Would You Pay $800 for SILK Jeans? (Momotaro Review)

[@jonnyjonnyjonny1166]

My two cents on sizing after spending too much on jeans: Jeans will always shrink a bit after wash, hang dry, or tumble dry. I now measure jeans I’ve worn for a bit and try to match that size. If the jeans are too big I can always get a bit of shrinkage by washing warm or hot, hang drying or tumble drying. Trying to find a perfect fit is difficult, so Id rather have jeans with a bit of room. Then if I try to shrink them and they shrink great. However, if they don’t shrink i can still wear the jeans.

[@calebchoi9976]

Go to Japan and purchase them there. Bought my silk jeans for 1/3 of the price at the Kyoto flagship store

[@LaSombraa]

Happy that someone finally made a review on these… I was on the fence of buying this exact same pair 🙏🙏🙏

[@turtle514-d8w]

Glad yall made a vid on this, the denim seemed so interesting but soo expensive. I remember reading somewhere that Momotaro got bought out and that is why they are rebranding

[@Stridewise]

Yeah we couldn't get confirmation on that so we didn't want to say that.... *directly*

[@RogerLoera]

Even though the jeans are cuffed I absolutely love that stacked look. It has that subtle cowboy flair without being too rodeo. And the jeans fade way better having that many creases and folds.

[@daianspahava8279]

I like either one and I agree that with the stacks it pairs well but depends on the leg opening and how long it is, I love wranglers with sneakers as it looks unique but I think that cuffed looks better with wider fitting denim like the tcb 50s

[@jklsasha]

Bought a pair while I was in Kojima for about 500 bucks. It was rigid at first but has gotten much softer after one wash. The fabric feels ultra smooth and cool to the touch.

[@jklsasha]

The store assistant in Kojima mentioned that it will shrink 2%

[@alanward4671]

No matter the level of skill and effort that's gone into them, sorry, there's no way I could get close to that price point. They look so beautiful, but it's a hard no. Also, losing the peach boy logo was a mistake but the battle stripes can f*** off for good, I hate that detail. Having said that, I don't own any Momotaro goods so they can quite rightly tell me to f*** off too. Always love listening to your reviews, Troy, you should do them more often. You might just be the David Attenborough of selvedge denim.

[@troybarmore5832]

😂 possibly my favorite comment of all time

[@AR-q8z]

momotaro have always had pairs availiable without the stripes for example 0405-v which is what i have as i hate the stripes

[@awietjandra8788]

once i knew momotaro change their ownership , i purchase the last generation of momotaro that has sashiko double stripe on it, in my opinion, this new direction makes old momotaro lost their identity

[@joepierucci]

Great video! I’m a big fan of Momotaro too. I’m actually on my second pair now-the first pair was a bit too tight and needed more repairs than I’d like to admit. But they still look amazing! I just needed a better fit. I’m really curious to see how your jeans hold up after six months or a year. I’m sure they’ll look great-it’s not like they’d charge that much if they weren’t worth it!

[@runthefuture]

5:40 ayooo pause. I don't mind the new logo but the old logo grew on me, glad they're past the stripes, like some of the new detailing. The waist lining seems like one of those touches purists will abhor but would make them more comfort Definitely don't buy direct from them (or samurai). I got a silk pair from Okayama Denim for 300

[@AR-q8z]

old logo was cool

[@jasonjennings8465]

How freaking dare you make me want an $800 pair of jeans.

[@Jim_OHara]

I used to wear red monkey (Martin Ksohoh) jeans back in 2000. Always was my favorite.

[@nazgul477]

Alright, right off the bat. Good video, good review. I gotta say though, I am continuously a bit miffed on how some of the larger "men's heritage" KZbinrs have approached reviewing Momotaro. I'd if this is bc of Momotaro's own marketing dept. , or because for a KZbin video the creators want to talk about the most wild thing a company makes for clicks. Just saying, Momotaro makes other stuff that's not $800. I bought a pair of their jeans in Japan a couple of years ago, and out of all my selvedge, they are the best by far. the denim is beautiful, and comfortable, and at a pri point that I think was around $300, I think the price is very fair. I have some Freenote jeans too, which are ~$275? Yeah, my Momo's are multiple steps above that. seriously, good video, can't wait for the follow up to see how they age, maybe just mention that these kinds of fabrics are "outliers" from a fairly standard Japanese denim line. idk, probably just cope since I bought a pair of $300 Japanese jeans... don't insult my peach boy.

