The tailor
Yesterday I brought a pair of new "worn-out," jeans to the tailor to be hemmed. He's been the tailor, in the same store-front for as long as I can remember, probably before I was born, as he still remembers my parents, and possibly my grandmother.
Would it be possible to hem these? I pinned up the cuff to the length I'd like
Sure
Notice how the hem is pre-frayed--
Yes-- it's worn out
After you sew the new hem, can you fray it so it looks like it does now?
That's ridiculous. It's worn out. I can fix it.
No, no. I bought it that way. It's new. Can you do that?
Well, I can try. But that's ridiculous.
And can you use that dark green thread for the hem?
That's also ridiculous, but I can try to find a match.
He looked as if he wanted to lecture me on matching the thread to the fabric, and on how I should patch up the holes in my jeans. He then charged me $12.50, which is more than double anything he's charged in the past.