Of the different brands and companies I’ve had the pleasure of knowing, Red Cloud struck a chord for my wife Laura.  This clothing company wasn’t just another top-dollar item for her husband to blush and blog over.  Red Cloud was home.

Like we all do, Laura’s blood runs deep into her hometown, all the way to her dying day.  Her sanguine tracks point Shenyang,  a northeastern city covered in cracking dust and biting snow .  Growing up here requires a tough exterior, mincing few words with resolute action.

Raymon makes jeans that are Shenyang tough.  In his flagship store he met Laura and me with a faded-to-sky, beat-to-hell pair of his own denim hanging at his waist.  And just like your typical Shenyang man, he speaks with a gentleness and humor belying the hard shell.

With a history studying oil painting, apprenticeship in Japan’s Fullcount Denim, and a self-taught approach founded in his own line, Raymon and his homegrown company are enjoying deserved praise for their creations.  

Laura and I were honored to share this brand and this story with us.  Please meet Raymon of Red Cloud and Company.

Chris Tuazon: Denim, just like any other artisanal creation, is full of terminologies and peculiarities. To someone who has totally no idea, what’s a good place to start with thinking of a great pair of jeans?

Raymon: It’s a hard question, but it really comes down to what kind of person you are, what kind of job you have, why you’re wearing it. My customers are not going to pay too much attention to style: too skinny, too loose, etc. They look at the details: the fabric, the metals, the stitching.