7 Reasons Japanese Jeans Are So Expensive

[@TheIronSnail]

A LOVELY VID! Fun fact the pink selvedge line is homage to Levi’s original red selvedge line fading to a pink hue

[@Stridewise]

That's beautiful

[@tockingwatches2377]

The only two denim content channels I’m subscribed to are Stridewise and The Iron Snail. Everything else is pretty much watch oriented. 😉

[@SilverStarOfTheNight]

Huh? Are you talking about the Momotaro Jeans? That doesn’t make sense. I just watched a video of the owner of maker of the momotaro jeans say that they make all their inseams pink because of their name - Momotaro. Momo is Japanese for peach and peaches are pink. Momotaro is a character from a Japanese tale. TLDR - A childless couple finds a giant peach floating down a river and inside the peach is a healthy baby boy, who was named Momotaro. This is why there is a baby popping out of a peach on their logo. The video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJaXkJSDlJKpodU

[@TheIronSnail]

@@SilverStarOfTheNight you are correct BUT I am not talking about Momotaro or inseams I’m talking about selvedge lines

[@blackice51374]

I also heard that Levi sold their original equipment to company's in Japan which is why Levi jeans are no longer as good as they where yrs ago but Japanese jeans are now

[@ericservaes1251]

Another reason why japanese denim is expensive is because Japan is a 1st world country where workers are paid decent wages and social security. Unlike low wages countries in Asia where most mass production clothing is being produced.

[@Centrioless]

100%

[@raspberrybob3840]

Yes! But Japan is in Asia bro

[@luceafarul579]

Are you sure about that? Maybe you should search the difficulty of living in Japan. They have comparably low minimum wages yet quite high cost of living over there. Whereas these “low wages” Asian countries you are talking about their cost of living is also low. It’s all about perspectives.

[@贺泽雄-f5q]

Living in Japan is more expensive than living in the states.

[@mb7196]

@@luceafarul579 yes that's true but you're not analyzing this deeply enough. Simple fact is Japan has better enforced laws on the books protecting workers rights and they are far more likely to be making a living wage than people working in sweat shops in 3rd world countries. Add to that social benefits like a great health care system and better safety standards and it's not debatable that buying Japanese made products do far less harm to workers than typical manufacturing. I'm sure it's not perfect. Examples of abuse can be found everywhere, but to imply that MIJ is no different than 3rd world manufacturing is utterly ridiculous. I get you're trying to be the "critical thinker" but if you're going to do that then you'd better do it the whole way or you leave yourself open to.... this. But by all means, if you have any actual evidence that working conditions in Japan are as bad as 3rd world sweatshops I'll happily admit I was wrong.

[@NakedandFamousDenim]

