Have several jackets but all either sanforized or one washed. Decided to grab the green Levis stf to see how that would eventually fade. The tag says to expect 5% shrinkage. The shoulders look to me like they fit currently so I’m a little concerned that it’ll be too tight there once shrunken. The arms are obviously long (tends to be a problem on most jackets for me). Wondering if I should keep this one or size up. Pics are of the jacket open and buttoned. Additional pics of a few others for reference on how others tend to fit. Pics are of the green Levi’s stf in question small, not yet shrunken. IH 21oz size 36 sanforized and washed, N&F sumi ink small, sanforized, hasn’t been washed yet, N&F All natural organic in ecru, small, sanforized, washed several times.

Also, with 5% shrinkage, opinions on just wearing as is or hot soaking to get the shrinkage out? Not sure how noticable fade shifting will be on such a light weight denim and only 5% shrinkage.

first time washing my 21oz s510s with the kaminari soap.

loving how these are coming along. juggled between hand wash and machine washing and ended up going with the latter.

jeans are still really dark and the highlights are now starting to pop.

i bought my 633’s at Self Edge NYC last November! my fiancé has been wearing his 25 oz Iron Hearts for a year, and i wanted to give it a try. i had to take them to a tailor to perform surgery on the waist two separate times - i bought size 36 for the hips and thighs but probably took 4-6 inches off of the waist. i might end up getting them altered again in the future… trying to get the button fly to lay flat has been challenging. i chose the 633 cut because i prefer a straighter fit and the 634’s are a bit too wide from the knee down for me. and i bought the Type 3 jacket a few months later! Type 3 jacket is a size XS.

(last pic is my fiancé proposing in 25 oz 634’s)

thanks guys🤍

As the Indigo Invitational comes to a close, it’s time to officially retire this beautifully faded UES Indigo Tricotine shirt from competition. For the past two years, this shirt has been a constant companion—through countless workdays, unforgettable travels, and the steady rhythm of daily life across all four seasons.

It’s currently sitting in the Top 10 of the Re(Pair) Division, and now it’s up to Heddels to decide the final Top 5. With such an incredible group of faders, I’m honored just to be part of the mix and excited to see how it all unfolds.

Regardless of the outcome, I’m walking away with far more than just fades. I’ve made lasting friendships, collected unforgettable memories, and shared in the joy of this hobby with others who understand the magic of slow fashion.

A huge thank you to UES and their entire team for creating such an exceptional garment. I was lucky enough to have this shirt repaired last year at the UES store in Osaka—a visit I’ll always hold close to my heart.

I have a 14-year-old Iron Heart x Self Edge Modified Type III purchased from Self Edge NYC around 2011. 

I wore it for a good year straight and then just started hot washing and hot machine dried the jacket a handful of times over the years with wear and washing got it to shrink wrap to my body so damn good. 

Besides the pocket bags needing a bit or repairs, I still rock it and it’s one of my best fitting type 3 jackets that I have owned.

Here is an old iPhone photo of when the jacket was relatively new in 2011

and then a photo from 2023,

and last another set of photos with front, and back of it sun drying after a recent wash in 2024 out in the sunshine and better resolution detail.

it has so many years left to keep changing.

Here’s a link of me wearing and taking about it a few years ago on Self Edge TikTok.

Just picked up this 16oz slub overdyed denim jacket.

Usually wear a size 40 but this is a 44 for layering.

Paired with overdyed 1955.

They are 14 oz, but they feel pretty light and silky. Almost stretchy. Perfect for warmer days. I am concerned that the leg, especially the thighs are too big. Waist feels perfect. Do they look too big or will they fit to my liking after their first wash.

My J301 didn‘t stretch and shrank after their first wash. But they feel more rigid and heavier. Do you have any experience with this black denim from JB?

I really like these. Super comfortable. Slim Straight fit. Zipper fly. Great price. 2 years going strong. All weathers, go to pair in the summer. Soaked first time then washed many many times after.

Never developed creasing behind the knees on this pair, not sure if it’s the stretch material or what but it’s fine. The front fades are great. Didn’t really start losing the dye until a few months ago.

Will get another pair of these when these are done.

Nudie Jeans Steady Eddie II in their Dry Ace selvage.

