Old Gray Lady has an article discussing the superiority of Japanese denim over the classic Levi’s.
It is well known amongst denim geeks that Japan now produces the best denim jeans in the world, bar none. Better than America where jeans became a staple in the wardrobe.
In fact the original looms used by Levi are now in Japan. It is these narrow shuttle looms that produce the best denim.
Many of the best Japanese brands model their pants after the original Levi 501′s. The 501 is known the world over for their classic cut and style. Levi’s produced in the 1940′s, -50′s and -60′s are widely accepted as the best Levi’s around, made during the heyday of denim.
The jeans mass produced today are far removed from this golden-era. So much so that Levi’s has to reissue jeans produced in this manner under a separate label, the high-end Levi’s Vintage.
It is extremely interesting to note that Levi’s doesn’t truly match how their jeans were produced decades ago…but the Japanese brands do! According to a quote in the New York Times:
“‘Theirs [Levi] is not nearly as close a reproduction of what a 501 was like in 1947 as Sugar Cane’s version is,’ Mr. Babzani said. Only Sugar Cane’s $450 copies of the 1955 Levi’s use original Scovill zippers bought from dealers in vintage stock. “
So if you want true authentic jeans from America’s Golden Age we suggest heading to Japan or the chic boutiques where they sell these hard to find treasures.
Out-Levi-ing Levi Strauss [NYT]
Photo credit: Torin Boyd/Polaris for NYT