Great video, lots of useful information here. I wanted to add some points that I thought would be useful, there was some misconceptions that I thought needed clearing up. I hope you find these points informative and If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. - Bahzad 1. The Weaving - It is true that shuttle looms are old, but some may not be as old as you think. Shuttle looms were still being made in Japan in the 1980’s. Colored threads are not necessary to finish the selvedge edge, originally the selvedge ID was used by mills to identify which roll of fabric belonged to which company. Now a days with modern inventory management that isn’t necessary. The ID now is basically emblematic of the fact that this fabric was woven on a shuttle loom, and color choice (or lack of color choice) is simply ornamental. Loom chatter does add to the texture of the denim but not in the way you described. The machines chattering (ratting around) gives the fabric a uneven weave, when you look at the inside of your jeans you’ll notice the twill lines are kind of janky. Slub, as in the 3d texture of the denim comes from the yarn itself. Slub yarns are yarns spun at different speeds as to create a yarn that is tight and smooth in some sections and loose a thick in others. So when you weave with this type of yarn will get a bumpy texture (because the yarns themselves are bumpy). 2. Dying - You said that many Japanese denim houses (I’m assuming you mean brands) have their own proprietary dye techniques, this is not true at all. No brand does their own dying, dying in Japan is handled by a handful of companies, and only 1 Japanese denim supplier can do everything form yarn spinning, dying, and weaving. Many smaller mills can do weaving but rely on other companies to do the dying and yarn spinning for them. Brands can design fabrics with a mill, but the physical act of dying is completely controlled by the mill, not the brand. While hand dying does exist in Japan it is important to remember that this is incredibly rare, we’re talking less than 0.1% of denim fabric made in Japan is made this way. Natural indigo dyes are rarely used in rope dying, mainly because the dye itself contains impurities and the natural nature of the dye means it is difficult to control the color from one dye lot to the next. Rope dying is what creates the high contrast fades that you described, and rope dying most often is done with pure indigo (chemically derived indigo). Most Japanese denim is made with pure indigo. 3. Weight - While variety of weights is something Japanese denim producers are good at, weight alone is not a major contributing factor to cost. Only when you get into extreme territory like 32oz or 40oz when you are basically on the fringes of what is possible. Though depending on the fabric there can be more wastage on the roll (fabric defects) but that’s very fabric dependent, some fabrics are made with little to no issue, while new developments may take some time for the mill to figure out how to make with fewer issues. The cost sewing for an extreme weight denim is higher no question about that, but anything under 17oz typically costs about the same as making an 11oz jean. Even when you make an 18 - 22oz jean the cost difference isn’t dramatic. 4. The Raw - Not putting fabrics though finishing processes like sanforization makes a fabric less expensive. But I think you are confusing how jeans become soft and wearable with sanforization. Sanfoirzation is a mechanical shrinking process where the raw denim fabric is essentially heated and pressed though a set of hot rollers (giant ones) this compresses the fabric removing the shrinkage. The resulting fabric is still rigid. What makes a jean soft and comfortable are washing processes that are done after the jeans are cut and sewn. Weather that be a rinse wash where the jeans are basically put in a giant industrial washing machine, or processed further with sanding, chemicals, bleach etc. to make the jeans look old and faded. It’s these costs that will make a jean more expensive. 5. Hardware - Hardware can add to the cost, but it is only the very specialized stuff that does. Getting custom buttons and rivets is as simple as ordering them, the per unit cost of each piece is barely more expensive then using generic hardware. The issue is the minimum, where companies like YKK (which pretty much everybody uses) require you to order quite a lot. But if you are a denim brand that should not be an issue since you are going to be using it. There are specialty hardware makers out there, if you want a 100% iron button that is going to come from a smaller specialized manufacturer and cost significantly more. But there are not very many companies that do that. Leather patches can be expensive depending on the type of leather used and the amount (scale certainly plays a factor here too). 6. Vintage styles - I would argue that none of what is produced as repros are not period perfect replicas, mostly because the jeans are not made in the USA, nor are they made with American fabric, they are not even made on the same machines. Japan did not import old American looms, that is a complete and total myth that many seem to believe. Japan made their own looms. I would categories these are imitations (even down to copying other brands labels and logos) be it very well made imitations. At the same time the brands that are often being imitated are making repro product, so if you want the real thing…. 7. Exclusivity - This is pretty much what it all boils down to. Small brands, small lots, small production, small scale. Japanese raw denim is a niche market where very specialized jeans are made for a very specialized market. Incredible stuff is made in this realm, but a lot of the cost comes from the fact that it’s small batch. Other major contributing factors is shipping and tariffs. When you are buying these products outside of Japan, retailers need to import these goods. Shipping costs and tariffs really add to the cost. Some companies work with distributors which need to make their cut as well. Easily a 25 - 33% of the price of a jean can be increased by these factors adding no value to the jean at all.

[@djpoot]

It's funny once he started talking about repros I thought back to your last Instagram live broadcast and that great rant that ensued.

[@amBullseye]

What is the only Japanese denim supplier that does all?

[@congology]

I was thinking, this guy wrote so much for this topic and most of it is correct him. And i saw the name.

[@demoh18]

amBullseye Japan Blue Company I guess

[@bobbydavis5119]

@@amBullseye Momotaro. They do everything totally vertical

[@sebastianshaw210]

This video might be the best video not only introducing Japanese Selvedge but also the selvedge jeans as a niche. Great job.

[@benniebenzak]

Great video and introduction to people unaware of Japanese selvedge denim! While most of the info is spot-on, point 4 (the Raw) is not really a reason why these jeans are more expensive. First of all, sanforization is a process done on the fabric by the mill, before it's being put on rolls. The only difference between sanforized and unsanforized denim is this exact process. This has nothing to do with 'pre-washed' jeans, which you mentioned in the video too, because a pre-wash is a way of aging the ready-made jeans in an industrial laundry by washing, distressing and whatever you can do to create an aged look. In fact, a pre-wash would make a pair of jeans actually more expensive compared to unwashed or raw denim jeans. Which takes me to my next point: the term raw denim means unwashed denim, as in, how the fabric came off the roll. Since sanforization has been done already before the fabric's being put on rolls, you can have both unsanforized and sanforized denim classify as raw denim. Raw denim simply means that the jeans have not been washed or distressed after they're cut and sewn into a pair of jeans. We (BENZAK) use a lot of Japanese selvedge denim, but it's all sanforized and still fully classify as raw. Another thing that's important to mention about the price of the brands you mention, is that they are in fact fully produced in Japan, as opposed to brands exporting Japanese denim to low income countries and manufacture the jeans over there. Minimum wage in Japan is similar to that of the US and many European countries, making the manufacturing process more expensive too. You're absolutely right about lots of these factories being family-owned with few employees and low quantity output, which makes it even more expensive. We actually do both, produce in Japan and export fabric to Portugal, to make our jeans; they have a different price point for the above mentioned reason (although Portugal is not a low income country, its minimum wage is still below that of Japan).

