May 26, 2018
The Purest Form of Japanese Denim
When we first discussed our vision for The Workers Club, it was clear from the start that denim was to be a vital part of our story. As denim enthusiasts ourselves, we know that fellow connoisseurs are hard to please. From weaving to dyeing, wash and construction, the journey from first thread to final pair is complex, steeped in tradition and a true labour of love.
Our denim is woven in Okayama, Japan, an area famous for its denim mills. We knew we would only ever consider making jeans using the purest form of Japanese denim, which is why our denim story began with a trip to Okayama. As we immersed ourselves in the denim crafting process, our visions of the perfect TWC jean began to take shape.
We use a 13.5oz sanforized narrow loom selvedge denim from the famous Kuroki Mill in Okayama. This selvedge shuttle loom, known as the ‘Toyoda’, was made by Toyota pre-car manufacturing and was originally used for making World War 2 uniforms. Post-war, the Toyoda was repurposed for denim. The last machine was produced over 50 years ago, making it extremely valuable and highly desirable for crafting vintage jeans. Located in the city of Ibara, Kuroki is blessed with favourable weather, lush green forests and an abundance of spring water, which creates a consistent level of colour in its denim. Okayama is famed for its indigo dye and is regarded as the true home of denim. Our jeans are created using indigo rope dyeing, a lengthy 10-step dip process and finally, washed without the use of harmful chemicals.
Having discovered the finest quality denim, we took our quest to craft the ultimate jean one step further and decided to fully manufacture ours in Japan. In order to save costs, most European brands will ship their Japanese denim closer to home and manufacture their jeans in European factories. We are honoured to work with a true legend of the manufacturing world, a fellow denim obsessive who we now consider a friend and extended member of the TWC family. Our Vintage Wash Selvedge Denim jean is inspired by one of our own vintage pairs, which has been exquisitely recreated to achieve that fantastic, worn-in feel.
We are excited to announce the launch of a new regular fit jean for Spring/Summer 2019. We will also soon be offering an entirely bespoke denim service; a must-have for any denim aficionado.