Throughout my longstanding denim obsession of 15 years, raw denim was something that sparked my interest around 8 years ago when I was introduced to it. One thing that I am never able to explain is the excitement that I get when I see a beautiful and authentic wash, it really makes me buzz, so I think that’s why raw denim has been a passion of mine for some time. I love the fact that you can take a raw indigo pair of jeans and wear the heck out of them until they turn into the most beautiful wash you have ever seen! Raw denim actually reminds me a lot of The Ugly Duckling as it literally transforms from nothing into a one of a kind, practically too good to be true, pair of jeans.
One of the best things about raw denim for me though, is how unique the jeans become. They mould and conform to your own body, so all of the fades and whiskering that have been created are all your own, so to me they are literally like wearable pieces of your life, creating art that can be lived in! It fascinates me! While I appreciate that raw denim is not for everyone as the thought of wearing the same jeans over and over without washing them for months can freak some people out, to me, it’s a passion.
I’ve personally had around 4 pairs of raw jeans in my life; Sling & Stones, Good Society, Cheap Monday and most currently, Nudie, which I am a couple of months into. Being a fashion blogger and a denim enthusiast, I do find it hard to stick to one pair of jeans though as I’m constantly testing out new brands and styles for work as well as having to put different looks together for my personal style blog, so my Nudie’s are not getting as much attention as I would like. I’m currently wearing them everyday while I blog, so they have become my work wear and are turning out quite nicely so far.
The actual point of this post though, other than to give raw denim some love, was to showcase the most amazing broken in raw jeans I have ever seen! These are the Lee 101 jeans that have been worn for 18 months (every day) by a shop owner and denim enthusiast called Henrik Brund. Henrik didn’t soak these jeans until 8 months of every day wear and they have only been soaked a couple of times after that, but the result is incredible as you can see!
These particular Lee 101 jeans are made from a 13.75 oz left hand Japanese Kaihara denim. It’s amazing to see how well they fade! They have encountered some serious wear and tear though, so Henrik has repaired them quite a few times around the knees, but that definitely adds to the appeal in my opinion. Each time I look at these photos, my heart skips a beat at their beauty. I found these photos and the story online at fellow jeans blog, Denim Hunters, so I definitely suggest heading over there to find out more about the jeans in their original post! It’ worth a read if you love raw denim! And guys, if you want your own pair, you can buy them online at Cultizm by clicking here.
Images courtesy of Denim Hunters.
Those Lee jeans are beautiful! WOW! I never considered Lee as a premium brand! I am way out of the loop apparently…I have one pair of raw jeans, the G-Star RAW Type-C 3D Loose Tapered I reviewed for Denimology. There definitely is a different quality to raw. I can’t wait to try more, and Nudie is on my radar!
http://denimology.com/2014/01/g-star-raw-type-c-3d-loose-tapered-review-2
Author
I wouldn’t say they were premium exactly, but they make amazing raw denim! Aren’t these just perfect? Those ones you reviewed didn’t look raw based on the wash, are they a washed our raw?
well they’re Japanese Raw denim which in my opinion is premium.
I definitely loved the post. You have shared a lot of information about raw jeans out here. I have always been an ardent fan of raw jeans. You have given great details about these denims and I am sure the article may have enlightened many fashion freaks.
Author
I’m glad you liked it!
Hi Lorna! I’m venturing out on grabbing a pair of the Cheap Monday Tight jeans in Raw…I read they fit pretty small though. What would you say, based on your experience with the brand?
Thanks! 🙂
Author
It was a long time ago when I had mine, but I did find them to be a little tighter than most brands 🙂
Samurai Jeans you have to try their organic cotton jeans, Zero denim and Yamato long staple cotton jeans. hard and stiff initially will become soft and comfy when worn over a year. ne3ver worry about the initial discomfort, they will become soft and comfy when worn over time – the investment truly pays off and are better than the jeans brands you wear
well they’re Japanese Raw denim which in my opinion is premium.
Author
Hi Mike, my comment was in reference to them as a brand as Lana said she didn’t consider Lee as a premium denim brand, which it isn’t classed as. Most brands have some jeans that they release which are on the premium level though, using great denim, selvedge etc. but it doesn’t make the brand as a whole a premium brand. Hope that clarifies it!
Oops wrong person Lol. Yes those sound awesome and tempting to try
Author
I’ve never tried the brand myself, but I know a lot who have and I’ve seen some amazing fades from Samurai too, so I agree with you on them being a great brand for raw denim!