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/ Fade Friday /

Fade Friday – Indigo Invitational Y4 Edition

As the indigo dust begins to settle, it is time for us to again stare at super-worn-in pairs of jeans and admire the cool squiggly lines that get etched into them when worn for a long ass time. In other words, welcome to the recap of the 4th year of the Indigo Invitational.

Featuring over 1,500 denim heads who committed themselves to wearing one pair of jeans for 366 days starting January 1st 2024, the competition yielded some of the most impressive wear patterns we’ve ever seen. But before we get to that – honestly shout out to all the people who tolerate people in their lives like us wearing the same damn pants every day for a year, especially if they aren’t getting acquainted with the washing machine.

Split into 3 different subcategories, SEA (South East Asia), ROW (Rest of the World), and RE(PAIR), the competition pulls from all corners of the earth to give us the best field imaginable. It doesn’t hurt that judging was in the hands of 3 esteemed panels, including our very own Managing Editor, David Shuck.

So now that you get the caliber and legitimacy we’re dealing with here, I might as well share two of my favorite fades from the comp.

The first pair comes from Nigon, the 7th-place finisher in the SEA division (pictured above). With a blend of intense yet natural-looking fades on the front side of his Piger Works 20 oz. denim, what really impresses me us the prizm like honeycombing ’round back with their intense shadows. If you put those fades in a frame, they might be mistaken for cubist art – you know, with a blue period influence.

The second pair is Evan’s 13.3oz Warehouse & Co. jeans (pictured above). Appearing in the Rest of the World Divison, these are your go-to’s if you want authentic looking worn in vintage denim straight from grandpa’s cattle ranch. At the end of the day, we can appreciate high contrast but sometimes you just want something that is impressive without looking fussy and these exemplify that spirit effortlessly.

Head on over to Denimhunters to view the full collection of fade finalists.

/ In Partnership with Iron & Resin /

Horsing Around with Iron & Resin's New Leather Jackets

There are few better and harder-wearing materials for outerwear than the tried and true horsehide. Iron & Resin's new collection features beautiful horse leather in several different silhouettes.

Have a look at the classic Type 1 styled Rancho Jacket or the moto-inspired Gambler. These limited editions are sure to go fast, so visit their site for first dibs at Iron & Resin.

/ New Releases /

Brother Bridge’s Henry Boxing Boots are Knockout

For a boot that distinguishes itself from other options while remaining true to heritage footwear sensitivities like timeless design and hardwearing construction, step into the ring with the Henry Boxing Boots from Brother Bridge.

Featured in a Vintage Brown Calf leather that was vegetable-tanned in Himeji, Japan, you know we’re already off to a knock-out start. These are inspired by old athletic footwear with distinguishing features like a lace-to-toe design, a soft toe cap, and a lack of paneling on the medial and lateral sides. Supported by flexible Goodyear welt construction and a replaceable heel and sole, not only can these boots go all 10 rounds, but they’ll look better after every time that bell dings. So whether you are looking for that semi-casual boot to complete your rotation or a workwear leaning option, the champ is here and we get the feeling its reign will last a very long time.

Available for $555 from Blue Beach Denim.

Look to NAQP for Canadian-Made Basics

The term ‘Made in Canada’ has long held weight in the clothing world. Whether it’s Supreme‘s legendary heavyweight sweatshirts or Reigning Champ‘s basics, Canadian knitting mills have consistently impressed folks on the hunt for high-quality tees and sweats from skaters to denim heads and beyond.

The latest entry in the Made in Canada pantheon is a range of elevated basics from Calgary-based retailer, North American Quality Purveyors (NAQP). They’ve opened pre-orders for a swathe of Canadian-knit garb, revolving around a trio of sweat, hoodie, and t-shirt silhouettes each available in 8, —yes, 8 — colorways. From classic black, grey, and navy to faded olive, oatmeal, and more, there is something for everyone who likes to tinker in terry or jaunt in jersey.

The sweats and hoodies are made from heavyweight 20 oz. brushed back fleeced terry with tough-as-nails 2×1 ribbing, all flatlocked with four-needle stitching for clean and robust construction. The Tees? They’re cut from 16oz (350 GSM) reverse grain cotton jersey and sewn into a boxy-fitting t-shirt with a singular chest pocket.

Seriously, there is something for everyone here. If you’ve got your tee/sweat game sewn up, there’s a 12 oz. black denim ball cap available for pre-order, too.

Head on over to NAQP to see the collection, which is open for pre-orders starting at $50.

Spend Your Rent on Momotaros’ MXGJ10024A “Mud & Natural Indigo Dyed” Type II

By this point, you’re probably familiar with the Type II denim jacket. A staple in the heritage clothing market for those who want a balance of workwear and Westernwear in a way that does not feel out of place in the modern day, this 2-pocket blouson gets shown a lot of love by all our favorite brands. All of which have cracked the code of faithful homage. Seriously there are so many repro-type IIs that could pass as originals that we’ve developed some major trust issues.

And then there are brands like Momotaro that tweak the design just enough to show they know what they’re doing while making something fresh. Or in this case, dirty. Utilizing a mud and natural indigo dyeing technique, their MXGJ10024A Type II Denim Jacket possesses a remarkably deep color profile and a unique texture to match, both of which will evolve over time into a unique take on this classic jacket.

This muddy blouson is the latest in a line of innovative and rare denim pieces from Momotaro, which includes silk selvedge, hand-woven denim, and more. The labor-intensive dyeing process is evident in the price tag but this is more akin to a work of art than your standard raw denim jacket.

Available for $1,034 from Redcast Heritage

/ Weekly Rundown /

• HAVEN Field Tester: Canadian Craftsmanship – HAVEN

• The Story Of Too Much Too Young & How The Specials Got Their First Number One Single – The Quietus

• Skateboarding Legend Jamie Thomas Is Here To Cook Your Shoes in a 300° Oven – Stitchdown

• Women in Menswear – Edition 2 – Division Road, Inc.

• Student designers create Western-inspired looks to promote sustainable fashion – Rocky Mountain PBS

• The Results Are In: 25 Contest-Winning Raw Denim Fades – Denimhunters