did a track for Danny's upcoming album 'Saber Bytes'. We also appear together on a couple of tracks for Keith Allens Olympic album which is due out in July. We'll be performing together throughout the summer as part of Fit Les aka (Fat Les) at a number of gigs and festivals so I suppose the answer is yes haha we'll definitely be working together again.

J&C

How did working on an Olympic project with Keith Allan come about and what does it entail ?

CH

Well we were actually introduced to Keith through Kermit. We stayed at his house and worked through the night on the tracks for the album. Keith is a cool guy and made us feel really welcome. The session was really relaxed and people were throwing ideas about, the tracks are now sounding amazing. We've also done the remix for the lead single from the album. Rowetta appears on the track which is due out next month. Also Keith keeps these really cool pigs with Blonde dreadlocks which we're looking really attractive by the end of the session. If you get a chance you should try and catch one of the shows over the summer where we'll be performing the whole opera in full, gonna be nuts!!! Will cliff be there?

J&C

Do you see colabs with other artists the way forward to get you music recognised to a wider audience or is this something that just happened ?

CW

I think they can be, I know mainstream pop uses colabs a lot to break into other markets but that's not something we've ever done. We've always worked with people who we feel can benefit the track we're working on at the time. What colabs can do is open doors in the sense that you get introduced to a lot of different people and that can lead to other opportunities. When we started off we had a hit list of people we wanted to work with and are nearly at the bottom of it now, haha. I think there's only Jesus and Elvis left and neither of them are returning my calls so they can both get fucked. They're loss at the end of the day...know what I mean.

J&C

The festivals are now upon us. Are there any of these China White fancy doing? I believe your doing something at the Strummer Of Love, can you elaborate on this ad how you got involved

CW

We're playing Strummer Of Love on the 17th August and also on the 18th with Keith as part of Fit Les. The festival is to mark the 10th Anniversary of Joe Strummers death. We feel honoured to be playing it, it' run by his family and friends and there's an amazing line-up. It'll be a proper celebration. Good vibes all round. It came about from the fact that Keith Allen, Danny Saber, Kermit ad Harry The dog were all good friends of Joe Strummer. So obviously as we're working with all these people we were asked to play the festival. Can't wait, gonna be a great summer. I'd love to play Glastonbury and will. We've just done a track with Joe Strummers Daughter Eliza which should be finished in a couple of weeks. She's got an amazing voice...watch this space.

J&C

The industry is full of great artists and bands are popping up all over the place, what makes China White different from all the rest ?

CW

The fact we're not really a band helps. China White's a collective that's lead by myself and Antony, our ugly mugs will always be there. Also Inder Goldfinger's a permanent member. He's our Guru and a real good friend. I can be in his company for two minutes and be in tears with laughter. That's what you want when making music, a good positive environment. Being a collective separates us from other bands in the sense that it allows to work with a wide range of musicians, producers and vocalists. China Whites like a funk driven freight train, slipping through the world like an EEL through seaweed. Allot of the bands out there are almost comical man, they make me laugh. Stuck in a time-warp with mad hair and bad skin. But at least they're trying, god loves a trier.

J&C

We know the industry is so cut throat. We have had the Mondays & the Roses fucked by their management and everyone else, is this something that concerns you and the band?

CW
Yeah it does but you've just gotta be careful. We we're stung by

a horrible little poisoned who did nothing but waste our time. Everything we've achieved and are achieving is from ourselves, we manage our own business. Allot of kids are so quick to jump into a management deal because they think it sounds good and makes them credible. They're are good managers out there I'm sure and if you're product is something that can make money they will find you.

J&C

You have recently returned from LA, working with Harry the dog (pmsl)... How did his go & do you have any plans to go back?

CW

L.A was great man, we were staying with Danny Saber in west Hollywood recording tracks for our album and met Harry while over there. He's an old friend of Danny's. Harry's a lovely guy. Working with Danny was an amazing experience, him and his wife Helen looked after us and we got some really good stuff done. They're such cool people, it was fuckin ace!!! we'll be going back later on in the year to carry on recording with D. We talk every week and are working on a few big things. Harry has appeared on the track with Joe's Daughter Eliza. John X is remixing it. It's by far the biggest collab we've done. It'll be finished in a couple of weeks. Otter and Out x.

