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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    What do you consider "raw" denim to mean?

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    • BroarkB
      Broark
      Joined:

      New 16 oz. completely untreated and in the 888 cut.  😎

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Matty123M
        Matty123
        Raw and Unwashed
        Joined:

        Personally, I think of raw as loomstate. But there are A LOT of denim companies out there marketing “Raw”  Selvedge jeans that have been sanforized or treated in many ways. That confuses me. Who is to
        Say they are wrong? But either way I get excited when I see the word raw and then bummed when I read the details.

        Maybe so. Maybe not

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • GilesG
          Giles
          IHUK Crew
          Joined:

          @Matty123:

          Who is to Say they are wrong?

          Me

          "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Matty123M
            Matty123
            Raw and Unwashed
            Joined:

            @Giles:

            @Matty123:

            Who is to Say they are wrong?

            Me

            Is there an industry standard?

            Maybe so. Maybe not

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Megatron1505M
              Megatron1505
              見習いボス
              Joined:

              @Giles:

              @Matty123:

              Who is to Say they are wrong?

              Me

              Me too, if it’s sanforised (at all) it is categorically not raw denim.

              Made in England, clothed in Japan, fed in America and drunk in Belgium !

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Matty123M
                Matty123
                Raw and Unwashed
                Joined:

                There should be. It’s like top grain leather is top grain leather. Raw denim should mean one thing.

                Maybe so. Maybe not

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • DionD
                  Dion
                  Joined:

                  @Giles:

                  I think I will try and go 16 or 18.  The easiest route is to use the vintage 16 and/or 18 and not sanforise or wash) it…..

                  I was hoping for something in the range of 20+ oz to start with but it will be much more difficult to keep it unsanforized and stable, I guess.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • neph93N
                    neph93
                    見習いボス
                    Joined:

                    @Matty123:

                    Is there an industry standard?

                    No. Which is partially why I started this thread to see if there was a consensus on this forum. It seems there is. This makes me happy.

                    “Some of those that work forces
                    Are the same that burn crosses”

                    • Virginia Woolf
                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • madmondayM
                      madmonday
                      Raw and Unwashed
                      Joined:

                      @Matty123 "raw denim" does mean one thing to people who are ingrained in and speak the language (at least on this forum).

                      to the casual shopper the term raw denim tends to be what ever the manufacture is peddling that day to grab the customer.

                      look at it like eggs, you got a raw egg, you got the 1 minute egg that is super runny, 3 minute egg little less runny, hard boiled egg, etc.

                      they all eggs but you know

                      off topic but I always am

                      again great topic @neph93  as there is a super easy and clear answer to the initial question but it can branch off into so many other things based on each persons experience

                      head high, middle finger higher

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • UnTuckedU
                        UnTucked
                        Joined:

                        This is why I wear workpants… no confusion, lol

                        In search of:
                        IHV-04, med.
                        IHSH-185, large
                        IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • madmondayM
                          madmonday
                          Raw and Unwashed
                          Joined:

                          @neph93:

                          my point was that great denim doesn’t have to be raw to be excellent

                          good point but not easy to put into a quick sound bite to get consumers to spend their money by the old guard selling fast fashion to consumers and are just trying to turn a profit

                          as consumers become more educated and the rise of conscious consumerism with brands like Patagonia i think it will change, slowly, but change none the less

                          what is also funny is that every one has a voice, which is a good thing, but you get a lot of misinformed people making arguments that do not hold water.

                          you would not argue about the color or fruit orange, since it is a universal fact it should be the same with the term  raw denim, but you know

                          I mentioned oranges and eggs, I am hungry time to get some grub

                          head high, middle finger higher

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • Matty123M
                            Matty123
                            Raw and Unwashed
                            Joined:

                            @madmonday:

                            @Matty123 "raw denim" does mean one thing to people who are ingrained in and speak the language (at least on this forum).

                            to the casual shopper the term raw denim tends to be what ever the manufacture is peddling that day to grab the customer.