[@dmark1922]

I live in Tokyo and these jeans can be found in selected shops, but concentrated in the Harajuku area. To actually see where most of them are made would require a trip to Okayama, which is several hours away by bullet train. The first "expensive" jeans I bought were Spellbound, which wasn't mentioned here but is a very comfortable wearable brand. For me, I would buy expensive jeans only if there is something unique about them, so I wouldn't really buy the remake styles. The only brand in this video I actually recognized was D'artisan, but I can't buy jeans decorated with cartoons of pigs all over them! Especially at that price. I do have a pig-less D'artisan shirt I like, though. I'm old enough to remember when ALL jeans/denim items were bought "cardboard" style and button-up (no zippers). It was always a long process of breaking them in; the buttoning could be a bitch at first with the stiff material. And by the time they were totally broken in, you were getting knee-holes, lol.

[@aravindvinayakan]

First boots, now denim. My wallet hates me.

[@treygreenleaf7878]

Next it'll be $1200 leather jackets. Someone save our wallets

[@calicuts909]

That’s how it goes lol.

[@albertoclonado]

Brown or black leather jacket? I haven’t figured that out

[@treygreenleaf7878]

@@albertoclonado get both? Haha. I'm more of a brown man myself

[@hermansule5750]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKboXVrfLmIhqc

[@calebgasca]

Bought a pair of PBJ Snow denim and I’ve only gone 2 days in the since the beginning of the year without them. I could never go back!

[@nicholasmullins5400]

Those oxblood Jack boots by Taft that you wore around the beginning pulled off that outfit nicely my guy 👍🏽 straight 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥.

[@sneaky.vampire]

Idk why I'm watching this when I already own a handful of japanese selvedge jeans already.

[@robertalmond9083]

Your making sure you hammer in the knowledge and making sure any newcomers are not misleaded. One thing he forgot to mention was bleeding. You will ruin your white t shirts, white underwear, and white shoes because of bleeding.

[@sneaky.vampire]

@@robertalmond9083 oh you right, the bleeding of indigo is the bane of my white shirts

[@hermansule5750]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKboXVrfLmIhqc

[@packlesswolf1]

Probably to feel better about your purchase

[@raksh9]

@@robertalmond9083 I thought washing jeans in cold water with salt retains the colour and they dont bleed? Or am I thinking of something else?

[@joshuataylor81]

As always Nick, another fantastically well made and information packed video! Thanks for all the work you do to ensure great quality and accuracy in your reviews! Edit: I've seen nearly all of your reviews and comparison videos about boots. Would it be possible for you to do one comparing Red Wing with some of the pricier boot makers? It seems that Red Wing is sort of the middle-ground in standings. It would be interesting to see what you would say the pros & cons are for purchasing either. Personally I've been a Red Wing fan for many years, but have recently been considering a few different brands or possibly a custom pair of boots. Hopefully many of your fans and yourself agree with this idea. Thanks for your time and consideration!

[@lawrenceh7182]

Great video as always bro 😎

[@LD-io9zv]

Ok, I’m im my 50’s. This is how we bought our jeans when K was growing up. I loved breaking my jeans in- bleaching them to lighten the color , washing them with rocks and boiling water to get special techniques. Personalized and forever .

[@d05wtt]

@8:15. Interesting thing in those rivets on the pockets. 1)Yes, the 4 characters spell out samurai in katakana. Top is sa, bottom is mu, right is ra, left is i. 2) Also the rivet is in the shape of a circle with a square in the middle. That is the shape of old Japanese coins from the samurai era. That’s pretty cool.

[@TheSoulsandRevive]

Great video, very informative points! I concur that most 'handmade/traditional' Japanese jeans are expensive due to the outstanding workmanship and materials, but you got to know 'WHEN' and 'WHERE' to go to get them cheaper. I've seen the most expensive in Okayama Denim St (Kojima) and the cheapest in Tokyo (Around $170 AUD ). Where I managed to get each a pair of LEE (American riders 102), Kojima Genes and Japan Blue Jeans. The cheapest is online at 'RAKUTEN' during end of year time sale. Cheers!

