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Jeans
in Japan
See
how they use their jeans
By Kurt Hahn
 We
all in the fashion industry have been amazed by the creativity in
the jeans market in Japan.
In
addition to denim dying and weaving, it seems Japanese fabric
companies have the best techniques worldwide for fading, washing,
and other ways to give jeans a worn look off the shelf. Many
luxury jeans brands (+$300) have this component of jeans
production done in Japan.
As
mentioned, it started about 10 years ago when Japan had a
revival in authentic,
vintage
(used) jeans, and later a host of
Japanese companies began to
reproduce replica vintage lines with more authentic looking
techniques than in other countries.
(Related:
Slimming jeans)
With
people paying several hundred dollars for authentic 70s Levi’s,
for example, the point was this
was the first time worldwide jeans were being seen as a
fashion item to this extent.
(This
was around the same time second hand 70s Adidas and 80s
Nikes were
selling for several hundred dollars too.)
From
then on, the jeans market in Japan morphed with an explosion in
brands with various washings, colors,
silhouettes, and details all playing on the concept of jeans as a
fashion accessory. While in most countries, jeans are used when
one wants to be casual and comfortable, that is not the case in
Japan. (Related:
Where to buy Japanese denim)
Jeans are very
much a fashion accessory and it is evident when you take a walk in
any of the fashionable districts in Japan.
The young Japanese are very good at coordinating fashion,
helping to promote the popularity of jeans among various fashion
scenes (from grunge to elegance).
In
the US, the proliferation in jeans as fashion is led by the Los
Angeles designers, such as Earl Jean,
Citizens
of Humanity, Juicy
Couture and Seven
Jeans (7 for all mankind) - with simple, elegant
sexiness. Not surprisingly, about half of Earl's sales
come from
Japan.
Jeans: an
American icon? Think again!
Recommended links: Slim
Japanese women
YMI
jeans
Ultra low rise jeans
Tyra Banks Paige Jeans video
Crocker Jeans |