[@BabaGanooshOFS]

My old Momotaro jeans did stretch out in the waist by a couple inches. I’ve had numerous pairs of the 15.7 oz and the 14.6 oz all-cotton that did stretch out. Never tried the silk jeans though. Also, the waist pant probably prevents the stretching in the waist that you would normally expect.

[@DanielSzilagyi]

I had a pair of Momotaro 205SP (slim straights) and basically: Pros: fabric is soft and comfy, very well made, priced well (I got mine from Okayama Denim) great pocket bags, nice patch, good stitching Cons: pockets are small for western standards (hands barely fit in) I hate the GTB strips, fades are super slow and barely occur, length for me is not cuff-able. I know some people love it but I just can't get into them, the re-brand is probably a good way to try and standout in a crowded space (I mean really almost all the brands are the same at the end of the day)

[@LaSombraa]

You’re so right about the pockets… I was surprised when I got my first pair. I guess in Japan they barely use their pant pockets lol. Either that; or they have tiny hands 😂

[@kinslowrainer3982]

I'm curious to know more about Momotaro's recent quality post-sale/restructuring.

[@Stridewise]

I do have a line to Momotaro but of course, these Japanese denim brands are secretive! Maybe worth asking @japanalogue on Instagram

[@88sstraight]

You mention a bunch of times how these are ‘handmade’, including while showing an automatic loom. Are they somehow more handmade than other jeans?

[@ariqfazlur813]

Handmade refers to the stitching and construction of the jeans, not the way the fabric is woven. If you want something truly handmade, Momotaro makes some gold label jeans that utilize hand-woven fabric that cost over 2000 dollars

[@88sstraight]

@@ariqfazlur813 People are using sewing machines to make these jeans, just like virtually every other pair in the world. Handmade is simply salespeak.

[@AR-q8z]

someone made up the garbage about buying raw denim tight and cost a ton of people to waste money. 100 percent cotton shrinks a little even if it sanforized denim. So by that logic the waist/hip area should be comfortable when new. if u have to breath in when doing the top button it's too small. also if u cant place atleast two fingers in the waist band after doing the top button it is also an indication of it being too small. a little snug is fine as the waist usually stretches a quarter of an inch. If buying unsafirzed denim buy one size up as u will lose 1-1.5 inch in the waist after first wash.

[@BabaGanooshOFS]

I like the old Momotaro Jeans better

[@Stridewise]

maybe should have clarified that they still make the old stuff!

[@BabaGanooshOFS]

@@Stridewise Do they? I thought that they were phasing out the old stock in favor of the new stuff. The old stuff you see is just remaining stock that won’t be replaced. This Autumn-Winter collection is bringing back some of their past brand highlights, like their Dobby coverall. So maybe they are doing justice to the classic Momotaro while pushing the new. I’m not certain one way or the other.

[@Stridewise]

@@BabaGanooshOFS hm I was of the impression that these jeans, with the battle stripes and such, are the same old hairy denim momotaro-jeans.com/jeans/collection/classic.html

[@BabaGanooshOFS]

@@Stridewise You’re right-the fabric is the same, although I read on their blog that in the new line, the fabric has gone through a starch removal. My main gripe is the removal of the peach boy from the patch and hardware. A small thing, but I like the call back to a classic Japanese icon rather than this weird new modern icon.

[@trixie9867]

found Nick on Alejandro Jomar - new here

[@nasrullah9444]

So all momotaro new pair made denim don't use his signature 2 white stripe on his back pocket after his new branding?

[@doublestrokeroll]

Why don't you just go to their website before posting this comment?

