Unknown Japanese Brands

[Mixture]

^ Thanks for the reply, hopefully they do add bigger sizes. Any updates on your pair?

[volvo240thebest]

will post an update soon. I didn't have many chances to wear jeans in july and in the first half of aug (too darn hot and humid in Italy), but I've been wearing them every day in the last two weeks, with much satisfaction! whiskers and wallet fade are already there, setting in nicely..

[RRLselvageDenim]

Found these and thought they looked interesting , not sure if there is a relation to denime shins ( most likely not )

Must be really obscure. Tried to find info about it. None. Perhaps someone might have some info on these. The website www.33oz.com is offline.

[DDDm]

I remembered I've seen someone selling this Shin's Craft jeans on Yahoo Auction jp in the last 1-2months and he seemed to  have quite a number of unwashed deadstocks of different sizes.(can't find the link now though )

 

I just looked it up on 33oz and  someone had shed some light on it's origin(of course, I don't know how much truth in it)

 

http://bbs.33oz.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=61628&highlight=shin%2Bcraft

 

"...Shin's Craft was made by a Japanese jean shop called JOB BLUE. The shop had been selling DENIME since it's start in 1988(good relationship with DENIME??) At the 10th anniversary of DENIME (1997), with DENIME's consent,the shop made their own jeans and named it after DENIME's company name, SHIN at that time.....made with 15oz denim which feel almost identical to the Denime's XX denim, workmanship more or less equivalent and in fact the hardware seems even better (all SCOVIL), deer's skin patch, standard straight cut..."

 

From those few in 33oz who have bought the Shin's Craft, comments are all favorable and someone who happened to have Denime XX as well, said the denim felt and looks almost identical, slightly shorter rise for the SC though

 

Hope it helps

Edited September 14, 2013 by DDDm

[Flash]

nice one DDDm

[DDDm]

You're welcome. So much fun searching  info on obscure jeans brands from Japan and there're zillions of them

 

I think I found the shop" JOB", pretty small from the look of it. It's located deep inside Shonai WEST shopping street(庄内WEST［庄内本通商店街]) in Toyonaka city, Osaka

 

 

http://www.shounaiwest.com/shops/33/33.htm

Google translation of the shop's description from Shonai WEST shopping street's website

 

"Introduction of our original jeans
 

Part 1

Vintage jeans of Shin's Craft
9801BXX button fly
9803ZXX zip up
I made ​​in the three-year plan to seek the highest quality.
Now on Sale!!

 

Part 2

To our shop if Hanshin Tigers fan!
Let's go to cheer wearing jeans Tigers! !

"

 

 

9801BXX details shots from TaoBao

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=15089867373&cm_cat=0

 

That patch

 

When I did a Google's Picture search on 9801BXX, tons of photos of this

 

A very popular NEC's PC running DOS/V in Japan back then. They must have just name the jeans after it.

 

Just found the Yahoo Auction jp links selling Shin's Craft again.

http://openuser.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/user/orihuzak1963?alocale=0jp&mode=2&apg=1

 

Apparently the Seller is the brand/"JOB" shop's owner.

Very lengthly description of the jeans in Japanese but can't get much from Google's translation , except that ;

 

9801BXX, button fly, 1955 replica

9803ZXX, zip fly(TALON), 1954 replica

Denim made in Okayama

Seller seems to have full confidence on the jeans quality and compared it to the best Japan replica's brand at that time.."garment factory specify the plant , which produces around a VINTAGE one of the best in Japan ."

The above "JOB" store is the only one that remains, the other 3 has long been closed. The shop didn't have much capital investment in recent years and has only few staff....

 

Interesting....not particularly cheap though

Edited September 15, 2013 by DDDm

[exaptavist]

Great stuff DDDm, thanks for posting up.

[SLAB]

nice Sherlock work DDDm; quite intrigued by this little brand

[RRLselvageDenim]

Thanks DDDm for the info. ^^^

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I am really interested if those Shin's Craft are a one run or if they were a regular available product, just like Burgus Plus or Porky's (which are also in-house brands). I assume the latter though

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I got something new and "unknown". Maybe you can guess what it is before you see the last pics

 

 

Let's start with the denim:

 

The denim has a smooth surface, similar to sanforized denim. It reminds me of the Skulls denim in terms of feel. But it is very stiff from the starch. The denim looks very tightly woven.

 

Hairy but short hairs

 

 

Pink selvage line 

 

 

Rounded rivets you usually find on 60s onwards jeans

 

 

Of coruse, a red tab (and you spot some arcs)

 

 

Now you will see what kind of rivets were used. Maybe you can already guess the brand?

 

 

 

The arcs! Now you should know what brand it is

 

 

For those who didn't read this thread lately, the answer!

