Q&A with Evan Rutledge aka @greenvinedenim

Name: Evan Rutledge

Birth year: 1986

Location: Canton, Ohio, USA

Profession: Musician with White Buffalo Woman / Owner at S’all Good Vintage / Sales at Main St. Modern / Assistant at a family-run Funeral Home 

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Evan’s Instagram Routines and How He Got Started

Thomas: How did it all start with your Instagram feed?

Evan: I started posting pictures of my Levi’s 511s on my personal Instagram page back in 2015. When I bought my first pair of Iron Hearts, I decided to dedicate a whole Instagram account to my denim obsession. 

T: Why Instagram? What are your goals?

E: I found that Instagram is a powerful way to connect like-minded folks from across the world when I started my Vintage Clothing Instagram page back in 2013.

I figured the denim world was just as active as the vintage world. So I learned a bunch of hashtags and started posting pictures.

I live in a small town in Ohio, so finding like-minded people to talk about denim is a rarity. My goal is to be able to share and tell stories with people like me. 

T: How much time do you spend on Instagram on a daily basis?

E: I have four Instagram pages. So I’m on Instagram quite a bit.

T: How do you take your photos?

E: I typically take photos by myself. Sometimes I convince my girlfriend, Anya, to take pictures of me.

T: Which tools do you use?

E: I use my iPhone. When I take photos of myself, I will use a tripod and the self-timer. I use Snapseed to edit, but I don’t typically like to do much editing to my photos. 

T: What’s your editorial flow?

E: I try to post an update on my jeans (that I’m currently wearing) about once a month. Mostly all of my photos are taken when I have a spare minute, and when I’m not wearing my jeans! Other times I will have my girlfriend take photos of me when we are out thrifting or playing gigs. 

T: What are your favourite locations to take photos? And why?

E: I have a great cement pad right outside of my house that I take photos on. I also like to hang my jeans on my windowsill and take photos in the soft morning light. Both of those locations are featured on my Instagram a lot. 

Evan’s Denim Style and Preferences

T: How did you get into denim?

E: When I was about 16 years old, I wanted jeans that would hold up during my inline skating days and wouldn’t look dirty all the time. I bought a couple pairs of Rustler work jeans. I remember wearing the hell out of those jeans. They had big holes in the knees and the back pockets. I loved it!

I always loved the raw denim look but never really knew anything about it. I would always wash my jeans after every wear. I had no idea how to care for them or how to get cool fades. 

Fast forward to about 2015, and I purchased my first pair of selvedge denim jeans. Levi’s released their 511 cut in raw selvedge denim and the rest is history. That’s when I first started caring for my jeans and learning about the art of denim.

Suggested podcast episode: How to wash raw denim

T: What’s your favourite feature of jeans?

E: THE FADE! I’m so obsessed with that process. The loss of indigo and the story it tells. I love the authenticity that is a well-worn pair of jeans. There’s no hiding your story.

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T: How do you wash your denim?

E: I usually wash them by hand with Woolite. I will throw them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle if they are really raunchy. I always let them drip dry.

T: What’s your favourite denim brand?

E: Iron Heart and Pure Blue Japan have been my favorite the past couple of years. 

T: What’s your favourite fit? And why?

E: A slim cut, medium-ish rise and a tight taper. I love that fit because it fits me best! I have skinny legs and a slim build. If it isn’t a skinny fit, it looks way too baggy on me. I love the Iron Heart 555 and 777 fits in particular. 

T: Which boots and leather goods do you wear with your denim?

E: I have a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. I have been wearing them since 2014. And I absolutely love them. I’m almost ready for a resole. Also, I’ve been eyeing a new wallet. That will be a future purchase for sure.

T: Which sneakers do you wear?

E: I like to keep it simple with sneakers. I’m a big fan of gum sole sneakers. I’ve been wearing them since I was 13. I’m currently wearing the Nike SB Hyperfeel because I like to skateboard sometimes.

T: Favourite item that’s not denim or leather?

E: A perfectly beat-up vintage t-shirt. Vintage is my first love and will always be a part of my style. I’ve been wearing some of the same vintage clothes since I was in high school. 

T: Where do you buy your gear?

E: I buy online. Denimio is pretty awesome. I live about 1.5 hours away from any denim store, so I’ve learned to be specific about measurements and fit.

T: What’s your monthly clothing budget?

E: When I make a few extra bucks on a vintage piece, I will splurge and buy a new pair of jeans. That’s sort of my rule of thumb. I’m mostly a one-pair-of-jeans-at-a-time guy. I will wear a pair until I need to repair them or retire them and then move on to the next pair. 

T: What styling tips would you give your followers if they wanted your style?

E: Feel comfortable in what you wear and keep it simple. A great pair of jeans and an old t-shirt will go a long way.

Ready for More Q&As?

If you’d like to read more personal stories and Q&As, you can check out all the previous ones right here. Want to make sure you never miss one? Sign up for the free weekly Denimhunters email newsletter.

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