[@olgi2068]

First impression would be that the "new" path Momotaro is taking is not my preferred one. Becoming more "street-wear" is not my thing. But then again, Momotaro, PBJ, Oni and others have (IMHO) always been leaning more towards that end, as compared to Iron Heart, Samurai, so people fortunately have a broader choice. Regarding pricing and "special" denims: I have a hank-dyed Pure Blue Japan that is in the same price range (bought them second-hand; would not pay the original price). They are very beautiful and special to the touch, but boy they wear down incredibly rapidly compared to my standard IH-777, and finishing was not really good. So do I prefer two pairs of IH (for example) to the 700€ PBJ, clearly yes.

[@doublestrokeroll]

Yeah but they still have their classic line so if you don't want the "new" style you don't have to.

[@patricio3841]

I could never imagine that a pair of jeans could cost over 800 usd, but I guess some people find value on an item that you can only wear in a most casual setting or in a manual labor job.😮

[@doublestrokeroll]

Guess you've never been into a store like Gucci or Channel? Jeans from them will be well over that price, and probably not be made in Japan to the skill level jeans like this are. Yeah it's a lot of money, but doing the R&D on simply making a fabric like this, along with it's production in Japan, isn't going to be like sweatshop made in China jeans you buy at Costco. Maybe a pair of jeans shouldn't be 30 bucks?

[@patricio3841]

@doublestrokeroll Costco? We don't have that clothing store here in Italia. Anyways, we all have the freedom to justify how we expend our money. In Italia, we love and prefer Levi's, so we are more than willing to pay 130 Euros. By the way, excellent content, very informative! 👌

[@BoStark]

I sure have learned the hard way that Momotaro does not stretch.

[@subhasish-m]

Gustin has a pair of 42 percent silk denim for 165, albeit at a lower 12 oz weight. I don't really think the silk justifies such a high price, but I might be wrong

[@doublestrokeroll]

Gustin is a completely different business model. They are crowd funded and if their "campaign" finishes nobody can get those jeans. Like, I don't see the ones you're talking about on their website. It's a cool idea but it obviously has it's limitations. Momotaro isn't just buying bolts of fabric and stitching together their own jeans. They own the factory. They have to develop their own materials. Maybe that Gustin silk denim actually came from the Momtaro factory, after they did all the R&D...lol. Plus they have their marketing, physical stores, employees etc...Now you don't have to agree with the business model, but it probably more than explains the price point. Contrary to what most people think, companies (for the most part) aren't out their trying to gouge customers at every turn. They have bean counters who figure out these kinds of prices to a fairly accurate degree. I'd bet the profit margin on these isn't that much different than the profit margin on their other goods.

[@subhasish-m]

@doublestrokeroll I totally agree with what you're saying. I was talking about "worth" from a consumer perspective

[@doublestrokeroll]

@@subhasish-m Well...that's a pretty subjective thing. I try not to be too judgemental about what people choose to buy even if I wouldn't. To me it's not "worth" supporting sweatshop labor fast fashion type clothing (at least I try to where I can) for the cost it has on the environment and workers rights. Personally I don't think a pair of jeans should cost 30 bucks. That's too cheap and some cost is being paid for that cheapness. Not trying to say Japanese denim is perfect, but at least workers in Japan have some protections and I know their lives are better off than workers in real sweatshops. I'm willing to pay more for quality products like that so that's "worth" it to me. There's a part of me that also appreciates the creativity that companies like this have to simply make a product like that. It's interesting that they are experimenting. I won't buy them but I get that there are people who like this whole thing as a hobby and have the money for it, so good for them.

[@trixie9867]

last time i heard so much about shrinkage was on a Seinfeld episode

[@andyArt5]

Are you meant to measure your waist and wear at your waist or are you measuring your hip?

[@gdaddy6922]

I have a pant stretcher..

[@pcmacintyre]

Price aside, the 32" inseam isn't long enough the taller among us.

[@rpow6861]

Why they would charge the peach boy back patch boggles the mind. Yeah, okay, get rid of the stripes but not peach boy!!!

[@Faux_59]

Squats should help with those chicken legs.

