‘Swiss Jeans Freak’ Ruedi Karrer Brings Denim History to Bluezone
As we wear jeans, they gather a unique story that is individual to us. Each crease, whisker and honeycomb pattern is forged over time.
Amid the exhibitor booths at Bluezone of new denim creations was a display of time-worn denim from the Jeans Museum in Zurich, Switzerland. The independent museum’s founder Ruedi Karrer—also known as the “Swiss Jeans Freak”—has amassed 14,000 denim jeans and jackets over half a century of collecting denim. Ruedi brought about 75 pieces from this archive to Bluezone for an exhibit, supported by Candiani Denim.
Among the pieces in the exhibit are items from Ruedi’s own wardrobe. He also highlighted pieces from “serial faders” who have broken in multiple denim items. There are also denim garments that were used for hard work, as well as examples of embellishment and visual repair such as embroidery and patches.
Check out footage of the exhibit and an interview with Ruedi below.