IH-828-IND - 14oz Selvedge Double Knee Work Pants - Indigo
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I was at the web gathering on Saturday and had just done my first repair on my IH-828, and I showed them off, and told the following tale...
I bought my pair about two years ago as I was growing out of my beloved 822's and needed an alternative, as they were not in stock at the time. On a purely subjective level I was not very well disposed to the 14oz, which was an entirely prejudiced opinion, as I'd never really had anything to do with it. In all honesty, I was never a fan of the brand "going light", and that is about all it took for me to give the 14oz side-eye at best. On the whole I just ignored its existence, because I'm grown up like that.
But I figured the double knee brought the IH-828 up to heavyweight status and needed this design in my life, because frankly, nothing looks better than these and a thicc pair of Three Stripes. I was pleased when they arrived and continued to ignore their nominal 14oz status. When I started working at a dive bar last summer they became my go-to work jean, which accelerated both fading and washing cycles. And at this point I realised I needed to give the 14oz the props it deserves.
Don't get me wrong, 21oz is still where it's at, but the 14oz does some things the 21oz doesn't. Number one amongst them is the higher contrast fade. Not mad levels, but not far off UHR, (if not as quick to develop). Nr.2 is their crunchiness, (which I guess aids and abets the contrasting fades), they crease quickly and sharply, and that all returns after a wash. They don't ever get quite as buttery soft as 21oz as a result. But on the whole a very nice denim indeed, with a surprising amount of character.
As I said to the guys on the net meet, I know @Giles and @Alex had to work a long time to get Haraki-san to agree to designing and making 14oz, so I can't imagine he was super happy work with it. But the fact that it had two iterations and a complete re-design, before he was happy, tells us something. At the least, it attests to his commitment to designing a lighter weight denim, that could still bear the brands name with pride. It also shows a designer who is more interested in the quality of his work than he is in his personal preferences. That makes him a true craftsman. Someone who approaches his work with integrity, regardless of the task. So at the end of the day, I´ll admit, I should not have doubted the 14oz. It's a Haraki-san designed denim, and you know that means it is going to be good.
EDITED FOR SPLELLING ERLORS.
Pic dump:
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@neph93 Hell yea! Great story and pics. I love my 14oz 777s and my 822s. I would kill for some of these!!
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@Danimal506 not gonna lie... I wouldn't be sad if this inspired some interest and got them re-made. Long shot, but stranger things have happened.
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@neph93 I’m in for two pairs!
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My man @neph93. I missed you. And I love those 828's of yours
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Good stuff @neph93. Eloquent words and beautiful jeans. Makes me want to revisit the 14oz. And the double knee.
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Nice work on those! No doubt the 14 ounce is an incredibly durable denim for its weight! I’ve been thrashing a pair of 888’s four going on for summers now feels like they are going to last for another four. Absolutely incredible!