[@berndg5018]

What a great denim education you provide, man! Thank you

[@Stridewise]

I appreciate that!

[@jezztech]

Been wearing blue & Negros denim jeans on and off all my life, but had to stop wearing them circa 10 years ago due to major surgery on right leg, ( chafing of scar tissue doctors orders) , prior to that, I had warn them all , Levi, Wrangler, Brutus, Lee Cooper, Easy, Falmer, Farrer ET AL, but my Jeans were always LEE, the quality and style and fit were perfect. So back to present day , dipped my toe into the jeans wearing water and bought 3 pairs in three different shades of " life and glory " jeans, brand new for £12 each = £36, made in China but quality , colour and fit are superb , i say this because am well north 55 and it sparked my interest dropping on your show. Did not realize Japan made jeans! Good show man !!

[@blackbearddmh1277]

I have 3 pairs of Oni, 1 SDA, and 1 Momotaro. I really love the these type of denim. I plan to get a pair from every known brand.

[@zaikoji]

Interesting, eloquent and informative! Thanks for the vid!

[@harrythedemigod]

A note on the shrink-to-fit nature of jeans and soaking them in water. I'd say only do it if you really want to speed up the process. If you want some truly great fitting jeans I'd recommend just wearing them for months and months without washing, and maybe get caught in the rain once or twice. Is it harder? Yes, but makes for super controlled shrinkage that will fit your body and keep the fades.

[@mishondas]

Very good and informative video. Explanations are very clear. Thanks for making this.

[@V0ltron]

Man, you mean I can buy REAL jeans again!! This was much appreciated!

[@CameronO]

Fantastic explanation!

[@Stridewise]

Thanks Cameron!

[@sanchopanza2108]

That was really informative. Nice work!

[@Stridewise]

Much appreciated Quentin!

[@joehebert789]

Interesting and some very cool looks on the coloration, but not enough to get me to purchase them. Thanks for sharing.

[@Stridewise]

No worries! Glad you liked it Joe

[@loadedpainted7040]

they will fade and the color/s will change over time in a way that's completely personalized and reflects you and your life. that's really the appeal of denim. the fabric you start with is only half the journey/story.

[@albertoclonado]

Thanks for the review. Would be great to hear your thoughts on Uniqlo raw denim, it might be lighter in weight, cookie cutter and mass produced for many but it’s super affordable. I have a pair since a couple of years ago and I’ve had a good experience, although not very pronounced fades-I haven’t used them that much I should clarify.

[@poisson5846]

Uniqlo jeans have their fabric mostly from Kaihara mill, somewhat like the Japanese equivalent of Cone mill denim, so their fabric is top quality and would not fray or fade easily. Though the stitching of their jeans vary as they are outsourced to countries with cheap labor like Bangladesh so stitching may not be as durable. But uniqlo is well-known for its excellent quality control so we are getting more for what we are paying full price from uniqlo

[@albertoclonado]

@@poisson5846 so far my jeans have been great, no problems of any kind with stitching. They haven't faded much, but I don't use that often either, so I can't tell much on whether they fade easily. They're great value, I agree!

[@albertoclonado]

Yes, they’re still good (no blows or anything)! They haven’t faded that much but I only use them once or twice a week. I think the quality for the price is pretty good, but fade potential low

[@sirving1297]

SOLD! Gonna go drop the same amount on 10 pairs of pants as I'd spend on buying a used Honda Accord.

[@Sams911]

Jacob Cohen limited edition jeans made in Italy with Japanese denim... the best jeans made! $500-$700.. price for entry.

[@mr.cubarinogaming8953]

Why iam watching this ...when I don't even own a pair of legs

[@mobolajiakinyemi7007]

Nice content, so informative.thanks

[@paulinthailand]

i was an evisu maniac. i had a pair of evisu millenium edition witht he 24ct gold button fly, i sold them on ebay as i was worried about taking a knee out drunk.

[@joelman1989]

The vanity sizing explains so much. I recently did all of my sizing and realized my waist is 30 inches. But i wear size 27 or 28. So it makes no sense. 30 would be enormous on me. Now I understand what’s going on there.

