Q&A with Wouter Munnichs aka @longjohn_denimblog
Name: Wouter Munnichs aka Long John
Birth year: 1976
Location: Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Profession: Freelance denim specialist for brands and retail (long-john.nl)
Wouter’s Routines on Instagram
Thomas: How did it all start with your Instagram feed?
Wouter: I’m using Instagram as one of the tools to share my passion about denim and denim-related items. I started my online denim magazine in 2011 and years later I started with Instagram to link to my blog, which is my main and most important channel.
T: Why Instagram? What are your goals?
W: I use it because it’s easy to show people the latest updates on my online magazine. But also to stay connected with friends, like-minded people, making new friends and staying up to date with what’s happening in the denim industry. There are a lot of active people and brands on this social channel.
My goal is to show people the latest news within the industry and to inspire them with denim and denim-related items and styles.
T: How much time do you spend on Instagram on a daily basis?
W: Around 1.5 hours a day.
T: How do you take your photos?
W: I’m taking pictures myself, but I also use a lot of pictures from brands that I receive for writing the articles on my blog. Most of the time, I put the most attractive picture from the article on Instagram (and my other social channels) to attract people to visit my site.
T: Which tools do you use?
W: I use my iPhone, of course, and my Nikon DSLR camera.
T: What’s your editorial flow?
W: No, I don’t plan my updates. I’m more an ad-hoc type of guy. But for my clients, I plan the articles for my online denim magazine as these are most of the time related to a time schedule in their promotion campaign or product launch.
T: What are your favourite locations to take photos? And why?
W: I make most pictures on the spot while visiting stores, trade shows, events and so on, and I take a lot of pictures, close-up shots, in my studio where my personal denim archive is also stored.
Wouter’s Denim Style and Preferences
T: How did you get into denim?
W: I started my denim career 25 years ago when I got a job at Diesel back in the early 1990s. I used to work in their store in my hometown, Eindhoven.
These were the best days of Diesel – and many other of the Italian brands that started at that time – as they took inspiration from the American brands, but with a different and unique Italian flavour. Something totally new at the time. It was a booming period for brands and retail.
In the video below, Wouter explains his story in detail.
T: What’s your favourite feature of jeans?
W: The fading of a pair of raw selvedge jeans. I love to see how jeans become more beautiful with wear, more personal. The best priceless moments are those when the sun shines on your worn jeans and your own personal wear pattern really pops.
T: How do you wash your denim?
W: I don’t wash my jeans in the machine, I rinse them after a year or so by hand. I repeat this every now and then to avoid rips and tears.
T: What’s your favourite denim brand?
W: I really love some of the more recent denim brands, but at the end of the day, I’m a true sucker for Levi’s, Lee and Wrangler, the Big Three of American brands.
Suggested further reading: How the 3 Big Went From Workwear to Fashion
T: What’s your favourite fit? And why?
W: Regular fit with a bit higher waist, as the Lee Cowboy jeans from the 1940s, for example.
T: Which boots and leather goods do you wear with your denim?
W: As I’m also the co-owner of the Butts and Shoulders brand, I’m wearing these a lot, of course. I’ve also been a big fan of Red Wing boots for almost 20 years now.
T: Which sneakers do you wear?
W: I’m only wearing sneakers during the summer, and then I go for the classic ones as All Stars, Vans era, and Jack Purcell.
T: Favourite item that’s not denim or leather?
W: Next to denim I love vintage army jackets. The construction and all details that’re made with a reason and function. And I really love the faded camo patterns on old jackets.
T: Where do you buy your gear?
W: I buy a lot of vintage stuff, I love when it has a worn and faded look, but also a lot of new items, of course. I always try to buy them in brick and mortar stores or directly from the brands. I want to support the people that are doing their best to achieve their dreams.
T: What’s your monthly clothing budget?
W: I don’t have a budget to spend.
T: What styling tips would you give your followers if they wanted your style?
W: Be yourself, don’t copy, and wear whatever you feel comfortable with.
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