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My first selvedge denim : Momotaro Jeans 0306-12SP

mulceber

Moderator
Well, these are very much the polar opposite of Kermit's Momotaros in terms of cut (speaking of which, care to share some updated photos of how those jeans are breaking in @Kermit3D?), but for my birthday recently, I decided to take @stanier's advice from earlier in the thread, and pick up a pair of Sugar Cane 1947 (type I) jeans in 14.25 oz Japanese denim. SC is owned by the same company that owns Buzz Rickson, so that should give anyone here who isn't familiar with them a pretty good idea of what they're all about.

The pair I got were one-wash - I really don't want to muck around with guessing how much un-sanforized denim will shrink. The fit was pretty good, but they could stand to be a tad more snug in the waist, so after a day's wear I threw them in the washer to shrink them just a little more. IMO, they now fit my waist better. So here are my new one-wash two-wash 1947s:
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One thing that I didn't expect, but that I probably should have is how narrow the selvedge ID is. But then, the jeans SC was copying were mass-market work wear, not a fashion statement, so they wanted to save every inch of fabric that they could.
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And of course, gotta have fit pics:
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mulceber

Moderator
Yes sir! :D I've had some good practice on my Brave Star and Gustins: wear 'em, hang 'em on a hook for 24 hours to air out, repeat. So far it's been pretty effective at preventing any odors from developing. I'm planning to do that with this pair until...well until @Nnatalie tells me I really need to stop. o_O
 

mulceber

Moderator
Does this minimise shrinkage or just make for a more comfortable pair of jeans.

Bought some 1944 Levis late in 2020. Saw them in a draw at Christmas... Must drag em out.

Grant could probably answer this better than I can, but my understanding is that it's partly to increase the longevity of the jeans (washing the removes dirt, but also abrades the fabric) and partly to make them fade better. Not totally sure why that is, but it's proved true on the jeans I've tried it on.
 

entertainment

Well-Known Member
I have lots of raw-denim jeans that are ten years or more older that I have never washed. The sizing keeps them pretty clean. Occasionally some spot cleaning. Sounds gross but it really isn't. But if you wash them, you have to keep washing because the sizing goes. And if you think that is gross, how often do you wash your leather jackets that you wear with just a t-shirt?
 

mulceber

Moderator
I have lots of raw-denim jeans that are ten years or more older that I have never washed. The sizing keeps them pretty clean. Occasionally some spot cleaning. Sounds gross but it really isn't. But if you wash them, you have to keep washing because the sizing goes. And if you think that is gross, how often do you wash your leather jackets that you wear with just a t-shirt?

Sounds like it's time for some pics, @entertainment. ;)
 

B-Man2

Well-Known Member
I have lots of raw-denim jeans that are ten years or more older that I have never washed. The sizing keeps them pretty clean. Occasionally some spot cleaning. Sounds gross but it really isn't. But if you wash them, you have to keep washing because the sizing goes. And if you think that is gross, how often do you wash your leather jackets that you wear with just a t-shirt?
10 years ?
How?
I mean jeans aren’t a leather jacket . They are right up against your skin, your sweat,they absorb your body odor, even if you wash everyday .
 

entertainment

Well-Known Member
These have both been worn over ten years and never washed. Worn approximately once a week over that period on average.

Levi's Vintage Clothing (LVC) 1966 Made in USA

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LVC 1953 Made in Japan (This is an odd model that has a leather patch but a cut like a 1955. I don't think it was ever made in USA by LVC.)

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And my spare unworn pair of LVCJ 1953 to show the starting point
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entertainment

Well-Known Member
10 years ?
How?
I mean jeans aren’t a leather jacket . They are right up against your skin, your sweat,they absorb your body odor, even if you wash everyday .
I was exaggerating a bit in the comparison. But if you wear a jacket with a cotton lining over a t-shirt, the cotton lining is in contact with your skin on your arms and at your neck. Arm pits can get sweaty.
I also don't live in Florida! And in the summer I wear shorts rather than jeans.
 

entertainment

Well-Known Member
Here are my Sugar Cane 1947 which I have been wearing for about ten years as well, though not as often as the LVC ones. They are a bit roomier than the LVC 1947 for the same waist size (actual rather than nominal). These are 33 x 34. They were one-wash when I bought them like many Japanese jeans. I prefer to start with raw denim rather than one-wash because I get better fades with the crispier creases.

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Grant

Well-Known Member
Those SC's are starting to wear beautifully! Also impressed with what looks like a proper high rise on those bad boys. I know I'm totally old school, but friggin hate the low rise, narrow leg selvage denim that's popular these days.
 

Grant

Well-Known Member
BTW, Absolutely sick fades on those LVC '66 and '53's! Well done! The old LVC Japan stuff was killer!
Aside from the cool fades you get, not washing denim (or waiting as long as possible between washings) extends the life of the jeans making them well worth the higher price of selvage denim. IMHO!
 

entertainment

Well-Known Member
BTW, Absolutely sick fades on those LVC '66 and '53's! Well done! The old LVC Japan stuff was killer!
Aside from the cool fades you get, not washing denim (or waiting as long as possible between washings) extends the life of the jeans making them well worth the higher price of selvage denim. IMHO!
Thanks! After seeing the great fades you got on your Japanese Lee jeans, I bought a pair of hair on hides and a pair of the 1952 101Zs, but the cut was just not good for me. Occasionally, I give them another try but still no. Levi's just fit much better for some reason.
 
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