45rpm

[chantheman]

pre distressed pair of 45rpm i bought a while back.

[chantheman]

and one more pair

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I do like their homepage

https://45rpm.jp/ja/

[ATWM]

I received a 45r coat as a(n amazing) gift recently, and while their prices have never been in my realm it does make me want some jeans too. I like a lot of the other designs as well. 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Yeah their prices are out of my range as well. But their pieces do look nice (as a fashion company).

I really dig the half arc:

[Broark]

I visited their shop in Paris last January, it was beautifully merchandised and the staff were very welcoming and helpful.
But as y'all mentioned just a bit too rich for my blood.

[ATWM]

Thing is, if I succeed in going the duration of this contest and save what I might spend on jeans in a normal year, I could do it. My collection at this point says that over time it’s not so much a matter of funding (although to a pair, it certainly feels like it) but actually curation and restraint. I’ve been curious about putting in a long go of some naturally dyed jeans and while SDA seem the obvious option, who knows. I’ve been able to resist anything since the contest was agreed upon, so there’s that! 

Edited January 3, 2025 by AlientoyWorkmachine

[beautiful_FrEaK]

7 hours ago, Broark said:

I visited their shop in Paris last January, it was beautifully merchandised and the staff were very welcoming and helpful.
But as y'all mentioned just a bit too rich for my blood.

What happened to your pair?

[Broark]

7 minutes ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

What happened to your pair?

Sold them some time back, never fit quite right honestly.

[aho]

^Never got a good fit on any of my pairs either, but they finally make a size 38 so I'll eventually get around to it once I'm in Japan. Purchasing from their international shops is also way too rich for me, though I love basically anything/everything they do from a fashion brand perspective. Staff in Japan are always so incredibly nice as well

Edited January 3, 2025 by aho

[ATWM]

^possible to proxy?

[Jared_Lee]

I have been around the denim, menswear and contemporary fashion world for way too long and my notion of "expensive" is so distorted. Haha. $350-$450 for their raw or rinsed jeans seems totally pedestrian to me and thanks to you lot, I'm having to fight the urge to go visit their NYC shop. I've wanted a pair since first seeing them on a Jean Shop client circa 2008/2009.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Disclaimer - AI was harmed writing this wall of text

 

This was definitely one of my most irrational purchases – I have to admit that. For some reason, I visited the 45rpm website last autumn and admired their new denim collection. But given the prices, I quickly closed the page. Still, the particular pairs of natural indigo jeans with the Levi’s-style arcs stayed on my mind.

In December, 45rpm appeared on the first page of Sufu again, and I found myself browsing their site and web shop once more. The AI models were still listed but mostly sold out. After checking the size charts, I realized that most of them would be too short for me anyway – except for one model with the right inseam length. Of course, it was sold out in what I thought would be my size.

Out of curiosity, I clicked on “In-Store Availability” and saw that size 08-34 was still available in three stores in Japan. Slowly but surely, the idea of owning these jeans took root in my mind.

I knew I’d need a proxy service that offered “In-Store Pick Ups.” So, I started searching and found a few options. I reached out to several and quickly received a response with a price estimate: 10% of the item price plus 40,000 Yen for the in-store purchase, not to mention the shipping from Japan to Germany and the additional PayPal fees. They justified the price by saying it was the busiest time of year in Japan (the first week of January right after New Year). At that price I could have just bought from the international web shop and wouldn’t have to deal with customs on top of all this.

Since that was too expensive for me, I contacted other proxies – some with a decent homepage, some via Reddit, others on Instagram. Some conversations fizzled out, but one offered me a price I was comfortable with. They were based in Tokyo and called the store, if the jeans are in stock. A few days later, they told me the jeans were sold out. Interestingly enough, the 45 rpm web shop still listed the jeans available in this particular Tokyo store.