Jacket Required Feb 2012

With a new easy-to-navigate venue, improved brand selection, relaxed
atmosphere and the coolest people in town, Jacket Required’s
second edition took off where the first one left us – with some
aplomb. Tom Bottomley talked to some of the movers and shakers
and picked a few of his favourite brands to watch out for.

Brand spotlight:

Joe & Co Premium Apparel & Denim

This is former retailer Josef Schindler’s baby, and it

was almost odd to see some decent premium

selvedge indigo denim on show (there is some great

Made in England apparel too), such has been the

chino overkill of late. Schindler says he’s looking at

building the business through the website

(www.wearejoandco.co.uk) and Independants.
 He also says it’s not about being a fashion

brand, but more inspired by timeless workwear and
military classics. The denim has two tiers, the top
end made in Japan, at one of the most respected
denim mills and retailing at £200, and lower price
point  made in USA & EU with the entry level denim
starting at £65.00 - £125 plus for the USA made denim,
these are more accessible. The shirts are all
limited edition and made in Manchester. “Once
you’ve seen it, it’s gone – you’re not going to get it
again,” says Schindler. “It’s not mass produced, so it
isn’t going to be everywhere.” Now that’s a decent
sales patter to go with some good looking kit.

SS12 Now Online.

So the sun is out, and so is our Spring Summer collection for 2012. The collection consists of 2 styles of denim 'Arkwright' and 'Davy'. Both 13oz RAW 5 pocket denim with chain stitch hem, copper top button & rivets. Quality and fit of our denim is superb. We recommend when purchasing your normal size and keep to the washing instructions on the printed pocket bag.

4 styles of shirts 'Kelly', 'Miller', 'Murdock' and 'Jenner'. These are easy to wear garments in high end 100% cotton, with a huge amount of attention paid to both colours and detail.

And finally 4 styles of jerseys 'Bessemer', 'Hyatt', 'Folwer' and 'Cugnot'. 4 very different styles of jerseys. Our 'Bessemer' a 100% Cotton 420 gram loopback Dark Navy & Ecru sweatshirt. Inspired from the 1950s college era. Our 'Hyatt' a 100% cotton flam jersey with contrasting 4oz chambray detailng button down collar. And our 'Folwer' a 100% Cotton, Dark Navy Flam Jersey 4 button t.shirt, detailed with engineered stripe inner yoke & inner placket. Both short sleeve. And last but not least our 'Cugnot', a 100% Cotton flam jersey grandad style long sleeve jersey, with engineered stripe bib front & inner yoke. Light layering at it's very best.

All these can be found on our online store. http://wearejoeandco.co.uk/index.php.
Spring Summer garments are all Limited Edition pieces so dont hang around.

AW12 Preview @ Jacket Required

Here is a small selection of what is to come for coming for AW12. Fabrics are from Japan & Italy, All the shirts our made in our factory in Manchester, England and will be in limited edition numbers and available from September 2012 if not before

More denim for AW12. fabrics are from Japan & USA and are made in Japan, USA & England. All denims are either Red, White, or Blue selvedge, and come RAW. Available from September 2012 if not before

Our first pair of the JCXX01s. These are 2 year old and have been washed about a dozen times, without any chemicals. The fabric is a 13.5oz, red selvedge, from the NM mill and Made In Japan. Available in RAW only, from September 2010 if not before

One of the early Cone Denim Mills c1895

This is the White Oak weaving room at the Cone Denim Mills,North Carolina, USA  C1900 where Joe & Co use there fabric for there USA made denim. Some of these weaving machines are still in use today and in some cases more reliable then modern looms.

Japanese Red Selvedge Detail.

Here are some detailed shots of our JCXXYO-01s Japanese Red Selvedge.

Article by Dan

Joe & Co Japanese Red Selvedge.

Altering a pair of Joe & Co Japanese Red Selvedge. The denim is made in Japan from the Yoshikawa Orimono Mill in Ibara, Okayama. This model is the JCXXYO-01s Red Selvedge, and they come in very limited numbers. Attention to detail means a lot to us, the button heads and rivets are made out
of copper, the button and rivet pins are embossed with theJoe & Co sewing machine logo and the waistband patch is made from a high grade leather. All the denim comes with chain stitch hems,
as you would expect from a any premium denim garment made in Japan.