(one of my most favorite leather patches)

 

[Flash]

Nice one mate , that denim looks soo good

[volvo240thebest]

Lovely denim, indeed! Please give us a fit photo, and measurements ; )

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Fit pics will follow later, here are your measurements (but you must be very lucky in finding a pair in your size so that the measurements will actually help you )

 

waist: 33,75"

front rise: 12,75

back rise: 16

thigh: 13,5

knee: 10,375

leg opening: 9,25

inseam: 35

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Just wore the Shins a bit. I might be wrong but I would bet the denim is sanforized. It has the typical flat and smooth surface of sanforized denim. It reminds me a lot of Skull Jeans denim, in a good way. So whoever said this denim is similar to Denime XX is an idiot

I think when I start wearing them, I will soak them. For now they are in a ziplock bag until December.

[DDDm]

Great!  b_F, must have guessed its you who will pick this up and let it occupy a slot in your already crowded jean-breakin schedule

I remembered the seller on Yahoo auction jp said it's one-washed and thus no more shrinkage should be expected though picture of those jeans didn't look much like "one-washed" we used to see. Probably, he meant "sanforized" and something got lost via Google translation.

 

Looking forward to your fit photo in December

Edited October 1, 2013 by DDDm

[aho]

^Damn good pickup b_F, I'm jealous yet again

 

Can't believe I slept on those auctions! The prices are supposed to be in line with the original retail prices, although they value them to be worth $600+...Doing some digging, they are supposed to be one washed, and indeed even the pictures in the auction pages look one washed, however yours some very raw. Not sure why that is, however I didn't see any mention of "sanforized" on the page, although they do mention one wash a few times. However, if you're disappointed, please send them over to Chicago and I'll take care of them for you

 

I'm wondering what the next "Unknown" discovery will be? I'm still trying to buy a pair of Neutral's or TCB's (if only they made a 33!) but lord knows I don't need new jeans...Who am I kidding, I'm combing through trying to find my grail WH pair hahaha

Edited October 1, 2013 by aho

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Thanks guys!

And sorry again DDDm if my PM offended you. As you never replied I though it has

Thanks for keeping quiet

 

As the Yahoo Auction seller (possibly the shop owner of Job Blue as you have guessed) was sold out in my size, I had to dig at a different spot and found the seller from Taobao China. Got them via Sutocorp, great service yet again!

 

I’m pretty sure some things might have lost in translation about the state of the denim. The hems show a little bit of roping but since the denim looks nothing like one-wash and also the leather patch is nearly pristine, I thought this might have something to do with a lot of tension of the chainstitch itself. If they don’t shrink a lot I am not sad about it. Waist is already tight enough.

And again about the denim: the surface is IMO too smooth and the denim too starchy-stiff for one-wash denim but of course I might be wrong.

The leather patch has not only one of the funniest theme, it is also one of nicest leathers I touched on a leather patch. Buttery soft but not too thin. And not too dry.

 

I think I can take some first fit pics today and will start wearing them later this year along with my dear friends MaxPower&Flash when we start our little project

 

Sorry Andrew, I’m gonna keep them If I were you I would try to get a pair of Neutrals first. Who knows how long they are around? TCB seems strong and will surely be available for some time.

[DDDm]

No offense b_F, no reply all along 'cause today is the 1st time in my life I've ever checked my inbox in  sufu after seeing your last post

 

Too many jeans I want to try with my limited jean budget & jean-time that I think I should let this go.

Really hope there'd be enough interest from you guys to keep this small brand alive. Writing a thousand words' essay by the shop owner just to sell a few jeans on Yahoo auction  tell me it's not just money he's after, it's probably more about his ?unfulfilled denim dream)

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Haha..ok that explains it.

 

I have the feeling that this Yahoo Auction is a clearance sale and those jeans aren't produced anymore. Could be wrong though. But yeah it would be nice to see some other guys trying out smaller brands.

[Mich]

Good pickup BF, you always seem to be able to track down these gems.

The patch is really something.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

And here some quick (not so good quality) fit pics

 

 

 

 

Pretty big throughout the leg but I think that's how a '55 cut has to fit

[Flash]

these are gonna look great

[Mich]

That fit looks really good, certainly for a pre soak fit, looks nice with your Motos.

If you're in doubt wether they're sanforized you might not get a lot more shrinkage if thats the case, i think they will turn out great after a wash.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Thanks for your feedback guys!

I guess I will soak them nevertheless. Maybe it will "roughen up" the denim and my main goal is to rmove the set in folding creases. Should be easier when wet

[ColdStorage]

(snip) For now they are in a ziplock bag until December.

 

Sorry for off topic but is this just personal preference, or  is it some common practice I don't know? Is there a concern of oxidization or insects or something?

 

I don't have much contact with other collectors besides penpals so never really seen how people keep their collection but mine are simply folded on the top shelf of the closet. Should they be sealed away?

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I got them delivered in this bag (and usually all jeans I get from Japan are wrapped in a plastic bag) so I just put them back in.

My other jeans are hanging on my denim rack

[coleslawyum]

Pictures of the denim rack please.

 

BTW the denim does look incredibly sanforized and smooth. Hopefully like No. 2 denim, you'll get some good results.

Edited October 1, 2013 by coleslawyum

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I'm sure you saw that pic before but here you go

 

[coleslawyum]

Awesome. Thats a little slice of denim heaven right there!

 

I'll post my denim stash as well when the light is better during the the day. It is not as organized as your rack however.  I have more of a denim shelf.