Denim Head Threads: Designer Piero Turk Shares His Denim Collection
Individuals in the denim industry are focused on making goods that wind up in other people’s wardrobes, but how do they curate their own closets? This series offers an inside look into the personal style and shopping behavior of the people behind jeans.
Piero Turk has been a freelance denim designer since 1983. Over the past four decades, he’s worked with names including Lee, Guess, Hilfiger, Pepe Jeans, AG by Adriano Goldschmied, Big Star, Trussardi Jeans and Cerruti Jeans. He’s also collaborated with mills like Bossa and Orta Anadolu.
Here, he takes Carved in Blue inside his denim wardrobe—including his treasured vintage find.
Carved in Blue: Describe your (denim) personal style.
Piero: Simple, minimal, keeping an eye on its history as workers’ uniform.
Carved in Blue: What’s your preferred cut for denim? What do you like about it?
Piero: Classic straight, rigid denim, with room enough to feel comfortable. I’m normally wearing one size bigger.
Carved in Blue: Who is your denim style icon?
Piero: Montgomery Clift
Carved in Blue: What’s the oldest pair that’s still in rotation?
Piero: Vintage ‘50s 501—I found it almost 40 years ago in a gas station store in the Arizona desert, dead stock. I don’t wear it often because I want to keep it forever.
A more recent one is AG Kaihara selvedge. It was developed by Matsubara san—it was his gift to me while we were working together.
Carved in Blue: What does Carved in Blue mean to you?
Piero: Deeply rooted in my heart.