Three Padmores Head to Japan

[Giles]

So today, we went across the Seto Inland Sea to the island of Shikoku. We are having a new natural indigo denim made there. We visited the dyeing and weaving factory. I've been to a lot of mills, but this was seriously old skool shit....

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

Hanks of natural indigo yarns, showing the end result after varying numbers of dips. The right-hand hank is 25 times dipped. Out denim will be dipped 28 times

[Giles]

[Giles]

How the indigo arrives

[Giles]

[tody]

That's awesome. Sometimes I wish I followed my granddad, getting a degree in mechanical engineering instead of law. These old pieces of machinery are stunning!

[Giles]

Stunning indigo weft/persimmon warp denim

Traditional Kimono fabric (we bought a lot of different types of this )

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Giles]

[Nik]

Wow what beautiful fabrics and cool machinery. What's the plan with the kimono fabric and when will we see the natural indigo? Also will the 21ozSBG be in Gosport soon?

[AdamJ]

@Nik 21oz SBG won't be here for a good few months, if you're referring to the superblack selvedge non-fade, then current ETA is April

[Nik]

Thanks @AdamJ

[Giles]

We will use it at home and on SAKURA as table runners...

The natural indigo denim will be completed in about 11 months, then we have to sample and make stuff. It's unlikely that we will make jeans from it, as it will be fearfully (but gratifyingly) expensive....