[@treygreenleaf7878]

How is this channel not at 100k+ subs?! Quality video as always Nick

[@Stridewise]

Maybe it's the accent? My hand waving? My infrequent posting? Rest assured Trey, it keeps me up at night

[@treygreenleaf7878]

@@Stridewise hahaha it can't be the accent. Americans love people with accents. You deserve more subs but I'm looking at it as a positive. There can only be so many well dressed "in the know" people in the world. And thanks to your channel I've found some really great brands that make me the well dressed one amongst my friends. Keep grinding and you'll get there brotha 👊

[@clamum]

Yeah he really deserves way more subs than he gets. The videos are really professional quality, full of good info, ppl love that Aussie accent too lol. Maybe he just needs some popular person on KZbin to give him a shout-out 😯. Either way we love the content big 🐕

[@treygreenleaf7878]

@@clamum agreed. I thought after Nick did some collaborations with other channels like Rose Anvil, Trenton and Heath, and Carl that his count would have went way up. Maybe ask people to sub and like more often.

[@clamum]

@@treygreenleaf7878 I see that all the time, creators asking to like and sub, but I wonder how much that actually makes people do those things if they weren't already going to do them. I have no idea but I have my doubts. But I am no content creator so I dunno. I think someone like Antonio from Real Men Real Style could help him out, with a shout-out or collab.

[@maximme]

the saddest part When you walk down the street, you look just like any other Hobo

[@dimitrimuhammad6315]

Haha nobody knows what you are wearing.

[@abdulalhazred4224]

Hahaha my bad i think that way too. It does not look any different than any levis jeans

[@hermansule5750]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqKboXVrfLmIhqc

[@antonpalmer-smith4829]

Say it again!!!

[@antonpalmer-smith4829]

Say it again!!!

[@davidpan2405]

I have a pair of Edwin Japan that I got around 1995. I wash them once in a year but then I don’t wear them that often 😂

[@susanholl5994]

They look very nice but the Japanese women's jeans tend to be sized based on Japanese fit models, i.e. very short in the legs. Thanks for the detailed explanation of the quality differences.

[@Mark.G475]

Very cool! Thank you, never knew! I love learning new things! Mark in Milwaukee Wisconsin 🇺🇸🧀🍻.

[@clamum]

I've seen you been doing Japanese jeans vids for a while but haven't really been very interested in them. I've been an almost exclusive wearer of Levi's jeans since high school (20 years, cringe) and like them a lot. But this video got me a little curious on maybe picking up a pair. What makes me nervous though is sizing. I can get a pair of Levi's 511 in 30x32 or 32x32 that fit spectacularly but I'm worried I wouldn't get that perfect fit with Japanese jeans which will shrink (by how much?). Plus I'd want to try them on in-store and I dunno if there's any store around me (I'm in metro Detroit).

[@Stridewise]

Most jeans are sanforized so shrinkage isn't an issue, but you should expect them to stretch about an inch around the waist. You might find it easier ordering from a US based store like Self Edge or Blue in Green, that way returns are less of a hassle!

[@clamum]

@@Stridewise Oh really, they'll stretch rather than shrink? Cool thanks for the info I think I'll look into them when I finally get a job again lol.

[@bobbydavis5119]

Start off with levi's shrink to fit, measure them first because they are usually a size bigger than tagged. When you get that right go to japanese raw denim. Remember to size up because they shrink. For instance i wear size 38 so i buy size 40 in their raw denim to get to a 38. Buy a size up in the one wash too because all the shrinkage have not been taken out.

[@robertgsmith5761]

Very informative !

[@Stridewise]

Glad it was helpful Robert!

[@nofacedetected]

I don't think I understand why jeans being "raw" makes them more expensive. I mean, I own quite a few pairs, and I don't doubt that it for some reason does, but taking out the sanforization process should simplify production, rather than complicate and cause more expense, like making heavier slubbier or more expertly dyed fabric complicates production. My guess is that Sanforized denim is harder to sew into a jean that will shrink and still properly fit, or is harder to mount hardware on. I know that its discourages zipper flies because they wont shrink with the denim, but most of us weirdos want button flies regardless. That, and my unsanforized STF levi 501zs from when they were doing that vintage production stuff were definately not less expensive than the same fabric with button flies. That can be chalked up to levi's nonsense though, I guess. TL;DR I know "raw" is more expensive, but I don't know "why" its more expensive when it's mostly just skipping a step in production, to grossly oversimplify.

[@abtuben]

Raw isn't more expensive. Selvedge is.

[@c.w.9615]

The cuffed jeans is a look unto itself, salvage or not.

[@marsoblivi0n945]

Yeah a terrible look. Very douchy.

[@joeface03]

I never knew how boss Japanese denim was til recently. Wow.

[@Osiwan960]

like most japanese products =)

[@thethriftyfawn]

Absolutely fascinating!!! 😃

[@Stridewise]

Glad you think so!

[@kairen3849]

How about LVC. Love to see a video to compare the Japanese jeans vs US brand.