[@Stridewise]

pistol squats only, this is the big leagues

[@TheMrZanshin]

@@StridewiseDon’t feel bad. John Jones is a beast and still has chicken legs 🤣💪🏻❤️

[@adamsmiths3016]

​@@Stridewise I have the same big bird legs

[@troybarmore5832]

🐥😢

[@mrlolmaster1019]

how does momotaro post buyout compare to momootaro pre buyout???? apart from the lame leather patch has the quality gotten worse???

[@Stridewise]

momotaro-jeans.com/blog/2024/07/13/momotarojeans-brand-revamp/ I guess we'd need to compare the exact same pair before and after rebranding. We sure do love these silk jeans, but that might not reflect the info you're after

[@kiernansfault48]

Balenciaga sells jnco rip offs for $2,200.

[@Nicholas-V]

Weird how these are too small in the waist but look too big on you at the same time. I think these need a bit of a hem.

[@Krishabh_Agrawal]

We buy similar jeans for ₹1500-₹4000 in India, max I will pay ₹5k after card offers and store discount for such product. It is not worth that price point for sure. It is just about branding and story telling and doesn't reflect actual product. How will someone know that I am wearing a $800 pair? Sadly only middle class people buy such things. Usually rich does not care about brands. They are the brands.

[@tibchy144]

They might be high quality but they are lacking the proper design. These are basically rockabilly jeans that will collet stones from the street at the bottom cuffs. There is not a single shot in this video where jeans would fit well.

[@paulorobertopaesdealmeida9964]

LEE JAPONESE $ 1.000

[@AR-q8z]

i hope they are not doing what edwin done to their high end denims

[@hemantishwaran5741]

I’d rather buy a beautiful Italian wool suit than 800 jeans that make you look like you are out of work

[@Stridewise]

these are the kinds of comments i was hoping to get on this video. for what it's worth Troy says he's constantly stopped by people who can tell they're REAL nice jeans lol

[@hemantishwaran5741]

@@Stridewise hahaha

[@SalamToU]

The rebrand is super shit, scooped a pair of copper labels from denimio, and they are the most comfortable denim i have. Maybe not the coolest but very quality. Rebrand is super boring, also pretty sure they had a silk label before, but i could be wrong

[@AR-q8z]

200 pounds is already over priced. only a ---- would spend 800 on a pair of denim. if someone is a multi millionair its a whole different thing though

[@MisterKnightly]

I would not, no.

[@Stridewise]

oh yes you would

[@kierkegaarde]

Please hem those jeans lol

[@domesticengineerlifecoach6938]

Only an idiot would pay that much for jeans! And the owners of this company are literally laughing all the way to the Bank!! 😆

[@d05wtt]

It’s not pronounced “oki Yama”. It’s “OKA Yama”.

[@jimlittle5769]

I can't see myself spending over $200 for a pair of jeans. Took me a long time to wrap my head around paying over $100.

[@doublestrokeroll]

Personally I appreciate that there are really well made jeans coming from a country that has decent working conditions and a high standard of living. Personally I don't think jeans should cost under 100 dollars. That cheapness comes at a high price in other ways. Exploitation of workers in sweatshops, incredible environmental costs, being a couple examples. Sure MIJ jeans are not perfect in those regards but they certainly are demonstrably better. I, for one, don't mind paying more to support that instead of the fast fashion/"costco" cheapness, that is one of the biggest problem spots in the world today.

[@jimlittle5769]

@doublestrokeroll yeah, I'm just saying over 200 bucks is too much for me, personally. All my jeans currently cost between 100 and 200.

[@doublestrokeroll]

@@jimlittle5769 I get it. Everyone is going to have their limits. Like, I would never buy these but I understand the people who would. Their into the hobby or like the fact these companies experiment with interesting fabric blends and are willing to pay the price to support that.

[@gillian32]

Those jeans don't match my Lambo. I'll have to pass.

[@richardwinser6161]

I never wash jeans I put them in a freezer!!

[@Anti-Taxxer]

Those jeans are way too loose on you.