HOW DID YOU GET HERE? FEATURING ERIC JOHN OF FITTED UNDERGROUND & NY DENIM HANGS
Have you ever met someone that’s good at everything? Well you have now, meet Eric John!
Investment banker, turned jeans maker! Not something you hear every day, right?
Eric’s story is one of motivation, passion and determination. He gave up life in the financial fast lane to pursue a career in making made-to-measure jeans in his Brooklyn studio. Oh, and did i mention! he’d never made any jeans before!. Fed up with not being able to find a perfect pair of jeans that fitted him properly and a lack of custom made-to-measure outfitters, Eric went out on his own and filled a gap in the marketplace for himself and others wanting the same.
In 2015 he taught himself to sew, set up a workshop and well, got to work. Fast forward a couple of years and Fitted Underground continues to make custom jeans for clients in good old New York City. As if that wasn’t enough, Eric also brings the NYC denim community together via NY Denim Hangs, an Instagram account who hold regular denim meet ups throughout the five boroughs. Add to that Eric’s humble and modest demeanor, attentive and mindful approach to life and general positive outlook and you’ve got one hell of a guy. Who wouldn’t want to know how Eric John got here?
NAME: Eric John
OCCUPATION: Owner of Fitted Underground / Founder of NY Denim Hangs
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NYC
IG HANDLE: Fitted Underground / NY Denim Hangs / Chloe Bear the Cockapoo
WEBSITE: Fitted NYC
Q: Who is Eric John?
A: I’m a physicist turned Peace Corps Volunteer, turned investment banker, turned jeans maker. A few beers later and this will all make sense.
Q: Tell us, have you always been into denim, clothing and fashion?
A: Always into denim, yes. Clothing and fashion, not so much. But I’ve always loved design.
Q: How did you find yourself in the denim community?
A: My uniform was always a well-worn pair of jeans and a t-shirt, but it wasn’t until I started FITTED Underground in 2014 that I jumped down the raw denim rabbit hole.
Q: Tell us about your brand, FITTED Underground?
A: I started FITTED as a one man brand making custom jeans for men in Brooklyn, New York. I literally knew nothing about making jeans when I started, so I taught myself the trade from the ground up. I developed a process for fitting clients, got a certificate in pattern making, bought some old industrial sewing machines and taught myself to sew. I have a small ready-to-wear presence, but mostly it’s me creating custom jeans one at a time. I’m expanding my collection to offer more workwear inspired products with a focus on selvedge denim. But I’m still obsessed with fit because that’s my starting point; if something doesn’t fit, you don’t want to wear it. Today I believe FITTED makes some of the highest quality, best fitting jeans in the world. And because I’ve done zero advertising, only a handful of people know about it, which I think is pretty cool.
Q: You worked in the financial sector before starting FITTED Underground. Tell us about this change and the decision to start a denim brand?
A: Before FITTED I worked in investment banking for J.P. Morgan. I actually loved the skill set (building models and making jeans have a lot in common), but the hours were brutal and I knew I didn’t want that for the rest of my life. After four years in the industry I was ready for a change. I’d always had a tough time finding clothes that fit, so when I moved to our New York office, I decided to have a custom suit made. I was impressed with the product and a light bulb went off; “Wouldn’t it be cool if all my clothes fit so well?” I was most passionate about denim, so I asked the tailor if he could make jeans. He said that he could, but that he didn’t. So after thinking about it for a year, I decided to quit my job and do it myself.
Q: Is FITTED Underground your full time pursuit?
A: Yes.
Q: What is a typical day for you?
A: Our son gets up at 6AM and I’m out the door a little after 9AM. I bike to work with Chloe in a basket. When I arrive at my workshop I write out my to do list, clean, and start sewing by 10:30AM. My goal is to complete a new pair of jeans each day, which takes 5-6 hours, not including breaks. With the remainder of the day I reply to emails, conduct fittings, work on product development, and occasionally write a blog post for Kelly Harrington. I finish work between 6-10pm.
“I’m a physicist turned Peace Corps Volunteer, turned investment banker, turned jeans maker. A few beers later and this will all make sense”.
ERIC JOHN
Q: What influences the product that the brand puts out?
A: Brooklyn, first and foremost. I’m a third generation Brooklynite and I’m passionate about the energy, diversity and creativity that our borough represents. So I’ve incorporated Brooklyn-inspired details into my rear pocket arcuates, logo and front button designs.
Beyond that I love ideas that are layered, whose simple presentation masks an underlying complexity. I try to pair my ideas down to their purest form without removing the art.
Q: What is your favourite part of what you do?
A: Creating something new, and when a client has a really positive experience; when it all comes together.
Q: What’s so special about denim?
A: It’s the people’s fabric that gets better with age. What’s not to love?
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting out on a similar journey?
A: Begin. Then keep going.
Q: What’s the denim scene like in NYC?
A: Strong. Some of the largest brands in the world are here, as are representatives from the best denim mills, in addition to industry trade shows and events. That’s amazing to have at your doorstep. On a grassroots level there are some wonderful makers. I’ve become close with a number of them, including First Standard Co., Joswick and Clockworks Press. Locally the main challenge is production, manufacturing is cheaper outside of the NYC area. But, I’m committed to producing locally and hope to be a part of its comeback story.
Q: You also run the NY Denim Hangs IG account. How did this come about?
A: I’d been thinking about ways to strengthen the local denim community for some time. In late 2017 I was talking with Victor (aka @selvedge1) who encouraged me to start a local denim hang. So I created an Instagram page, put up a photo announcing our first hang, and incredibly three other people showed up. The group has steadily grown in members and visibility ever since.
Q: What’s been the best thing about NY Denim Hangs?
A: The connections. I love when members hang out totally independent of me. We’ve created a platform where people are making real friendships, which aren’t easy to come by in our modern world. When we all get together we have a blast. It’s about the denim, but it’s really not about the denim.
“Begin. Then keep going”.
ERIC JOHN
Q: What would you tell your younger self?
A: Go with it.
Q: What inspires you?
A: When someone takes a chance on themselves.
Q: Favourite place on the planet?
A: Wherever my wife and son are…Which hopefully is a beach on Martha’s Vineyard.
Q: What does NYC mean to you?
A: Opportunity.
Q: If you had to pick a song to describe yourself, what would it be?
A: Empire State of Mind
Q: Where’s the best coffee spot?
A: Brooklyn Roasting Company on Jay St.
Q: We get to visit 1 NYC denim store. Where are we going?
A: Brooklyn Denim Company. Frank does a great job supporting local brands.
Q: Describe how your favourite jeans make you feel in 3 words?
A: Cool AF.
Q: What is your earliest denim memory?
A: Struggling to close my button flies in the 5th grade.
Q: Tell us one thing that people might not know about you?
A: Ndi amba nga Tshivenda…I speak an African language.
Q: Favourite cuisine?
A: Homemade Italian.
Q: When will we see Chloe Bear the Cockapoo sporting some selvedge?
A: Ha, I want to see that too! Right after you see my son sporting his.
Q: Describe the last dream you had?
A: I started eating peanut butter cookies and I couldn’t stop.
Q: What does the future hold for Eric John?
A: Shirting. Jackets. Expanded ready to wear.