[@supersonico9364]

7 reasons 1) because 2) they 3) are 4) made 5) in 6) Japan 7)..... ahhh.... period!

[@Stridewise]

Well, no

[@russellalfonso2962]

the jeans by Levi's I wore in the 1960s when I was a teenager, were affordable even for a kid in high school.

[@artistnyc123]

Levi's really dropped the ball in the mid 80s. It's my understanding that they sell about 20% of the 501s they did back in the day. They could've easily spent the money on modernizing the equipment to make high-quality selvedge jeans into the future. Now they're a shell of what they used to be and given the rise to these type of jeans that you have to pay $200-$1,000 for it to get something of quality.

[@chulopapi2300]

You can get them jeans in Thailand for dollars 😂❗ I was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan and those same Peter Pan jeans fit both males and females. Friends would take those same jeans to Thailand when we'd hit it up during port visits, drop them off at some side hut and have them make like 10 pairs exactly the same feel, color, stitching, buttons, texture, and ALL for less than a hundred dollars 😂❗❗ Get back to Japan and sell off the Japanese pair and get back more money just for wearing them! Had family in Texas send me jeans from garage sells and goodwill for less than$5 and sell them to these jean stores that were everywhere for over $90 and up.... also Levi belt buckles and Texas belt buckles from garage sells would go for $70 or more depending on styles and sizes ❗❗

[@Jebro439]

Great information

[@Stridewise]

Glad you liked it Johnra

[@thejigisup]

I think the expensive reason is “hype” I spend like $20 per pair of jeans and or pants . Levi’s have never failed me

[@glenncitron]

i spend 40 a pair of the cuts i love, gstar mostly, and they last me years, with perfect washed blue, i'll never spend 600 in jeans, even millionaire.

[@savvylifestrategies9445]

Good info, Nick. Thanks :-)

[@Doodleman2020]

I can handle the boots but dammit I refuse to pay that much for jeans.

[@apaisitodak1854]

Same goes to me.

[@tonysoprano4883]

Nick, can't you show us your full jeans collection?

[@Stridewise]

I've been selling them off lately, unfortunately! But I have 6 new pairs I want to unbox on camera soon, I'm just waiting for them to get back from the alterations place

[@KillaCommieFerMommie]

*BRAVE STAR* Made right in the United States is the best bang for yer buck.

[@wiliyantoadinata9170]

Ironheart always in my heart lol

[@AzizSiddiqui]

Thanks to you and some other youtubers, I now have a collection of about 15 denim items that include brands like Naked & Famous, D'Artisan, Oni, Gustin, Nudie, and Unbranded! And the best part? The cost of acquisition was in total less than $300 :-D

[@metallitech]

I've only had one pair of Japanese denim jeans, and they wore out faster than any pair I've had. The Brand was Edwin.

[@LouieTzepher]

The crazy thing is that you spend all that money and the average folks think it's Levis or walmart jeans. SMH!

[@bennytdi]

buy it for yourself?

[@Four-of-Six]

Well, you don't have to buy Japanese brand to have a decent pair of jeans. I started with a couple of pairs of "Atelier la Durance" ( 14 oz denim, made in France.) 15 years ago. Then had a Blue Blood (Dutch, before it was know and bankrupt), one of the first Denham's ( before the brand was well known.) , Edwin's ( know for their cheap jeans in the 80's but now making top notch stuff), Japan Blue Jeans and currently wearing jeans made by the Grivec Bros. ( Dutch, 14 ounce selvedge denim.)

[@bjrnvogelaar7497]

The fact that japanese denim is sold raw shouldn’t contribute to the price. In fact it should even make them cheaper than if they were washed

[@Stridewise]

Yeah I guess it's more that the raw makes them rare and coveted. Which probably does increase the price haha

[@miltonmutum9176]

I bought Levi’s 502 Japanese made and crafted selvedge jeans and it’s awesome...I really loved it💓

[@dennisnordlund902]

Damn, there is a selvedge version of the 502? I gotta get that! I really like the 502 model.

[@trdi]

Very interesting video. Personally I wouldn't wear those if they were free. My jeans have to be soft, light. European designers are the way to go. It all depends on what look are you going for.

[@dennisnordlund902]

There are plenty of soft and light japanese denim and they’re always gonna be better.

[@trdi]

@@dennisnordlund902 Better for what? I like my jeans to be replacement for trousers. They should look like jeans but feel like nice comfortable suit trousers. Yeah, their life span is going to be much shorter. But better is a relative term, right?

