Spare Jeans is where denim meets artistry in a compact, no-frills workshop helmed by master tailor Prospero Rey. With a career spanning continents—from a rebellious teenage apprenticeship in the Philippines to haute couture in Saudi Arabia and decades in Montreal’s once-thriving Garment District—Prospero has stitched his way into the city’s streetwear scene with a singular approach to denim.
Working exclusively with raw Japanese selvedge from Kaihara, Kuroki, and Nihon Menpu, Spare Jeans offers made-to-order pieces designed to outlast trends. Each pair carries Prospero’s signature wave-shaped stitching, a nod to a near-drowning he survived as a child. His designs, named after insects, emerge from pure instinct rather than fashion formulas. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred—after all, craftsmanship takes time. With a loyal following and a growing online presence, Spare Jeans is proving that well-made denim never goes out of style.
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Spare Jeans: How a rebel tailor went from selling cigarettes in Manila to sewing Montreal’s coolest jeans
Master denimhead tailor Prospero Rey’s decades-long journey from the Philippines to creating one of Montreal’s most original fashion ateliers.
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