Alex and Steve’s Japan visit - June 23

[Steve]

So have been editing the factory visit images. We do plan to make a video showing the process from beginning to completed piece (that will come soon) but until then here’s a few images of the pre indigo yarn (more teaser pics will follow as I edit!…)

[A Former User]

@Steve amazing! Can’t wait for the vid! Nice that you guys do this behind the scenes thing! Also a nice gift from H

[Karol]

@Steve Beautiful photos! These symmetries and textures!

[Kasi]

@Steve

bravo

[Steve]

some more pics, but this time with indigo making an appearance…

[Salted Racer]

Beautiful-- natural to dyed! These images are soul food for the denim head : )

[Steve]

Haraki-San at the IH Kojima store

[68degreesorless]

@Steve Great photo. I imagine you've been spending some time with him on your trip. Could you share more about his personality? I imagine he might need a certain level of intensity and focus to do what he does. But he also seems joyful and a bit silly at times, at least on social media. Do you communicate in English or through a translator? I would be interested to learn more.

[Steve]

Some of the next stage in the process - weaving on shuttle looms

[Steve]

Always need tools to repair these machines!

[Giles]

In fact, Haraki chooses the smaller mills on the basis of how good the mechanic is and thus how able he is to keep the machines running well....

[tody]

What's the smell like, what's more predominant? Smell from the fabric, or from the machines?

[Steve]

@68degreesorless Haraki-San is very focused on his work/design, but very open to ideas, he does have an understanding of English, but we do use Sarina to translate.

[Steve]

@tody to be quite honest I can not remember any smells, but sometimes, depending on the factory it is very loud and quite an attack on your senses!

[weftyarn]

Brilliant pics @Steve

[louisbosco]

@Alex just had this. Love the cosy vibes and great food

[chiverus]

Hello everyone!! Just resurrecting this thread to ask if there are recommendations for restaurants in Shinjuku (or near Hatsudai Station) for a family of 5 to experience proper Japanese food?

We are in Tokyo in February for 8 days and will eat anything! We have the Harry Potter Studio booked for the kids (14, 13, 7) and will walk the city and eat, and visit parks and shrines and maybe Disneyland.

I am planning Freewheelers, Real McCoys and Fullcount visits as they’re all a 40 minute walk from our house.

Cheers!!

[Alex]

I'll drop you a PM later today

[chiverus]

@Alex said in Alex and Steve’s Japan visit - June 23:

I'll drop you a PM later today

Amazing thank you! I’d love to go to the IH store but wondering it might be too far for just a morning..

[alexxedge]

Hi gang, just stumbled across this thread as I’m doing research for my Japan trip coming up this fall. The images from the factory are absolutely incredible. It’s done nothing but get me even more hyped up for my visit.

I’m planning on hitting the Osaka store, and will be grabbing my first pair(s) of IHs on the trip. I’ll be making a pit stop by to see my buds at Guilty Party in Atlanta first, to try on the 666 and 634 cuts so I can dial in some sizing.

I know the Osaka store is smaller, from everything I’ve seen but feeling confident I’ll be able to find a couple. I also got messaged the Osaka IG, on the recommendation of Giles (I believe) to get some insight on their stock. Holding off on that, as it’s still quite some time before I visit and I know that’s likely to change.

I am curious if anyone knows if there is a lot of difference in the fit of the 634 and 9634 cuts. I searched but couldn’t find any threads related to that specific question.

Either way, just wanted to pop in and mention how pumped I am for this trip, and that this thread only increased that level of hype.