I’ve never claimed to be much of a denim head, but the events at Denim Bruin earlier this month reminded me that San Francisco is one of the cornerstones of the denim industry, and that the products found here are some of the best on the globe. Jeans have been part of this city’s culture ever since Levi’s started selling 501s to gold miners (or so the story goes), and have been an integral part of West Coast style ever since.
One of the most famous purveyors of high-quality jeans is A-B Fits, a well-established and well-respected denim shop in San Francisco. The small storefront is nestled away in the North Beach neighborhood and has been supplying San Francisco with top-notch denim for over two decades.
The list of brands on the shelves is impressive, to say the least. Tellason, Rising Sun, APC, Raleigh, LVC, Levi’s Made & Crafted, and more are all well-represented. There are dozens of small brands that I had never heard of as well. The stock covers a wide variety of fits and materials, allowing denimheads of diverse tastes to find something unique and attractive. Their list of inventory goes beyond just denim, with classic items from brands like Gant and Saint James filling the empty spaces on the shelves. The staff is approachable, knowledgeable, and committed to helping everyone find the pair of jeans that they will love for years.
One of the most impressive aspects of A-B fits is their commanding selection of women’s raw denim, a surprisingly rare bird in the world of clothing. Half of the store is devoted to women’s clothing, and the quality and selection of women’s artisan denim easily rivals the men’s. That alone makes it a unique store, and one that should be on any denim enthusiast’s list. All in all, it’s a wonderful store and is worth checking out, whether you’re on your tenth pair of selvage or just browsing for your first.
The rest of the “Out and About” Series can be found here.
