Today episode #21 of the topic Meet the Person with Simona Testucci. This topic Meet the Person is about passionate people, people in the denim industry. In Meet the Person I will give you an insight into their life; who are they, what are they doing, what makes them so special, where are they working on, etc. etc.

This new episode of Meet the Person is with Simona Testucci, a great women from Italy with a huge denim knowledge and passion. She’s also the founder of the Peppino Peppino blog. Thanks for sharing your great story Simona!

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Simona Testucci

• Name: Simona Testucci.
• Living in village & country: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Age: 45 years (more or less).
• Instagram ID: @PeppinoPeppinoMagazine.
• Number of Instagram followers: 21.5K followers.
• Website: http://peppinopeppino.com
• Daily work: Denim Merchandising Director Tommy Jeans.

Can you introduce yourself (who are you and what are you doing):

I have been working in the ‘fashion’ industry for many years. I have done almost everything: started as a sales assistant in London, then visual merchandiser, product manager, retail buyer and now merchandiser. I am a denim and vintage lover. Nothing makes me more emotional than a nice, worn in jean or a vintage piece (especially workwear and military stuff).

I have started to collect some interesting vintage pieces, building up my own, little archive. Very proud of it!

How did you entered the denim industry:

I have developed my passion for denim after college. I was in San Francisco to study marketing at Berkley and I served an unpaid intership at ABFIT, one of the coolest and most famous denim store in town. I was very lucky. The owner, Howard, thought me the first steps in the denim industry. I spent days in the store touching, sorting out and selling denim pants and I fell in love with this amazing fabric.

Denim is a way of life, a philosophy. No other fabric has this power.

Simona Testucci  together with Howard, owner of the ABFIT store in San Francisco.

What are you doing at the moment:

At the moment I have a corporate job in the denim industry, but I don’t exclude I might launch my own brand one day.

Where are you the most proud of so far as it comes to your work:

Good question. Definitely having had the possibility to visit denim laundries, this is the only way to experience the infinite possibilities that denim has. Denim is like a white canvas where you can paint whatever you want. This is one of the beauties of denim.

Simona Testucci at work in a denim factory.

What’s the biggest denim trend(s) right now in your opnion:

There is a general ‘denim fatigue’ in the market. Too many brands doing exactly the same things. Back in the days, I used to buy a lot of jeans. This year I managed to buy only a vintage Levi’s 501 in Los Angeles.

At the moment, especially in the women’s market, everything looks the same; fits, washes look all alike no matter if it is a premium denim brand or from a vertical business.

Denim trend? If I have to name one…’90’s stone washes.

And what would be the next denim trend:

PeppinoPeppino style (I smile).

Smiling Simona.

What’s your favorite denim brand(s):

The Japanese Kapital for their creativity when it comes to washes and fits.

Where is your inspiration coming from:

Japan Japan Japan , one more time Japan. I am happy to say that I own a pretty big Japanese magazines archive. Too bad that I don’t speak Japanese.

What’s your favorite denim item in your closet en why:

A baggy cross over jeans from John Bull that I bought a couple of years ago in Tokyo.

What’s your favorite denim fit:

I am not a skinny fit type of woman, I love oversize and baggy fits.

Simona Testucci in double denim.

What’s your favorite denim city:

I would say definitely Tokyo. Japanese brands combine tradition, quality and creativity. I also love Los Angeles for vintage denim.

Who’s your favorite denim designer:

The one and only Adriano Goldschmied for what he did for the entire denim industry.

What do you think it’s the best invention in the denim industry:

Selvedge denim? I am probably one of the few women that care if a jeans is selvedge : )

Simona Testucci.

Who’s your denim hero & why:

Last week I had the chance to meet Donwan Harrell, former owner of Prps. He managed to create a brand that made history when it comes to washes. He is also an amazing human being. Pretty rare quality.

What’s your favorite denim store:

Here in Amsterdam definitely Tenue de Nimes. I love the vibe of the store and their denim selection.

Tenue de Nimes store in Amsterdam. Read more about the store here.

What are your ultimate denim accessories:

A tiny, denim pant from Benzak denim. Can it be considered as an accessory? It is adorable though!

Mini selvedge pair by Benzak Denim Developers.

What’s your favorite inspiration quote:

”Without roots you can’t fly” (old Japanese proverb that my Japanese friend Teppei told me the other day).

Who do you love to see in the next Meet the Person:

Uhm…Donwan Harrell.

Read also the previous episodes of Meet the Person;

Meet the Person #1: Amy Leverton (Denim Dudes): here.

Meet the Person #2: Jacques Grosz (Kiliwatch store Paris): here.

Meet the Person #3: Guido Biondi (Roy Roger’s): here.

Meet the Person #4: Gerold Brenner (Designer, Trendforecaster): here.

Meet the Person #5: Leon Blok (Designer, tailor maker): here.

Meet the Person #6: Guido Kerssens (AMFI Amsterdam): here.

Meet the Person #7: James Veenhoff (Denim City, Jean School, Fronteer): here

Meet the Person #8: Moritz Fuchs (New Heritage Festival): here

Meet the Person #9: Christine Rucci (Godmother NYC): here

Meet the Person #10: Sean Gormley (Creative Director Wrangler E.M.E.A.): here.

Meet the Person #11: Piero Turk (Denim Designer): here.

Meet the Person #12: Peter Kats (Vice President Lee Jeans E.M.E.A.): here.

Meet the Person #13: Han Ates (founder of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers): here.

Meet the Person #14: Ben Viapiana (Bespoke Denim Tailor): here.

Meet the Person #15: Tony Tonnaer (founder Kings of Indigo): here.

Meet the Person #16: Maggy Tuijp (Denim Development at DENHAM the Jeanmaker): here.

Meet the Person #17: Nick Williams (Graphic Designer): here.

Meet the Person #18: Koen Tossijn: here.

Meet the Person #19: Sinem Celik (Denim Consultant): here.

Meet the Person #20: Stefano Angelico (Braves And Company): here.