[@dennisnordlund902]

@@trdi well I’d argue better for that as well. A pair of well worn raw denims will feel like sweatpants and since they’ve formed after your movements comfort will be unbeatable. But, yes, better is most definetly subjective and that might not be your thing anyways. I prefer to not spend as much in the longer term hence my propensity towards quality garments. Thick, heavyweight denim is however not my thing at all. Have a good one!

[@dragorocky]

More expensive? Twice as heavy? Where do I sign up? Nah, but fr, the main reason to cop “Made in Japan” is to soothe one’s own inner-drip. No one else can tell they’re Japanese. And the price makes us feel like we did something right. “These BETTER not suck!”

[@packlesswolf1]

Exactly

[@loritouma5899]

There is a whole street dedicated to jeans in Japan!! The quality of the jeans handmade!

[@cristinelgheorghiu5294]

Whats the name of that street and which town? I live in Korea and might visit Japan as soon as this pandemic restrictions will easy off !

[@loritouma5899]

@@cristinelgheorghiu5294 I saw that on a video.. I can’t recall the name but it was awesome. Look up jeans in Japan see if video comes up .. ❤️

[@loritouma5899]

@@cristinelgheorghiu5294 there is a few video of I think it miyama Japan .. not sure if spelled correctly but look up birthplace of denim in Japan. Hope that’s helpful

[@ukkari420]

@@cristinelgheorghiu5294 There are denim town in Okayama prefecture.

[@miguelteixeira4134]

They are expensive in the west. They are no more expensive than your run of the mill diesel or AG (far inferior) in Japan

[@SpartanFarron]

For a while I didn't understood the price gap. But I've come to accept it and can reasonably buy a few pairs. You need to have fun wearing them though or there's no point. The average person won't notice all the little details that make it special. Btw, Naked and Famous is producing a 42 oz monster! Currently in the testing phase. They make the craziest stuff.

[@blueband8114]

What makes the black henley your wearing in the outside shots?

[@RovexHD]

Why would anyone wear jean over chinos. Way more comfortable

[@ariefyogi5049]

I love japanese denim, i will pay more money if i had too, but the most importanly is how they are looks on you, "the fit" i prefer to slimstraight fit or straight fit like ih 634 cuts, unfortunately you wore tapered cut apprently i hate those fit

[@Stridewise]

Hahah and I hate straight fits, but we can both hold hands and be friends

[@dominicfoley3968]

I have read that raw, unsanforised and loom state are not synonyms. Please help!

[@frankrizzo7185]

Great episode Nick! Which Japanese jeans would have a medium or high rise? Hard to find them, and in my 50’s not too interested in low rise. Thanks!

[@entropycenozoic960]

I would look at Pure Blue Japan NP-019. Also size up. I am normally a 36, but I had to get a 38.

[@Stridewise]

I have a high rise so every brand I've looked at does. My Onis and Iron Hearts are more medium rise but everything else is high! It's why I haven't checked out Evisu and Denime and stuff yet, they just don't have fits for this ass

[@mrtwister9002]

Hey guys, see my jeans? It's got pink threads when I roll them up! That's why I pay $2000. For one pair. 😂🤣😅😂🤣😅 There's a sucker born every day.

[@A.Dude.]

Mate, if you need to roll-up your jeans in order to get the attention you desire, you are in a very bad place in your life... Why on earth would a pair of $300 bucks jeans mean something? You do understand that there are jeans which cost a multiple of that, don't you? It's either you can or you can't afford something and if you do, anyone I know, will not show off... It's poor people who need to show-off...

[@ForTheLoveOfSuits]

A really great in-depth video, thanks Nick.

[@jasonhsia2422]

I prefer buying japanese jeans in Asia, I wouldn't do it online unless I have tried them on before. The sales associate looks at waist, length, and leghole size. Mine fit perfectly and still fit perfectly. All the hardware is branded, they are like the quality of antique hardware. I love the selvedge details. Mine also have embroidery. It really elevates the jeans when you wear them out in South East Asia, but in the USA it is probably too flashy. That said, jeans are still considered construction workwear so you don't see them often in the streets of Asia unless they are kind of a statement. Although it does have a slight negative connotation if you wear them out to do business.

[@Stridewise]

Sure, I mean that all seems fairly true across cultures. I'm lucky I'm in NYC where I can try pants on at Blue in Green and Self Edge first!

[@charlesbronson240]

Bravestar selvedge is the only denim for me. You cannot beat them.

[@mindcache5650]

Thing is. It’s a bit like watches. In daily life, no one gives a toss what type you wear and hardly anyone notices. Especially in a darkened bar. Only you know.

