Mott & Bow Review: High-Rise Jeans

One perk of blogging about clothes is that sometimes your body changes, and you need new denim. And just then, as if reading your mind, a brand will reach out and ask if you’d like to try their jeans. Yes, please! Today, I’m reviewing two pairs of high-rise jeans that Mott & Bow sent me.

About Mott & Bow

Mott & Bow is a New York-based company that started as a Kickstarter for men’s jeans in 2014. They source premium fabrics from Orta Anadolu in Turkey, a well-known mill that produces denim for many major brands including The Gap. What’s different about Mott & Bow is that they make their jeans in a Honduran facility that the founder’s family started in the 1980s.

This vertical integration means that they can control most of the process, which allows them to better eliminate waste and keep costs down. It also means having control over working conditions. When asked if their factory workers were paid fair wages, Mott & Bow’s rep said they were paid “well above the minimum wage.”

Curious minds want to know what is the minimum wage in Honduras? Turns out it differs by sector and size of the firm. If a garment factory counts as manufacturing, then the minimum wage is HNL 10,462 – 15,083 per month. According to the Global Living Wage Coalition, a living wage in urban Honduras as of 2022 is HNL 9,542 per month (US $391). So, Mott & Bow’s wages do seem fair.

OK, now on to trying on some jeans.

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These jeans were gifted to me by Mott & Bow and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, I decide what to write about and all opinions are my own. Thanks for the support.

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High Rise Skinny Orchard Jeans

I ditched skinny jeans at the height of the pandemic. Now I’m emerging from my sweatpants era and ready to give them a try again, despite Gen Z’s cancelation of them.

Here’s  is a 5′ 9.5” model wearing size 25 in the dark gray wash.

And here is 5′ 4″ me (well, 5′ 3.5″) wearing size 29, also in dark gray, which is lighter in person than it appears online. (Not that I’m complaining. I like this shade.)

What Mott & Bow Says: Orchard is a medium-weight and super-power stretch jean. The fabric feels soft but substantial.

Fabric: These jeans are 69% cotton, 15% modal, 14% polyester, and 2% elastane. Though they’re soft, I wouldn’t call the fabric substantial. To me, they’re on the thinner side.

Sizing & Fit: I’m a little unclear on what my size is these days. According to Mott & Bow’s size chart, my hips put me in one size and my waist the next size up. Playing it safe, I went with the bigger size, 29, and that seemed to work.

While these jeans are listed as having a 10″ rise, by my tape measure it was a quarter inch longer. Personally, I’d like it to be even higher. Inseams come in 28″ or 30″. Being short, I went with 28″, which hit me right below the ankle — still a tad long for me. But because of the skinny leg, I just kind of scrunched them up.

Details: One con it that the pockets on the front are shallow. On the plus side, I appreciate the lack of conspicuous branding. The button and rivets have “Mott & Bow” stamped into them, but you really have to be looking for that.

How They Wore: These jeans are stretchy and conform to your body. I’m happy to report they didn’t get baggy (a problem I’ve encountered with other jeans). I thought they were cut well. Am I ready to go back to skinny jeans, though? After wearing these around for a day, I haven’t counted skinny jeans out, but I prefer a roomier leg.

Mom Oliver Jean

That brings us to Mott & Bow’s mom jean, which has a little more room. Here’s a 5’10” model wearing size 25 in the Oliver wash, a midnight blue color.

And here’s 5′ 4″ me. Again, the color is lighter in real life.

What Mott & Bow Says: Oliver is the refined version of the traditional blue jean. It’s one of our heavier fabrics but still has our signature comfort

Fabric: 99% cotton with 1% elastane. At 13 oz, these are advertised as Mott & Bow’s thickest denim. Compared to Everlane or Levi’s though, this fabric feels thinner. I consider them medium weight.

Sizing & Fit: Again, I followed the size chart and went with my waist measurement, 29. That felt like the right size though these were snug in the thigh. (I’ve got thighs and have never known what a thigh gap is.) I’m not sure if these would work if you’re curvy. I found these more fitted overall than the name “mom jean” suggests. To me, mom jean means a bit of slouch in the leg. And the leg on this jean is quite slim.

The product listing says these have a 10.25″ rise, but by my measurement it was almost 11″, ending up right around my belly button. These are currently only available in the 28″ inseam, so they make for a chic cropped look for taller folks like the model but are regular length on petite me.

Details: Again, the pockets are small. I’m digging the wash though. The dark blue make these jeans feel fancy. You could easily dress these up. I’m a bit nervous about dye transfer though. Sometimes dark denim stains your white chairs. (Ask me how I know.) So far, I haven’t noticed any issues (and I will report back if I do).

How They Wore: When I first put these jeans on, I was afraid I’d made a mistake. They felt tight, especially in the thighs. But they eased up as I wore them. At the same time they held their shape after a day of wear — a sign to me of good quality. I find the combo of high waist and slim leg flattering. If you, too, like mid-weight jeans with a tiny bit of stretch, these are a good option.

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