Studio D'Artisan - 15.5oz Black O/W Sashiko Denim Jeans - Relaxed Taper.

These guys keep one-upping the Sashiko game every year. We didn't get a chance to see these in person, but we're so glad we picked them up. They are so much better than we could've even imagined. At first sight, they look like a denim pant lined with a hickory stipe screen print. Then, we got close up and realized it was the vertical sashiko creating that line work. The hand-feel after the one-wash is beyond soft, but they're still packed with so much color you're still going to get those incredible highs and lows in the knees. The great part about sashiko is you get varied high points throughout the garment that catch wear in a different way. The inspiration for sashiko garments derives from the Japanese sashiko which never truly died. They would use pieces of the last garment to create the new, hand stitching throughout. Well, they've taken this concept and created a modern work of art. They've used a combination of No.6 warp and No.5 weft yarns on specially calibrated Jacquards looms. Their hope is to replicate the Sashiko stitchwork of the kimonos, and we'd say they've accomplished that pretty damn well.

Studio D'Artisan - 15.5oz Indigo O/W Sashiko Denim Jeans - Relaxed Taper.

These guys keep one-upping the Sashiko game every year. We didn't get a chance to see these in person, but we're so glad we picked them up. They are so much better than we could've even imagined. At first sight, they look like a denim pant lined with a hickory stipe screen print. Then, we got close up and realized it was the vertical sashiko creating that line work. The hand-feel after the one-wash is beyond soft, but they're still packed with so much color you're still going to get those incredible highs and lows in the knees. The great part about sashiko is you get varied high points throughout the garment that catch wear in a different way. The inspiration for sashiko garments derives from the Japanese sashiko which never truly died. They would use pieces of the last garment to create the new, hand stitching throughout. Well, they've taken this concept and created a modern work of art. They've used a combination of No.6 warp and No.5 weft yarns on specially calibrated Jacquards looms. Their hope is to replicate the Sashiko stitchwork of the kimonos, and we'd say they've accomplished that pretty damn well.

Momotaro - 13oz - Year of the Rabbit Jeans - Narrow Taper.

We felt very lucky to be a part of this limited edition "Year of the Rabbit" release. These were right up our alley with special little touches throughout. They really went above and beyond with the theme, starting with the rabbit mosaic. You have to look close, but you'll see little guys in an arctic colorway forming the GTB stripes. The hair on the patch is a really nice touch as well (it's not rabbit). There's custom details interworked throughout, including printed "Year of the Rabbit" pocket bags and jacquard liner. The interior is bonkers. There is of course all of Momo's standard, but incredible details. But, the capper has to be the peaking Rabbit laser engraved on the front coin pocket. It was a total surprise to us, and a happy one at that. The fabric is also an icon. The 13oz really shines with this one-wash treatment and is full of micro hairs and texture. We're so excited to be one of only two stores in all of the US even offering this denim! It's a rare one, that's for sure - we were only allowed to buy 10 pairs.

Momotaro - 15.7oz - Zimbabwe Selvedge Custom Black Battle Stripes - Wide Straight.

We've been looking for something a little wider than the narrow taper, and we've found just that. This Wide Straight, also known as the classic straight is just the thing to break you out of your slim jeans. We started our initial run of Momotaro with 16oz denim due to the texture, but again and again, received requests for the 15.7oz. This is Momo's iconic "Vintage Label" denim. The lore about its fading potential is heard far and wide

For our initial run with this denim, we went with black battle stripes to make the denim a little more subtle. Due to requests, we had to bring back the black stripe in this 15.7oz fabric. We've seen fades on these down the line, and we can't bring ourselves to move on from the black. It'll be something we're always drawn to. The black will sluff off more naturally with the denim, and from what we now know, will stand out nicely against a heavily faded pair. This is crocking that makes perfect sense.

Naked & Famous - 16oz - MIJ10 Okayama Spirit - Easy Guy.

If we had to stop carrying all other denim from Naked & Famous and be left with a lone survivor, this would be it. We absolutely adore the MIJ series. It's everything we want in a pair. This year is especially mouthwateringly good as it's their 10th iteration. They've brought back a denim people have been on the hunt for, for a decade. Since 2013 people have talked about this denim for a damn good reason. It's Japanese denim at its finest. It is the original Okayama Spirit Selvedge brought back to life, but completely made in Japan with all the bells and whistles. The verdict is no longer out. People are already breaking these in, and they're the best thing N&F has produced in years.

The Okayama Spirit is a 16oz unsanforized slubby Japanese selvedge denim that is dyed using the indigo rope dyeing process. In this process, cotton yarns are repeatedly run through vats of indigo dye, but not long enough for the dye to fully penetrate the yarn core. This creates a unique pattern in the fabric as thicker sections of the yarn absorb more indigo and thinner sections absorb less. The yarns themselves also have an irregular, slubby texture which adds to the overall texture of the fabric. To further enhance the texture, the denim is slowly woven on vintage shuttle looms, which creates a wavy weave pattern when viewed up close. The combination of the irregular slubby yarns and the loose weaving of the fabric gives it an organic, uneven grain that is signature of the Okayama Spirit's iconic textured look.

To preserve the hairiness, grittiness, and raw denim feel of this unsanforized denim, the MIJ10 undergoes a tempi treatment which shrinks the fabric while maintaining its texture. This removes the guesswork from sizing and allows you to get the correct size from the start. The MIJ10 also features a range of finishing touches that add to its character and appeal. These include 100% iron buttons that will rust, copper rivets that will oxidize, raised belt loops that will fade, a Japanese sheepskin leather patch with the "Flower of Carnage" logo, a selvedge button fly, and a micro busted outseam. The jeans also feature a maple leaf embroidered onto the back pocket, a signature of the MIJ series.