As the jeans have a chain stitch hem they needed to be altered by a tailor with a chain stitch machine. These are very hard to come by and only a few tailors have the right equipment to do the job. Luckily enough we had one just on our doorstep, the Denim Doctor based in Manchester. We spoke with Michael (the Denim Doc) who took a few measurements then got to work. (images below)

Article by Dan

Another fine piece

Steve wears 100% brushed cotton overshirt, with 13.5oz selvedge Zimbabwe cotton 'Made In Japan' straight leg denim.

13.5 oz Japanese Denim made from Zimbabwe cotton

From the Japanese denim mill NM & 'MADE IN JAPAN'
Dry Red selvedge denim, Cinch back,Copper buttons & Rivets, heavy duty 100% cotton heringbone printed pocket bag, hidden back pocket rivets

Another fine piece of luxury oxford cotton shirting, this time executed with a penny round button down collar with contrasting buttons on the collar and neck band

Pennies From Heaven

A fine piece of luxury oxford cotton shirting, with a lovely executed penny round collar. A semi fitted future classic. with double fronted chest signature pocket.

Zimbabwe cotton denim from NM Japan

Certain pieces of our denim is made from Zimbabwe cotton out of the NM mill in Japan. This cotton is regarded as one of the finest cottons in the world and becomes even scarcer as fewer farmers grow the plant. We will continue to use the long staple cotton, where the farmers pick by hand rather than machine.

Our back pocket arcuate

We all have our own interpretation of back pocket arcuates (profile thread)and we think it's just as important as the brand it'self. It certainly indentifies the brand, that is for sure. If you dont recognize them, you wil next time!!

Japanese denim from NM 'Made In Japan'

'Its a way of life'

Interview - Joe Schindler (Joe & Co)

Interview - Joe Schindler (Joe & Co)

Joe Schindler is a man with some serious pedigree behind him. Having worked in the industry in one form or another for nearly thirty years, Joe has overseen and owned projects such as Schindler's Menswear in Stockport which was, until its recent closure, Stockport's finest clothing shop, stocking some of the best labels out there.

In this interview we discuss Joe's latest project – Joe & Co – as he offers us his expert insight into the great (yet sometimes confusing) world of premium Japanese denim.

Tell us a bit about yourself. What other projects have you worked on or with prior to Joe & Co?I have worked within the clothing industry in various roles since 1980. I was both the owner and creative director of Josef Jeans until 1998 and until recently I owned Schindler's Menswear in Stockport.

When did you begin to take an interest in denim?My interest in the world of denim began to take hold around the late eighties, specifically when I launched Josef Jeans in 1987.

Where did the idea for Joe & Co come from?The idea for Joe & Co basically came from the huge passion which I have for denim. It was probably when working on the Josef Jeans collection in the early nineties as there was not really anybody doing niche denim in UK at the high level which I wanted to do that the idea became a serious one.

What's the philosophy that underpins Joe & Co?
The philosophy of the Joe & Co brand is to understand the fundamentals of the denim that we use and also how the garments and components are made. We strive for the perfect fit which is really the holy grail when it comes to a pair of jeans. "Good things come to those who wait..."

Does Joe & Co denim come in a range of styles and fits?Joe & Co denim will come in four fits and styles. While these will vary from time to time, this will never be to a great extent. I guess this is because we believe that too much change can effect the ethos of the brand.

What brands have inspired the Joe & Co garments?
I wouldn't go as far to say that there are specific brands that inspire me. My inspiration comes from all over the place - and all walks of life. However, if you were to pinpoint me on that, then I would have to say that labels such as Sugarcane, Waste Twice, Anachronorm are those closest to offering real inspiration.

The Japanese have always had a big interest in selvedge denim. Do you feel it's starting to catch on more over here?
The Japanese are the masters of selvedge denim. The term 'selvedge' is used too loosely in the commercial side of the industry with too many brands using this term within their collections in order to gain notoriety yet still mass produce their product to a level whereby brands like ourselves, Sugarcane and many more will gain more credability within our market share.

There are also brands using the term 'Japanese denim' yet their products are washed in other countries like Turkey, Tunisia and so forth. Joe & Co denim is from Japan, made in Japan, and if I ever decide to wash the garments, then they will be washed in Japan.

