bᵻfˈoːɹ ðə "ɡɹˈeɪt ɹᵻsˈɛʃən", pɹˈiːmiəm dˈɛnɪm wʌz wˈʌn ʌvðə fˈæstɪst ɡɹˈoʊɪŋ kˈæɾɪɡɚɹiz ʌvðɪ ɐpˈæɹəl bˈɪznəs, ænd ðɛɹ sˈiːmd təbi nˈoʊ lˈɪmɪt tə wʌt kˈʌstəmɚz wʊd pˈeɪ fɚðə lˈeɪɾɪst lˈeɪbəl, fˈɪt, fˈɪnɪʃ, ɔːɹ wˈɑːʃ.
Before the "Great Recession", premium denim was one of the fastest growing categories of the apparel business, and there seemed to be no limit to what customers would pay for the latest label, fit, finish, or wash.