[@Meghnaaad]

Japan is a high income country and Levi's produces same thing in lower income countries. The quality is almost same.

[@pwprochazka]

Love my Momotaro jeans. And I'm an old guy in my 50's that lives in a mountain ski town. You don't have to be a city living hipster to love these jeans.

[@chrisp5526]

I got 3 raw denim jeans... Visvim from japan (bought in Japan, at half price than USA), Raleigh denim, and Burberry. Honestly... they aren’t very comfortable. So I hardly ever wear them.

[@msToshKaz]

You should wear them more often , and not wash it . It gets comfortable, it takes your shape . But raw jeans takes time .

[@michaelm206]

Loved the video and the explanations. Still have a question though : I got into the habit of wearing my raw unsanforized jeans without soaking : is there anything wrong with that ? I never wear them on a rainy day and I never wash them. Thank you in advance for your answer.

[@nunyabeezwacks1408]

@Michael M If your unsoaked jeans never get wet or washed, then there’s no problem, except for maybe the malodor. However, if they do get wet, or washed, they will shrink and the fades, whiskers and honeycombs won’t line up the same, if you’re even able to get them on again. I’ve also read that your jeans will last longer if they are washed occasionally, because you’re removing grime from them that may cause the fabric to wear out faster. That’s why they always recommend soaking your jeans prior to wearing them. In my experience, sanforized denim also shrinks a little bit after soaking, but not nearly as much as unsanforized denim.

[@mubarak3457]

Dude I stick with my 501 !!!! Fuck that 😬

[@TheRausing1]

You lend your jeans out to other people? I’ve never heard of anyone doing that. I would never let anyone wear my jeans lol. Especially since I never wash them.

[@Stridewise]

Well I wash them first! I just feel bad they're such works of art and they sit in my closet all unworn

[@MichaelRodriguez-vl8by]

Interesting, I used to weave carbon fiber on old Draper shuttle looms. It was a fun gig

[@bubba9482]

IDK why this is on my feed, or why I even watched it. I wear Urban Star from Costco, $15. I can buy 2 pairs of Urban Star and a bottle of Macallan 18, or 1 pair of Japanese Jeans.

[@toddpower4674]

I got several pairs of urban star. Blue, black, and now grey and they are excellent for everyday wearing. Not for rolling up and peacocking....lol

[@4characterusername]

I will say in regard to getting the right fit - I've been an online customer of SE and BiG for over 10 years....if you're in doubt about what size you need, take some measurements of some jeans that fit you well and shoot them an email asking for help. Both stores have a awesome customer service and will get you on the right track. I'm envious of y'all that live within driving distance 🥲

[@elanew9597]

Hi, is Momotara Jeans true to size? Like I am 30 inches waist is going to order 30 inches for momotara??

[@fyttirackarn]

Yeah... cos unwashed crotch-funk smelling jeans is the shit... Or not.

[@robertalmond9083]

Con- bleeding. Your white shirts, underwear, and shoes will get dye on them when you sweat. For shoes, its inevitable. Lol. It depends on if you care about that kind of thing or not. Have designated white shoes for your raw denim, pro tip.

[@robertalmond9083]

And duct tape is also very handy.

[@jonlouis2582]

Great video! I’m wearing my nice selvage jeans right now. I would rather have one pair of great jeans than a lot of mediocre jeans. They wear like iron.

[@jjt50]

Not worth it

[@mikamori4610]

I bought a Schiaparelli Denim Jacket for $3,000. 😭

[@AndrevwZA]

"Cheap jeans like Levis". Depends on the country. We have Levi factories here in southern Africa and they are still over $50. Most shops sells Chinese ones.

[@etienneterblanche5498]

Yeah we’re getting fucked over by paying R1000 and more for shitty quality jeans

[@ScotianBlooded]

its simple its made the same way your great great grandfathers wranglers were that to me is enough to justify the price

[@exxie1]

What's the shade on that Tanuki jean? It's gorgeous

[@Stridewise]

Kaze! I did a video on them here kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnfInHiwp7Wsrbs

[@seanjohnson6899]

What fit do you wear? I like room in the hips and crotch area but want a tighter fit in the like but not skinny tight

[@colinbenfield326]

No doubt Japanese denim looks better but my balls still blow out at the crutch like any other jeans so not worth it for me

[@JoeSmith-np6nz]

Where can I buy Japanese denim. No links ???

[@Stridewise]

Naked and Famous is a good starting point tateandyoko.com/collections/naked-and-famous/jeans

[@sutats]

Uniqlo selvedge jeans retail for less than £40.

[@PerceivetoSuffer]

PBJ for eva