aho

https://instagram.com/andynog_pan?igshid=NGVhN2U2NjQ0Yg== boomtime 🫡

Grain of salt as I'll always continue to beat the drum for Ooe* I don't believe there is hype, outside of the US retailing circle/community. I've always been able to buy a pair whenever a new one was released either through Ooe direct (which unfortunately isn't an option now, as they don't have enough time to take care of shipping, etc. outside of making the jeans), or through their various stockists in Japan (Barnstormer, etc.). The latter often have sizes sitting for months after the initial drop, and are easy to contact via e-mail, or buying through Buyee (proxy) direct. At the end of the day, Ooe Yofukuten is two people, Ryo and Hiro. One does the patterning and cutting, the other does the sewing. The demand has increased to the point that they now have to work with stockists instead of a custom direct order system (man the early 2010's were the days...), but any perceived limitations aren't due to manufactured scarcity and hype building, but the reality of being two people making product by hand at a truly artisanal level. I can't name another jeans manufacturer doing what they do, as small as they are, in 2023 for the cost of ~$254 USD (when bought from Japan). Certainly, we've seen CSF grow, hire additional staff, and charge double, for example. In my book, Ooe would be worth it at double the price. But luckily, you can buy them for much less, and not have any issues getting a pair if you so desire. And to top it all off, Ryo and Hiro are some of the best/nicest people in general, who deserve the support. What's not to love?

I too would like to be draped in Ooe and Buaisou

Entirely epic @vIGGiou riou. Are you on Instagram by any chance? Would love to chat and hear more about those years as a commercial diver, etc.!

Landed a near NOS 2263.80 (midsize quartz Seamaster); Thankful for Japanese collectors and dealers for keeping things in tip top shape

No real updates on this pair, recently started wearing them as my "lounging" pair at home in lieu of sweatpants and was admiring the White Oak tagged label

So...@Jared_Lee already won, right?

Standard & Strange has a pair coming up, but it'll be Cone denim in a 1927 saddlepant cut (though the inseams will likely be longer): https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn_cQVtPvr9/

This is some XX4 fabric left in my washing machine for around 3 months. I'd describe it as among the fastest fading of any of the fabrics before it, and less stiffer/hairier than XX3 (which I found a bit too stiff/heavy feeling). The original O.A-XX fabric is still my favorite (XX1 if following the same format) as it yields some crazy good vintage fades, but I'm excited to see how my XX4 fabric will turn out. I'd rank them as a faster fading O.A-XX, and my second favorite of the four (followed by XX3 and XX2) for whatever it's worth! Past fabrics described by Neil and S&S: "These are done up in an all-new XX3 fabric, which, typical for OA, is very subtly different from their previous XX2 denim. The XX3 fabric feels a bit hairier and stiffer than the XX2, but the shrinkage is the same between XX2 and XX3 fabrics. It also has a grey weft compared to the white weft on the XX1 fabric." "Speaking of the fabric, these are made from Ooe's new XX4 denim. The product of years upon years of research, these are a 13.5oz, 100% cotton, 7x7 selvedge denim with a white ID, loomed in Japan exclusively for Ooe, and to their exact specifications. The warp threads are dyed with a green-cast indigo, specifically chosen to age like sample fabrics from the 1940s - with gray weft threads selected for the same purpose. Slightly hairy and surprisingly soft (even while raw) these are a comfortable mid-weight fabric that fades relatively quickly and can be worn almost year-round."

Really excited about these jeans for some reason, maybe because they remind me of the old days when everything was new and unknown. This will be my next pair to break in starting late summer

We’re all just filling a void somewhere, somehow

Good stuff @Broark! Mine arrived earlier today and I threw them in the wash (twice + dryer to get all the shrinkage out up front). Went with the non-craft version so it'll be fun to compare hardware with age. That said, after washing, they did crock a bit more than I expected given that all the pairs on IG are all 10-20+ years old with good/deep color still remaining so careful if you throw them in a machine if you're leery about that kind of thing. Not a ton of color loss, but I think they'll have standard (if not a touch faster) fading speed as most Warehouse or Fullcount fabrics. Overall really like my pair as well from fabric to finishing. Perhaps a bit too clean for WWII as you mention @Broark but I think it's a good balance. They somehow have this vibe of high-ish/mass production like Warehouse, but with a certain CSF small run vibe that's hard to put my finger on, without being so handmade that you can feel the hard work put into it (like Ooe, for example). Probably not making any sense, and of course this is all pointless without pictures. Will try to get some up when I have daylight! Also big fan of the flasher; The three step recommendation was fun, essentially: 1) First wash water only, 2) Wear for three months (I'm assuming no wash here), 3) tiger mustache/whiskering should be set after three months. I've been going the 'no wash as long as you can handle' route with my current pair of Ooe's (6 months so far with only the initial wash, aiming for at least 12) and figure I'll do the same with this pair to really set in the whiskering, which is tough when you wear jeans as loose as I do. Anyways, really excited about these!

Stuck in customs sorting facility hell the past few days lol

@Broark wow! lb certainly wins the packaging game with all that! You're making me regret not buying a pair

Finally ordering a pair of WWII Rockets, breaking my streak of not buying in some time. https://www.instagram.com/rockets_toyota/ Will be sure to post when they arrive. They seem to be among the best repros out there in general, it's always hard to tell which is real vs. which is their repros on IG.