This week's Designer Q & A is with Jim Boldes, Owner and Technical Designer of Red Engine Jeans.

1) Why do you think after 200 years jeans are still one of the most popular items of clothing?
Denim is neutral, and a perfect foundation. Denim, at its best, is uncomplicated yet makes a statement. you get to choose the degree and impact of the statement based on personal choice.

2) Last time I counted there were over 50 brands of premium denim jeans, what makes your jeans stand out from the rest?
I'm a purist and work really hard to create the best basic 5-pocket jean possible. No bells and whistles, no embellishments, no novelty. Red Engine is all about fit and feel, quality and consistency. Since 1999 (when I started the company), I've maintained my commitment to the product, not to hype or buzz, and I've kept the line a little more exclusive. Not in a "stuffy" we're-too-cool exclusive way, but we've been careful not to let the line get over-exposed. You'll never find it on the mark-down rack in a department store. And, based on all of these factors, I'm happy to say that Red Engine has achieved cult-status among denim connoisseurs who demand the very best from a pair of jeans.

3) Who do you imagine is a typical customer?
my typical customer is everyone reading this. It's a wide range, from someone looking for a great "Saturday Night" jean to dress up with heels and wants to feel great in her jeans from the inside, and look sexy (by her own set of rules) on the outside, to someone who wants a pair of "go-to" jeans with great quality and fit that are versatile and feel good.

4) Where do you get your inspiration from?
Inspiration often comes from the denim itself. Right now we are searching for and finding brand new developments in amazing lightweight denims, especially highly constructed lightweight Japanese denims made from ultra soft Pima cotton. So how a denim feels to the touch becomes a huge inspiration. Another source of inspiration is the constant flow of people and activity in our corporate office loft space. We play music all day, the volume rises and falls depending on what's going on, but it's a constant stream of vintage rock & roll and punk. It's a reminder of the influences of vintage rock & roll has had on our American jeans culture. It keeps me connected to that young man's fire in my belly I had when I was 19.

5) Which style and wash of your jeans are flying out of the shops the quickest at the moment?
Womens: Our "signature style" is our best-selling jean -- it's called "Scarlett." It's our standard for a sexy low rise with fabulous fit. It sits low, but not too low, on the hips and we only cut the world's finest Italian and Japanese denims. It finishes in a bootcut that balances the body perfectly. This fit is extremely flattering for a variety of body types. Something very special we've just introduced to the line in the Scarlett fit is a new denim/wash called "Blue Velvet," in which luxury meets environmental consciousness through its eco-friendly raw materials and minimal ecological impact.

Mens: Our most popular Men's fit is our low rise straight leg, "Maxx." It's also cut from the highest quality Italian and Japanese denims, with slightly straighter lines that make it a bit more refined and body conscious. Our unqiue washes and finishing techniques leave every pair feeling soft and easy to wear.

6) Are there any essential jeans that everyone should have in their wardrobe?
For women, a tight, sexy, yet wonderfully comfortable pair of 5-pocket jeans that flatters her body shape.

7) What are the first pair of jeans you remember?
Levis 501s -- they've created both the history of the basic jean and exemplified the "American Dream."

8) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have owned?
Levis 501s. I still buy them used, as a collector.

9) What have been your favourite pair of jeans that you have produced?
A raw selvedge buckle-back jean for men. It was totally based on pure utilitarian vintage 1940s denim design.

10) How many pairs of jeans do you currently own and which are your favourites?
Just about 20 in my closet, and I only rotate about 5 at any given time because I keep it very focused. Some are old friends in retirement, and the one I wear most are my newest developments. I road test everything in the line thoroughly. Everyone in the company participates in quality control by testing jeans under real life circumstances. Then if any problems reveal themselves, we are already addressing and correcting them before they hit the marketplace.

11) Are you a "wash your jeans after each wear" person or a "wear your jeans for six months before you wash them" person?
I only wash my jeans when needed, like when my 5-year old son Henry spills something on me.

12) Do you own jeans for different occasions (for instance I have work jeans, smart jeans, weekend jeans, holiday jeans, jeans for going to concerts in, jeans for gardening in) if so what have you got?
I feel like dark washes are more formal (meetings, events, etc), medium washes more casual (grocery store, sporting events, etc), and distressed washes are for fun. I never wear jeans that appear contrived. I never want my jeans to "wear me."

13) Which is your favourite jeans shop?
There are so many denim lines that education about individual details becomes really difficult, and education on the sales floor is really important so that customers can find exactly what they want. I love every store that carries Red Engine, about 650 of them in the U.S. and Europe. They are my favorite jeans stores, because they "get it."

14) Which celebs are currently wearing your jeans?
I just received a photo of Chloe Sevigny wearing Red Engine, that was very cool , she has amazing style. We've seen Eva Longoria and Kate Winslet wear them. Super Model Paulina Porizkova, who replaced Twiggy on Tyra Banks's "America's Next Top Model" show, just took about 5 pairs saying it's the only jeans line she'll wear. Jada Pinkett Smith wears them when she's on tour with her rock band as well as the red carpet. Brooke Shields has allowed Red Engine to come between her and her Calvins. Other celebs include Jessica Simpson, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Goldie Hawn and Alan Arkin. I absolutely love the mix of generations and body types!

15) How important big an effect does it have on your sales when a celeb is seen wearing a pair of your jeans?
It depends--it is true that the perfect celebrity booty shot can have a huge impact, and a lot of examples come to mind. But if your business isn't solid, if your quality and consistency and production and customer service isn't all running in well and in harmony, then the hype can't translate to sales. A lot of those examples come to mind as well. Basically, I just want to make a great basic jean for the "normal" women and man ⿿ I don⿿t dream about what celebrity will wear my jeans

16) Who is your current favourite denim icon (male & female). I am thinking the person who has the most denim style?
Male: Iggy Pop. Female: Rosie the Riveter circa 1942 (not current, but she provides huge inspiration to the philosophy behind Red Engine).

17) Which character (male & female) from a movie had the most denim style?
Marilyn Monroe in "The Misfits" (1961), Jean Seberg in "Breathless" (also '61). Definitely Joey Ramone in "Rock and Roll High School?-- I watched it on cable like 50 times. Elvis in "Jailhouse Rock." Paul Newman in "Hud" ('63). And of course, the coup-de-tah of all time movie denims icons: Brando in "The Wild One" and James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Giant."

18) Which person living or dead would you most like to see in a pair of your jeans?
John Lennon.

19) If jeans had not been invented, what would we all be wearing?
I'd be wearing a kilt.

20) And finally, any predictions for denim in 2008?
The industry is slowly moving toward more environmental solutions for the way denim is manufactured, and new "high-tech" fabrications offer a possibility of performance like never before. It seems more denim lines will move their manufacturing to countries with lower production costs, and it may follow that quality will begin to suffer. I definitely predict that I will keep my production in Los Angeles. I also predict that in this difficult economic landscape, that the most successful denim will remain more basic in design -- because when it comes down to it, everyone needs a great basic jean.