                            look at it like eggs, you got a raw egg, you got the 1 minute egg that is super runny, 3 minute egg little less runny, hard boiled egg, etc.

                            they all eggs but you know

                            Yeah that’s true. Thanks Monday

                            But for me my egg? First I break the egg on to a fine mesh screen and get all the watery clear whites gone.
                            Then 185F water for 4 minutes. Gently stiring so it doesn’t stick to the bottom. Take that shit out and bam! Perfect.  Poached 185f egg

                            Maybe so. Maybe not

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • gaseousclayG
                              gaseousclay
                              Joined:

                              @manufc10:

                              Most people don't like the unpredictable nature of loomstate, therefore underrated IMO.

                              I'm in the camp of people who dislike the unpredictable nature of loomstate. I like the guesswork being taken out of having to figure out sizing/shrinkage, especially if you're dropping big $.

                              WTB:
                              IHSH-129 size L (blue)
                              IHSH-19

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • UnTuckedU
                                UnTucked
                                Joined:

                                Ditto…
                                Never owned a pair, and likely never will.....

                                Closest I've gotten is my Oni "Secret denim" (unsanforized)...

                                Shockingly enough, "the guy who throws all clothes in the washer and dryer all willy nilly" is extremely apprehensive about washing these jeans using ANY methods. They will likely stay truly raw (And eventually, ripe) forever.

                                In search of:
                                IHV-04, med.
                                IHSH-185, large
                                IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Matty123M
                                  Matty123
                                  Raw and Unwashed
                                  Joined:

                                  @UnTucked:

                                  Ditto…
                                  Never owned a pair, and likely never will.....

                                  Closest I've gotten is my Oni "Secret denim" (unsanforized)...

                                  Shockingly enough, "the guy who throws all clothes in the washer and dryer all willy nilly" is extremely apprehensive about washing these jeans using ANY methods. They will likely stay truly raw (And eventually, ripe) forever.

                                  Et tu Bruté?

                                  Maybe so. Maybe not

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • UnTuckedU
                                    UnTucked
                                    Joined:

                                    I have a thing for slubby, irregular denim….. Sorry! lol

                                    In search of:
                                    IHV-04, med.
                                    IHSH-185, large
                                    IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • neph93N
                                      neph93
                                      見習いボス
                                      Joined:

                                      @gaseousclay:

                                      I'm in the camp of people who dislike the unpredictable nature of loomstate.

                                      How do you feel about the terminology? Raw=loomstate?

                                      “Some of those that work forces
                                      Are the same that burn crosses”

                                      • Virginia Woolf
                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • manufc10M
                                        manufc10
                                        Iron Heart Deity
                                        Joined:

                                        @neph93:

                                        @madmonday:

                                        you use a lot of words neph, what you mean about 21oz denim?

                                        It was a pre bedtime post, and I have a rule, “Why use one word when you can use 259?”

                                        It’s edited for clarity now but my point was that great denim doesn’t have to be raw to be excellent, unique etc and the 21oz is a good example of that. It was tonnes of character despite it’s smooth even face, heavy sanforisation and fade retardant treatment. Hell, the SB denim isn’t even selvedge and doesn’t fade and is still more interesting than some Cone Mills denim I’ve owned.

                                        I agree 100%.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • Matty123M
                                          Matty123
                                          Raw and Unwashed
                                          Joined:

                                          @UnTucked:

                                          I have a thing for slubby, irregular denim….. Sorry! lol

                                          U find loomstate to be less slubby and irregular? Don’t be sorry.

                                          Maybe so. Maybe not

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • UnTuckedU
                                            UnTucked
                                            Joined:

                                            @Matty123:

                                            @UnTucked:

                                            I have a thing for slubby, irregular denim….. Sorry! lol

                                            U find loomstate to be less slubby and irregular? Don’t be sorry.

                                            I haven't handled any loomstate denim, actually. I was just referring to my love of PBJ….

                                            In search of:
                                            IHV-04, med.
                                            IHSH-185, large
                                            IHSH-186, large (khaki, and green)

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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