Denim Talk: Helping Rebuild American-Made Denim, One Designer at a Time
By Maurice Malone Published April 12, 2025
I’m on a mission to help rebuild the American-made denim industry, one designer at a time. It's about sharing knowledge the way I learned it—through real questions and real answers, to help the next generation of designers and makers.
Most of what I know didn’t come from a classroom. I learned by asking questions, figuring things out through experience, and making mistakes—some of them costly. Over the years, I’ve worked through production challenges, built and rebuilt brands, and learned firsthand what works and what doesn’t. That knowledge wasn’t handed to me, and I know how valuable it is to have access to real answers when you’re trying to figure things out. That’s the reason behind Denim Talk.
There are a lot of people who are serious about denim, whether you’re trying to design jeans, start a brand, or simply understand the product at a deeper level. The problem is that information is scattered, and most of it doesn’t allow you to ask questions in real time. You can watch videos or read articles, but eventually you reach a point where you need clarity from someone who has actually done the work. Denim Talk is designed to fill that gap.
What Is Denim Talk
Denim Talk is a weekly, live online meetup where we have an open discussion about denim. We’ll cover how to make jeans, construction methods, fit, production, and the realities of building a brand. More importantly, it gives you the opportunity to ask questions and get direct answers based on real experience.
The session takes place on the Riverside App, but you don’t need to subscribe or download anything in advance. Once you register through Making A Brand, you’ll receive a link by email before the event, and you can join directly from there.
During the session, you’ll be able to submit your questions through chat. A moderator will organize them and pass them along so I can answer them live.
Building Better Access to Resources
One of the biggest challenges in this business isn’t just knowledge—it’s knowing where to go for the right resources. Finding quality fabric, reliable suppliers, the right machines, and good trims can take years of trial and error.
To help with that, I’ll be building out content on DenimBMC.com, where I’ll be sharing supplier recommendations, product reviews, and resources that I’ve either used myself or vetted. The goal is to give people a more direct path to the tools and materials they need without wasting time or money.
About the Denim Workshop
For those who want a more hands-on experience, I’m also teaching the Denim Workshop inside the Williamsburg Garment Company studio. This is an in-person program where participants learn how to make jeans using the same machines and processes we use in production.
For more in-depth detail about the workshop, or if you’re interested in taking that next step in getting hands-on training, you can reserve your spot at the link above: