Thanks for the great write up! 

Ah, spring time in Los Angeles, that time of year when we reflect on the winter that wasn’t and look ahead to at least another eight months of sweat, linen pants, and for the purposes of this article, lighter weight denim. Railcar Fine Goods, based out of Arcadia, is celebrating spring with the release of lightweight 12 ounce denim jeans for men and women.

Railcar began in a small studio located in a strip mall behind a gas station in El Monte. Says owner Steven Dang, “I went from 8 machines in a 700 square foot shop to 25 machines and 1500 square feet. 1500 square feet is still small, but we make it work.” Dang isn’t your typical designer, though. In fact,

Railcar, though his passion, is his second job. Six days a week you will also find him leading a crew of  six men working on the MTA’s Pasadena Metro Gold Line, performing maintenance and repairing the light-rail cars that run parallel to his route on the 210 between jobs building engines and building jeans.

This spring he is building a lighter weight men’s 12 oz. Cone Mills blue line selvedge that will help you beat the heat without sacrificing style points. ($178)

For women, the 12 ounce stretch Japanese non-selvedge brown denim is available, but only in limited quantities. Made from one hundred percent non-stretch cotton, it is a fabric that will break in soft and easily gain most favored jean status. ($158)

I asked Steven what he wants people to know about his product.“What sets all of our goods apart is the manufacturing. We manufacture all of our goods that we sell. So when somebody buys Railcar they are buying goods manufactured by Railcar the company. We don’t use any side contractors to make anything. It is also made on traditional and vintage sewing machines by a real seamstress. Not by automated robotic machines. You can see the quality. The fabrics we choose and the way we make them makes our jeans an instant collectible.”

P.S. Keep your eye out for Railcar denim jackets coming late summer.