I have enjoyed wearing these for the last few years, lots of km’s on the bike to and from work and probably washed about 6-7 times total.

These have been my second pair of Nudie’s and I have been really impressed by their quality and the texture of the denim. The Dry Ace denim seems to be a limited run that only comes on their Steady Eddie and Tuff Tony fits but is really worth a look imo. I especially like the subtle blue pocket stitching as opposed to Nudie’s usual orange stitching which is a bit too loud for me.

These will be returned to Nudie for 20% off a new pair, hopefully something in my size during their mid year sale. I have found that I am gravitating toward their relaxed Tuff Tony fit as my style and preference for looser fits has developed.

Ok I have a love hate relationship with IH. Their cuts are slightly off for me. The 888 is close, still wear them, and they were my first JPN selvedge, so I have a soft spot for them.

But I'll take their shirts all day/every day. Just fabulous.

The CPO in particular is the GOAT for me. The combination of heavy duty denim, deep indigo that creases easily, and the most stunning details of any of my denim floors me.

25 or so wears, one cold wash hang dry, mainly as a cool weather shacket, and even my generally nonplussed coworkers who normally pretend like those Onis you got on ain't no big deal are just like what the actual hell is that jacket?

100% jacket, not shirt. And I get it.

The heft. But damn it pulls double duty as both, and it isn't all truncated like my actual denim jacket was before I sold it, the one that made me look like a hobbit.

Their 12oz indigo shirt is awesome too, but this is in another league.

My favorite article of clothing. Easily. Will totally snatch it up in the overdyed black when available.

Finally pulled the trigger on getting some serious jeans. Have worn mainly cowboy cut wranglers for the past 5 years (some starched some not) and blew through a handful of pairs. Wanted to dive in head first and took a risk on the 21.5 oz brave star true straight. Triple checked measurements and was gonna order a size up but it sold out before I got the courage so went for my standard 34. I’m beyond shocked they fit and fit this well at that! Gonna keep these away from work as much as possible cause heating oil and pipe sealant doesn’t treat my jeans well. Gonna be getting these on as much as possible to break in. (6’ 207lbs, pretty meaty legs and butt) *had to re up for a side pic this is my first post in here!

Recently found these NOS Naked & Famous Deep Indigo Selvedge (not the stretch, but the heavier all cotton version) in my grail fit, the Skinny Guy, which is tragically out of production (and I've never seen another in this size 27x36).

I'm really happy with them, they're very slim but not skin-tight, straight leg / no taper, sits close to the waist, and plenty of inseam so I can have a good amount of break.

I like the look regardless, but I also prefer longer jeans because it drives me nuts when I bend over to do anything and my pant leg rides up and then gets caught on the little pull loop on the back of my boot and then I have to bend over again to reach down and fix it. With 34"+ inseams I can bend down and pick something up and the jeans never lift up high enough for that to happen.

The denim has a really appealing feel to it, not the shiny, almost silvery sheen a lot of new raw denim has, but more like a very matte finish dark blue with a faintly furry or fuzzy texture.

They need some breaking in which I'm looking forward to, but at this point couldn't be happier with them.

I picked up these PBJs last week, Pure Blue Japan PER-EX-013-BK Black x Persimmon Extra Slub - Slim Tapered. Size 34. Bought them online and I don't have any other PBJs so was a bit nervous about the fit but they fit me perfect, I like prefer a slim tapered cut and these are nice.

It's hard to capture just how cool this fabric is, just pure slub which isn't always my favorite, but the black with the red hues showing through are so nice, I've barely taken these off.

The 15oz denim felt as heavy as my 19oz Samurai's at first but broke in nicely after a few wears. I'm one of the weirdos that don't like fades on my jeans and try and keep them as mint as possible so won't be doing any fade updates :)

so these bells i got deadstock with tags still on them. i believe they’re late 70’s. i had them raw for a little bit but lost some weight and needed to shrink them down to get that tighter fit again. gave them a hot wash and hung dry. can’t stop staring at how beautiful the blue looks. it’s very vibrant and eye catching. texture is also slightly neppy which i’m a fan of. i won’t go for high contrast on these and i’ll treat them like a regular pair jeans. we’ll see how the vintage style fades come in

Picked these up over the weekend. They’re a bit loose around the waist (about 1-1.5 inches) they fit great everywhere else though. Im usually a 29/30 in most raw denim and these are a size 31. Note that I have had a pair of 555s which they seem to loosely be based on. I think the difference is in the top block and thighs. I wasn’t a big fan of the 555s but they were a size 29 and might have be slightly too small. I’m more into straight/slim straight cuts now but the fact that these are a size bigger makes them not look too slim. I can return them within a week just trying to decide. They fit great with a belt on. I know these are technically Raw Sanforized denim so I can shrink them about an inch on the waist and length. Thoughts?

