21oz Shinayaka Selvedge Denim
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For my part I totally understand the conservatism that people can have regarding something that they love. I feel it myself. I remember when Iron Maiden first used keyboards on a record. I was horrified by the thought. Then I heard the record. It was pretty great. I still listen to it now over 30 years later, along with all the stuff before the keyboards.
A lot of people have a special relationship with this brand, and that is based on different aspects of the brand, and often connected to how things were when it all started for each of us. For me the heavyweight aspect was important along with the practicality and purity of design. There wasn’t a romantic element to IH. No old west styling, no pop culture flair or fashionable detail. It was like, here’s a pair of jeans. We made them heavy. We made them well. Or, here’s a shirt, we made it about as well as a shirt can be made, by the way, it’s heavy too.
So when the 14oz denim came along I felt a little betrayed. It was lightweight. It wasn’t IH. Other brands dick around with that, not my favourite brand. We’re Heavyweight. But we all got used to that pretty damn quick, didn’t we. Many people love them, some don’t bother with them, but they are IH and they are here to stay.
At the end of the day, the brands you love, the bands you love, the people you love, are all developing. If they didn’t they’d stagnate and you’d love them less, you’d just love the memory of them as they once were. There is an element of conservatism in all of us about the things we love, we’re scared of them changing. But change has to happen if a relationship is going to grow. With the best relationships, the ones that last, we trust in them to manage that change and we grow with them as a result.
I would have been really put out by stretch denim from IH a while back. As it is, I’m not sure if it is for me, but I’m really excited and curious to find out. I want to see what Haraki-san has pulled out of the bag. Because after buying this gear for more than six years I don’t remember him having put a foot wrong really. So if he has spent three years developing this I’m willing to bet it’s going to be good. I’m willing to bet it is going to be Iron Heart. Bring it on, I say. Vive la différence. Vive la change.
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Well said! [emoji122][emoji122]
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I just remembered another thing. When H told me what he was doing, I said that I'd rather he worked on getting the 21oz superblack selvedge made. He gave he a withering look, and said in a very polite Japanese sort of way, words to the effect, "anyone can make something the've done before, and I can do that for you if you want it, but I get the most satisfaction and joy by doing something new"
He really dislikes the IH 1955 cut. He makes it begrudgingly for us because he knows it fills a gap, but asking him to make something that has been made before gives him zero creative buzz…..
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I think stretch denim is a great idea! I have a few pair of jeans with a bit of stretch and they are super comfy as hell. They work so much better for practical reasons like crouching down. I also have thicker thighs (from squatting not eating :P) and would appreciate a little stretch in the top block while wearing a slimmer pair of jeans.
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I just remembered another thing. When H told me what he was doing, I said that I'd rather he worked on getting the 21oz superblack selvedge made. He gave he a withering look, and said in a very polite Japanese sort of way, words to the effect, "anyone can make something the've done before, and I can do that for you if you want it, but I get the most satisfaction and joy by doing something new"
He really dislikes the IH 1955 cut. He makes it begrudgingly for us because he knows it fills a gap, but asking him to make something that has been made before gives him zero creative buzz…..
Giles - an crazy idea, any thought to write a book in the future? This sort of anecdotal exchanges, between yourself and Haraki san, is what drew me to IH initially. A (otherwise) unlikely partnership that somehow brings the best of both worlds…would love to hear more if possible.
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So when is this going to be available?
Thinking a 888 in stretch 21oz might just be the comfiest pair of jeans ever!
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Also for some strange reason I want to see a pic of Giles in the 555's
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Giles - an crazy idea, any thought to write a book in the future?
I can't write
But thanks for the kind words, that means a lot to me…..
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Also for some strange reason I want to see a pic of Giles in the 555's
Just thinking about what I saw in the mirror makes me laugh…..
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Come on get one up. In these times we need as many laughs as possible
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Let me elaborate.
Haraki has been developing this new denim for 3 years. Until he had got the amount of flex he was looking for and the look and feel of our signature 21oz indigo selvedge denim, he just kept on trying.
So please be open minded about it, we are not selling out.
As one of the newer IH fans, I absolutely do not see this as selling out. Most top-tier Japanese brands already have stretch denim. The truth is H-san could have rolled out any odd stretch denim out there, slap the IH brand on, stuff enough material to make sure it's 21oz+ (so it can be called 'heavyweight') and I'm pretty sure those jeans will fly out the door. IH could have made some fast money if it wanted to, but the fact that H-san spent 3 years developing his own version of IH-stretch gives me confidence that this will be one of the best stretch denim out there. It may not suite everyone, each to their own. But I've certainly got this pencil down for 2021
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This is one of my favourites…
A couple of months prior, I'd asked Haraki to make the indigo/indigo 18oz denim. We were in Bangkok for the Pronto Denum Carnival, and were in the hotel restaurant on the first night.
Haraki - "Ive made the new denim you asked for"
Giles - "Wow, great. What's it like"
Haraki - "Well, I think you'll like it"A couple of years later he decided he liked it too, and released it in Japan…
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Giles - an crazy idea, any thought to write a book in the future?
I can't write
But thanks for the kind words, that means a lot to me…..
I’m sure a picture book would suffice
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Giles - an crazy idea, any thought to write a book in the future? This sort of anecdotal exchanges, between yourself and Haraki san, is what drew me to IH initially. A (otherwise) unlikely partnership that somehow brings the best of both worlds…would love to hear more if possible.
The idea to write a brand history occurred to me a while back… one day I’ll do it. Great excuse to go to Japan. And Gosport. Of course going to Gosport without an good reason is grounds for being sectioned.
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Come on get one up. In these times we need as many laughs as possible
You know how I occasionally wear jeans that are a little tight for me… you may get to see that again soon. Good enough? [emoji1]
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This is one of my favourites…
A couple of months prior, I'd asked Haraki to make the indigo/indigo 18oz denim. We were in Bangkok for the Pronto Denum Carnival, and were in the hotel restaurant on the first night.
Haraki - "Ive made the new denim you asked for"
Giles - "Wow, great. What's it like"
Haraki - "Well, I think you'll like it"A couple of years later he decided he liked it too, and released it in Japan…
I'm going to guess H-san actually liked it from the get go, but thought he would wait a few years and hoped that you won't notice…
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Giles - an crazy idea, any thought to write a book in the future? This sort of anecdotal exchanges, between yourself and Haraki san, is what drew me to IH initially. A (otherwise) unlikely partnership that somehow brings the best of both worlds…would love to hear more if possible.
The idea to write a brand history occurred to me a while back… one day I’ll do it. Great excuse to go to Japan. And Gosport. Of course going to Gosport without an good reason is grounds for being sectioned.
When's the next brand anniversary? 20th? 30th? I think it would be fun to make this into an anniversary project, and research should start now :D. There you go @neph93 I've found a reason for you.
