Graham Janz
Google
Free Jean Repair Forever? Too Good To Be True!
I bought two pairs of jeans from Nudie Jeans. I paid 1500 SEK for the first pair and 1600 SEK for the second. Quite expensive for pants, but I was willing to spend extra believing the pants to be high quality and a somewhat more social and environmental option (they claim to be fair trade and organic) with the promise of free repairs forever. I felt like I solved a clothing ethical dilemma, but it was too good to be true.
My first pair of Nudie jeans ripped after a few months of wear. When I brought them in (freshly washed) for repair, the sales representative refused to accept them. She rubbed her hands all over them and said that "they didn't feel clean". I was taken aback and said that they are freshly washed. She asked if I used soap. I said I did. She said to wash them again and then bring them back. The interaction was humiliating, as if I don't know how to do laundry properly. Seeing some other reviews here I understand that this insulating approach might be part of their policy now to refuse repairs because they are not able to keep up with the demand for repairs.
I regret buying pants from Nudie Jeans and will not shop there again. I don't want to go back. I also question whether the denim is organic and fair trade. The tag attached to both of my pants says the material is "100% cotton", while my other organic clothing from more trusted brands says "100% organic cotton" with the certification logo also present on the tag. My newest pair of Nudie jeans have written on the inside that it is either organic or recycled (not on the tag, but on the inscription promising free repairs forever). This either/or seems to be a loophole they are exploiting to get around the pants not actually containing organic materials, despite the booklet stuffed in the pocket of new pants claims that the pants are organic with several certification logos.