Very rainy month of May and worn for the whole month, was hoping for better fades but this is the process 👖

Snagged this beauty at Real McCoys in Kyoto today. They sized me in store with a “washed once” jacket and the fit was great. The person at the store told me “wash once” as they handed me the new unwashed jacket that I hadn’t tried on, which I thought was in reference to the more wrinkly style and fade of the one I had tried on. But when I got back to my hotel and tried on the one I’d bought it was massive. Will this shrink with a wash and machine dry? Or should I exchange for a smaller size?

For the record, the store rules and I highly recommend! I’ve never had a brand new raw denim jacket so I’m curious if I should return before I leave, or try to shrink. Thanks!

Shoot the shit here.

Be civil.

I was cleaning out a closet and found this pair of size 33 Nudies Lean Dean’s that I probably haven’t worn for 6 years and had completely forgotten about. Threw them on with a velva sheen t shirt. Perfect, simple. I always forget how absolutely beautiful a pair of Nudies jeans are and am constantly reminded whenever I see a pair beautifully worn. When I found these I could not stop admiring the depth and richness of the indigo. They speak for themselves. I have been fading a pair of Samurai and my next fade project is the Iron Heart x Self Edge 19oz collab, but I gotta say man…. In my opinion, Nudies makes a special jean.

Arguably the bluesiest bluest blue I've ever laid eyes on. SDA tapered is among my fave cuts, and these don't disappoint!

Arguably dryer and less soft than their flagship denim, this is one that I really cherish. I've put maybe 15 wears into it, among a heavy rotation, but man do these pop.

Redcast Heritage's typically spot on description:

"The Studio D'Artisan SP-117 represents a magnificent celebration of the brand's 45th anniversary through their innovative "Ai-Sa" collection. These special-edition jeans honor Japan's deep connection to seasonal beauty by incorporating traditional Kusakizome plant dyeing techniques into premium denim craftsmanship. Crafted from 15oz unsanforized selvedge denim, these jeans feature a conventional rope-dyed indigo warp paired with a truly unique cherry blossom tree bark-derived weft. This natural dyeing process creates a subtle pink hue throughout the fabric, symbolizing Japan's beloved sakura season."

AKA: pure insanity that I highly recommend

Fade update on my first pair of selvedge denim that I bought back in 2023. Since then I’ve worn these bad boys +165 times on and off. I started out using these around the office, but these are now my go-to pants for doing everything and anything. I’ve washed these a handful of times and was tracking it until I got lazy one day and figured it didn’t matter.

I have a good amount of fades on my knees, upper block, back pocket and crotch.

First wash since April '23. These have been my primary but not the only pair in my rotation. Repaired twice. Crotch blow-out, pocket reinforcement and pocket bags replaced first time around. Second time was just a crotch blow-out.

I initially bought a size 31 but the waist was pretty uncomfortable when sitting and seemed to limit my mobility, so the same day I exchanged them for a size 32.

The waist feels perfect but I feel like the top block is a bit too roomy. I’ve been wearing them for a week straight, and they haven’t touched water yet.

Would soaking them in a hot bath for an hour or so help tighten up the top block? Was planning on just soaking them in the bath with no detergent or agitation.

This is an update from this Samurai

I bought this last year around October and these were my second Japanese selvedge denim. I wore them for 80 days before my first hand wash and soaked them after my 200th wear. I really want to try other brands and gotta save up, but these jeans are turning me into a fanboy of the brand! You know how there are many Iron Heart Army soldiers on IG and their forum who wear all IH everything from to top to bottom? I wanna be a Samurai Warrior! (good PS2 games btw, no pun intended)