Every year the Sydney Royal Easter Show is bursting at the seams with denim. But out there, denim isn’t just a fashion choice – it’s a way of life. I weaved through the crowds to track down farmers and people in the ag industry, who know exactly which jeans can handle the real work – and still look the part.
The Show has always championed rural industries, from cattle to poultry and everything in between. So it’s only fitting that deep inside the Fashion & Style Pavilion amongst all the stalls, you’ll find Hitchley & Harrow, an Australian country clothing label proudly based out of Toowoomba, Queensland. Known for their unmistakable style, H&H design jeans with women in mind – jeans that work hard, fit well and turn heads doing it.
I caught up with the team behind the brand to find out which jeans really get the job done. Naturally, H&H representative Prinny was quick to back their product, saying their jeans “suit everybody” and are “the most comfortable and versatile, with a pop of colour on the pocket.”
It’s no wonder their ultra-high-rise styles – cut to sit above the hips and below the belly button – were flying off the shelves. Versatile enough to fit most body shapes, and lets be real, look super cute too!
One loyal customer raved about Hitchley & Harrow being her go-to, saying “I’ve never seen jeans with stitching like theirs” and being a worker in the ag industry riding horses often, she finds that their ‘comfort cut’ sits the best.
While bright-stitched denim stood out at the stalls, out in the animal pavilions, it was still all about true denim – thick, durable and tough.
Over at the Alpaca Pavilion, farmer Mick told me he swears by R.M. Williams jeans.
“The denim’s thick but breathable, and they’ve got a fob pocket.” He’s worn Wrangler and Levi’s too, but reckons they don’t quite match the fit & durability of R.M.’s, and lack in elasticity.
There were just as many Akubra’s bobbing around the Easter Show, as there were bootcut jeans. When asked what he’d rather lose, his Akubra or favourite pair of jeans, Mick didn’t hesitate:
“I very rarely wear my Akubra, so my favourite pair of jeans I hold close to my heart.” Prinny backed this up earlier by saying “my Akubra can go, jeans are the ones to stay always!”
When it comes to jeans that work as hard as the people wearing them, Hitchely & Harrow and R.M. Williams take the blue ribbon. Hitchley & Harrow sits around the $150 mark, while R.M. Williams jeans run between $150-$200 depending on the fit.
If you’re chasing denim that stands up to the demands of rural life and brings a splash of style to the paddock, these brands are timeless stapes worth the investment. Add them to your wardrobe – and maybe give them a twirl at next year’s Sydney Royal Easter Show.
To catch up on the podcast from Monday 21st April here or below to hear this chat!
