Japanese Denim

Ah, the Japanese.

They have given us so much to be thankful for (think Hondas, Tamagotchis, and the girlfriend lap pillow), and fashion is no exception. Their cutting edge, push-the-boundaries, anything goes, calculated yet cool sense of style is impossible to ignore.

So, it’s not surprising then that their denim fashions are equally noteworthy.

So what Japanese denim sensations have us doing a double-take these days? 

Denim jackets have been making waves beyond the US of A. They’ve been spotted in Japan, and even seen paired with jeans.

(Courtesy Japanesestreets.com)

So you know what that means? It’s official. The Japanese have spoken. Double denim can be done. BUT since not all of us are 100 pound Japanese fashionistas with Harojuku wardrobes, we recommend thinking carefully about your denim on denim decisions if you have any doubts about your ability to pull it off.

Some other Japanese denim trends, straight from the street, include some somewhat frightful 80s influences. Take this denim jacket, fully equipped with an elastic waistband.

Now that’s a girl whose ready for a Michael Jackson tribute!

(Courtesy Japanesestreets.com)

But we have to admit, there’s something about that layered look and the popped collar that makes us (almost) want to raid our dad’s closet and uncover this 80s gem. Too bad (or good) for us: we don’t live at home anymore…

So before we sign off, we’ll leave something for all of you who are looking to get in touch with your inner Japanese self with a less conventional denim accessory. We call it the jascarf, aka the denim jacket turned winter scarf. 

(Courtesy Japanesestreets.com)

We’re not exactly sure it will keep you warm, but we’re pretty confident it will get you noticed.

If that’s what you’re into…

posted by: abigail on August 26, 2009 at 9:35 pm
filed under: Trend Alert | Add a comment
TAGS: denim trends, japanese denim, denim jackets, double denim

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Raw denim.

Buy it, wear it, and talk about it and you’ll gain the respect of most denim aficionados.

Why? Well, first off it takes a commitment. Raw (or unwashed, generally Japanese) denim is not known for being comfortable or soft. It is by definition, hard, thick, and stiff. Those who go raw don’t do so on a whim; they take their denim very very seriously.

This is because raw, unwashed denim has transcended traditional denim classification. It has become a culture. Or, probably more accurately, a cult. And those raw evangelists are a force to be reckoned with.

They buy their raw denim with the express purpose of wearing them in. The idea of the factory or anyone else washing, sanding, ripping, scratching or otherwise tainting the jeans will make any raw devotee shudder and/or cry in agony. The beauty of raw jeans is to watch as your daily life artfully wears and tears the jean.

And artfully wear and tear they do. Proud raw denim owners will boast only washing their denim 5 times in 2 years. Despite being a statistic that makes most clean people cringe, in the raw community, that’ll get you mad props.

And while that’s cool and all, we’re not sure what it will do for the rest of your social life…

...that being said, we think raw is pretty rad, and we’re considering offering it in the fall—so stay tuned for updates. Who knows, raw custom jeans may be in your future.

posted by: Julien on August 5, 2009 at 3:42 pm
filed under: Denim 101 | Add a comment
TAGS: custom jeans, japanese denim, raw denim

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Some wonder why denim lovers often pay a premium for pre-worn jeans. Although purchasing holey and tattered jeans may seem like a bizarre practice, distressed denim, in various forms, has been in style for close to fifty years.

In the 1960’s, those hoping for a worn look ran their jeans in the washing machine for a full day or soaked them in the ocean for a week. Some even dragged their jeans behind speedboats to achieve the desired effect.

But the love of distressed objects is hardly a product of the 1960’s. Distressing, in various forms, is an age old practice. Take, for example, the ancient Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi. This world view holds that imperfect objects are more beautiful than bland flawless items.

The bowl below typifies the wabi-sabi aesthetic. Its bumpy texture, uneven glaze, and wobbly shape add to its charm.

bowl from Elm Studios http://www.elmstudios.com

Now compare this pottery to the 120-year-old jeans below. Despite the differences in materials, the colors and textures are remarkably similar. If you can believe it, these antique jeans sold for $60,000 in an Ebay auction!

image from http://www.forbes.com

Most denim consumers do not want to pay thousands of dollars or wait 120 years to achieve the distressed looks they desire. That’s why manufacturers have invented a wide range of techniques—from washing jeans with golf balls to treating them with ozone—to create the looks that we crave. Here at indi, we’re constantly perfecting new washes and finishes, so get excited for our next round of finishing treatment—coming to indiDenim.com next month!

posted by: danielle on July 10, 2009 at 10:35 am
filed under: Denim 101 | comments (1)
TAGS: history of jeans, japanese denim, distressed denim

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Product development has got to be one of the most fun parts of working at indi. Not only does it mean we get to be creative, but it also means one of my favorite things—new jeans!

Today we are taking some of the final steps to launch our new Spanish and Japanese denims. We’ve tested out the fabrics (see Marybeth in her Japanese fits below), perfected the washes, and are just about to set them up for web. Now, all that’s left is for the engineering powers that be to do their thing, and you, too, will be able to design your own Spanish and Japanese jeans.

For all of you who aren’t familiar with what makes Japanese and Spanish denim worth the trans-atlantic/trans-pacific journey, you’ll just have to check out my forthcoming blog entry. But because I’m a big fan of teasers, here is a brief description (along with a picture) of our new denims designed to whet any jean connoisseur’s appetite. 

Turning Japanese?

Japanese denim, perhaps the most coveted of all denims, is actually spun on vintage American shuttle looms that were purchased by the Japanese after WWII. Traditional production techniques and smaller looms mean this denim is far more labor intensive to create, but the Japanese, for whom the phrase “bigger is better” doesn’t really resonate, saw a business opportunity and snatched up the looms faster than the Americans could say, “wait, how much will that vintage looking denim sell for in the 21st century?” 

Hecho en Espana

European fabric, in general, is known for quality, style and, of course, pride and pretentiousness. So when we were selecting our Spanish fabric, we wanted to make sure it was as loud and proud as possible. Accordingly, we chose a denim with a fine yet bold crosshatch—think sophistication, with an edge.

Still want to know more about these new fabrics? Check back next week, and I’ll give you the full 411 on Japanese and Spanish denim. I promise not to disappoint…

posted by: Julien on June 11, 2009 at 2:17 pm
filed under: Happenings at indiDenim | Add a comment
TAGS: japanese denim, spanish denim

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