Wax London's First Cut of Japanese Selvedge
If selvedge denim is the king of denim, Japanese selvedge is the crown that sits atop its head. But it's far more than a location of origin. It's a mark of authority, artisanal craft, assured premium quality and a seal of approval among even the most educated denim aficionados. Made in Japan means one thing: the best in the world.
But even Japanese denim is not all made equal. Over the last few seasons we've kept pushing our denim offering - new jean silhouettes, new washes, an all-new jackets line-up. So when it came to introducing our first made-in-Japan pair, quality of craftsmanship was the number one priority. We knew our Felix silhouette was the perfect foundation - which left two vital decisions: the choice of manufacturer, and the choice of denim.
What It's Made From
Like with every product we design, our journey to crafting our first pair of Japanese denim jeans started with a focus on fabric. We knew we needed to find a denim fabric manufacturer with the experience, esteem and quality associated with the "Made in Japan" name.
The Kaihara Denim Company, one of the most respected denim mills in the world, was the perfect fit. Based in Fukuyama, in Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture, they've been weaving textiles since 1893, moving into denim production in the 1960s and going on to become Japan's largest denim manufacturer. Despite their scale, they're known for retaining traditional craftsmanship in how they dye and weave. Kaihara selvedge specifically is woven on old-fashioned shuttle looms - the number of craftsmen skilled in operating them is declining, and production is naturally limited, making it all the more rare and valuable.
Where It's Made
Once we found our fabric, the next step was to find the manufacturer to bring our design to life. Our search took us to Johnbull, one of the pioneering manufacturers based in Kojima, Kurashiki - an area of Okayama Prefecture widely regarded as the birthplace and heartland of Japanese denim.
Founded in 1952, Johnbull became one of the names synonymous with the boom in high-quality Japanese selvedge in the 1960s-70s. Their prominence has never subsided, and today the company remains committed to time-honoured manufacturing methods and meticulous hand-finishing. It's this dedication to craft that made them the perfect manufacturer to pair with, in our pursuit of the best pair of Japanese selvedge jeans possible.
Our Made in Japan Jeans
And here they are, the final product - a coming together of Kaihara, Johnbull and Wax London. Woven slowly on old-fashioned looms, the uneven thread tension creates a texture on the surface of the fabric that's unique to Kaihara denim. Over time, this results in beautiful fades, known as "vertical fading" - a personal expression of your journey with your denim.
They're cut in our most popular silhouette, the Felix: a relaxed straight fit designed to fall cleanly from thigh to ankle. It strikes a balance between modern styling and traditional technique. A classic rinse wash creates the perfect canvas for your personal fades, and helps eliminate any shrinkage when it comes time to wash your denim - but hold out as long as you can before washing them.
Explore our full denim range. Three silhouettes. Seventeen washes. Seven selvedge styles, one Japanese. Two denim jackets. One denim shirt. All 100% cotton.
