Jeans store is a good fit

Pittsburgh Jeans Company

2222 East Carson St.

South Side

(412) 381-5326

Uggs had their… Pittsburgh Jeans Company

2222 East Carson St.

South Side

(412) 381-5326

Uggs had their fame, platform shoes came and went, shoulder pads lasted for a while and miniskirts make their occasional appearances, but jeans are the ultimate mainstay for every decade of fashion.

Since the 1950s, denim has been an American favorite that continually evolves to different styles. Ranging from bootcut, baggy, relaxed, low-rise, straight, flare, cuffed to cropped, jeans are popular forms of comfort showcased around the world – especially in South Side’s popular jean store.

Founded in 1924 as Pittsburgh Waist Overall and Mercantile Company, which sold primarily denim to steelworkers, Pittsburgh Jeans Company is now Pittsburgh’s hottest designer store for women’s jeans.

Amid the busiest time of the year to shop, storeowner Lawrence Scott took a few minutes to speak with The Pitt News about what makes the Pittsburgh Jeans Company – as the yellow ruler above the fitting room denotes – the best fit in town.

The Pitt News: What makes PJC such a trendsetter?

Lawrence Scott: At PJC, we go the extra mile. Every week we have a new assortment of merchandise – our jeans are on a heavy rotation. In addition, I’ve been in the fashion industry for more than 20 years so I have a lot of contacts and relationships with people. Thus, PJC can get new styles before anyone else.

TPN: So what makes PJC so exclusive? Especially when you sell many different brands of jeans?

LS: Well, even though we sell close to 60 brands of jeans, we also have a non-denim collection. We sell leather coats, tops, sweaters and even lotions and body sprays.

TPN: It’s really great that PJC sells designer jeans for women, but what about men? They like jeans, too.

LS: It’s not that we have anything against men, but we know women’s jeans the best and we can provide them with the best quality jeans in the city.

TPN: What types of customers buy from PJC?

LS: Wow, all different types. From [ages] 15 to 80, they all shop at PJC. We also have a huge college and young-mother market.

TPN: Throughout your store you have post-modern general store decor, complete with drugstore furniture, old license plates and a 1950 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Is this to appeal to people of all ages?

LS: Denim jeans were invented in America in the mid-1800s, and we wanted to maintain the identity and image of America during that time. It’s a utilitarian kind of thing.

TPN: Do you also sell vintage jeans? And if so, where do you manage to find them?

LS: I used to sell vintage jeans when we first opened in 2001, but I found that Pittsburgh doesn’t have a huge market for vintage clothing. So I opted to sell vintage on the side.

TPN: So, tell us about your free alterations and fit specialists. It is true that anyone can get sized up?

LS: Yes, we offer free alterations on all our jeans. We are very unique because we attach the original hem from the garment.

TPN: What is the average price for your jeans?

LS: $125 – $130.

TPN: Wow, that’s a lot for the average blue-collar Pittsburgher. How do you convince them to be more quality-conscious and less concerned with pricing?

LS: Premium denim has gone up in the past two years, and a lot of people have stepped up and upgraded their merchandise. But once you try on a good pair of jeans, anyone will see that you get what you pay for. Our quality control is top notch and once you buy a good pair, you won’t go back to a regular retail pair of jeans.

TPN: Will PJC ever go global or international?

LS: Not right now. We are keeping ideals of franchising on the back burner.

TPN: Well, it sounds like PJC has managed to become a leading retailer for women’s designer jeans. To what or whom do you attribute the store’s success?

LS: We work hard. We’ve been in business since 2001 and we haven’t stopped working yet. Also, a lot of our success goes to our customers, for if it weren’t for their sense of style, we wouldn’t be in business today. We also listen to our clientele and try to predict and respond to their needs. We just continue to push and forge ahead and try to be the best jean store we can be.

E-mail Deena about your fashionable findings at dmc18@pitt.edu.