Selvedge denim always seems to be something that confuses people or they can't quite get their heads around it. Can you explain what it is and what it's benefits are?
Selvedge denim is the result of how the fabric is finished. It keeps the fabric from fraying and is made on shorter looms which around 27-29 inches wide. These can take upto 3mts of fabric useage where other denim for the masses is made on wider looms at 58-65 inches wide.

I've always been baffled by certain people's unwillingness to spend a decent amount on a pair of jeans when they are more than happy to spend serious money on a coat or pair of old trainers. Is this something which irritates you? Why do you think it is like this?
For me, denims are as or even more important than what shoes or jacket you are wearing. However, it does not irritate me as such, simply because people's perceptions are different. The UK is a very fickle market and most people just do not understand the benefits of Japanese selvedge denim as it's too expensive for them to justify to themselves.

If you purchase a pair of Joe & Co jeans what care needs to be taken with them?I'm a firm believer that all Japanese denim should be bought in its raw state and only washed inside out once every three to six months. Of course this all depends on how many times they have been worn. This will give the wearer his own unique and individual look that no company or chemical wash will be able to replicate.

Wash inside out using cold water, no detergent (or very little if you must) and leave to drip dry.

Is there anything that differentiates Joe & Co from your standard selvedge denim?
The differences between Joe & Co denim and other selvedge brands can vary quite a lot. I guess it all depends on what you want from the brand and how much your prepared to pay for that.

A lot of denim companies now make use of Japanese denim. Is this a serious indicator of superior quality or does it very much depend on where exactly in Japan the jeans are manufactured?
Joe & Co Denim is made in Ibara, Okayama - this is the home of Japanese denim. We use only the finest craftsmen and denim mills in the world today. The techniques that are used in the manufacturing process have stood the test of time; they have been passed down from generation to generation. These craftsmen are perfectionists, and this is why the price tag on the products is as it is.

I've noticed that Joe & Co do not only produce denim products. Can you tell us about these?
We will also be producing shirting and sweats. However, these will be in very limited edition runs, much like the denims are.

What are your future plans with Joe & Co?
While at the moment we are targeting the Japanese and American market with the Joe & Co brand, we will eventually bring it the the shores of the UK. This will hopefully happen soon.

Do you have any other projects lined up?
I have a couple of projects lined up, of which one will being launched in January 2011 for AW11. This is effectively a diluted version of Joe & Co for the UK & European markets and this will be a full collection.

With regards to the name of the brand, you will have to wait until November before we release any news. However, keep your eye on Facebook as there will be some snippets added or look on my Joe & Co Denim Facebook page.

We'd like to thank Joe for kindly providing us with this interview. If you are interested in the Joe & Co products then I would recommend visiting the official site, where their full range of products can be both viewed and purchased.

There are a number of key pieces in our next collection and this is one of them. A 100% cotton flam jersey grandad bib over shirt with signature pocket on reverse, with 100% cotton ticking stripe bib

Our first Japanese Selvedge denim JCXX01s

These denims are our 1st, and are now over 12 months old. They have been worn almost every day from new & have had about 6 washes, without detergent. You can see start to see the wear and tear in this gament that people pay a small fortune for. This is unique to the user, and certainly last a lot longer.

Japanese Premium Selvedge Denim

Joe & Co started life as a thought!!! to create Limited Edition pieces of  premium selvedge authentic denim. In 2010 it became a reality. The Premium arm of Joe & Co is Made in California USA,using CONE DENIM (White Oak Selvedge Collection)& Ibara,Okayama, Japan, by master craftsmen using one of the most respected and finest denim mills in the world today. All our premium selvedge denim is in 'RAW' state and we believe to get the best out of your denim is to wash it yourself, to get that personal look, that many of us pay a small fortune for, and is mass produced. 
Our denim is also 'Made In England' and the EU and again are all Limited Edtition pieces. Our collection consits of Denim, Shirts & Sweats are made from the finest cottons around the world.

There is so much going on in the world of 'Joe & Co' and what we are all about keep following and you will find out for yourselves

We hope you like what you see and maybe one day have a piece of Joe & Co in your wardrobe........

For more information & sales contact info@wearejoeandco.co.uk

www.wearejoeandco.co.uk