I reached out to the pricier proxy again, as they could also purchase in Osaka and Kobe. I asked if they could order the jeans via mail order from the store or if I could wait until they were less busy (and therefore cheaper). They replied that 45rpm doesn’t do mail orders and that items sell out quickly – I should buy now. I also asked them if they would call the store before trying to buy in person to verify if the jeans were really available.: they quoted me 2,000 Yen for a mere call.

On a whim, I contacted the 45rpm web shop and asked if mail orders from physical stores were possible – and they confirmed it!

Immediately, I thought of my go-to proxy, “FromJapan.” I reached out, and they confirmed that the order was possible – for their basic fee of just 500 Yen.

To be absolutely sure that the right jeans would be sent, I asked for photos of the label, size, and selvedge line. It took a while for the jeans to arrive and even longer to get the photos. Everything looked good until the last photo in the Imgur album showed a measuring tape indicating an inseam length of 73 cm instead of the expected 79 cm. Actually, I never asked for the inseam to be measured but boy was I glad they did it!

I was torn but quickly realized: this wouldn’t work with that length. I asked if an exchange was possible, or if not, a return. After some waiting, they confirmed an exchange would be possible. I asked them to initiate the process and send new photos.

Last week, the jeans arrived at FromJapan again. The photos confirmed that they were the correct jeans with the right inseam length of 79 cm.

From the initial order on January 7th to their arrival on February 10th, this was the wildest rollercoaster ride I’ve ever had with buying a pair of jeans.

[Maynard Friedman]

Great story. But…. do they fit?

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Good question!

I think so

[Cold Summer]

Cool jeans, fascinating story. I don't think I ever looked into this brand before. If I were you I'd just go totally uncuffed, this pair would look fine without one.

In a way I'm kind of thankful for lots of Japanese brands (Orslow, Boncoura, etc.) nowadays not offering very long inseams because it's less stuff to tempt me into buying more jeans I don't really need.

[ATWM]

Hahah I had been eyeing that pair, but did not do so with the aggression as you did- staying true to not buying (so far!) with wmj contest. But when it’s done I am going to revisit. I love the balmacan I was gifted and generally really like what I see from them. Glad to see you got them! Now…how are you gonna beat them up with all your other obligations? 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

@ATWM now (2 weeks ago or so) all the AI models vanished from the webshops. Wonder what happened? Maybe the big L didn't like the arcs...

Anyway, back to your question: honestly I have no idea. I will focus on the WMJ 4-5 days a week and wear other pairs on my "days off".

[reallypeacedoff]

Reminds me of my SC AI denim, starts off somewhat patchy, gets really patchy, but not sure if that is just...slubby. Enjoy the denim though, very unique.

[beautiful_FrEaK]

The AI models from the "Denim Chapter II" are back on the webshop but they were adjusted...

So now we can be really sure why they were removed...this makes my pair probably one of the last being sold with the arcuate.

[JohnM]

What model did you buy b_F?

[beautiful_FrEaK]

@JohnMIt's the Sorahikohime in their Indian natural indigo. The only pair with a long enough inseam.

[ATWM]

4 hours ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

The AI models from the "Denim Chapter II" are back on the webshop but they were adjusted...

So now we can be really sure why they were removed...this makes my probably one of the last being sold with the arcuate.

So even a portion of an arc looks like a problem now. I really dislike the law firm the old jeans maker has become. 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

In defence to Levi's, it's actual a full arc. The left side is just stitchted with an indigo thread.
But I still agree with you  

[MJF9]

14 hours ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

this makes my pair probably one of the last being sold with the arcuate.

ahhhh makes the story and result even more sweet!!

Edited February 17, 2025 by MJF9

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Gave them a cold soak. The fit in the top block reminds me a lot of old Denime XX.

[redragon]

Picked up a pair of the Sumi Ai when visiting their store in Sapporo couple of weeks back, can confirm that all the arc are "revised" now, really beautiful fabric, subtle mix of black & indigo...

Kind of looks like upside down 'R' now...

[beautiful_FrEaK]

[redragon]

Rather baffling that they choose to use sanforized denim for their high end natural indigo jeans, unsanforized fabric for their more affordable line... 

[redragon]