Roy. (expurgated edition)

[kiya]

Roy took his own life.  There were no prior indications (both medically or personally) to any of his friends or family of any depression or signs that he would ever hurt himself.  The 48 hours surrounding his death were the most shocking 48 hours I've had in my life..  That's all I can say, it's truly been devastating.

[Double 0 Soul]

I’m sorry to hear that kiya

[ATWM]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/arts/design/roy-slaper-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-FA.TyUa.dYPdRwVK_7ZB&smid=url-share
 

gift link here 

I’m sorry for everyone that knew him, that’s the worst news imaginable. I’ve lost too many people in my own life that way. It scrambles the brain. 

[JohnM]

Thanks for the article ATWM and to you, Kiya, for supporting Roy in friendship and work for so many years.

[JDelage]

I was wondering about that... This is very sad. He obviously had depths of focus and willpower that took him to the very top of denim & workwear. I hope he found peace but I am very sorry he couldn't find it down here with us.

[ATWM]

13 minutes ago, JDelage said:

I was wondering about that... This is very sad. He obviously had depths of focus and willpower that took him to the very top of denim & workwear. I hope he found peace but I am very sorry he couldn't find it down here with us.

I would suspect many of us were.

You usually only don’t hear a cause of premature death when it’s self inflicted or an overdose. 

I am with @Double 0 Soul that I think it’s important these things are (eventually, in due time) disclosed. It’s also really strangely disheartening on the heels of Ande Whall suffering the same fate. I’m not sure what to make of it all but as I noted I’ve known too many people personally to exit this way, and I just wish we could have a world where all of these people were able to find help, and able to feel empowered to seek help. Media doesn’t tend to report on them - understandably - due to the Werther effect - but it can also leave the impression that such a thing is far away in this world when it is all too common. I don’t know the answer. 

[oomslokop]

this is quite a good doco focusing on those left behind perhaps u might find it useful @kiya 

 

 

this one focuses on those struggling with suicidal attempts, ideations, and trying to survive with mental illness in the uk's rickety health service 

 

 

[oomslokop]

by way of a tiny tribute from me please enjoy my leg of the denimbro leroy strauss *top top elite* world tour when roy's handiwork made it all the way to jakarta, indonesia. rest in peace maestro bro! https://www.denimbro.com/leroy-strauss-top-top-elite-world-tour_topic3621_page20.html

[julian-wolf]

@oomslokop What a great throwback. Even if it was well past the peak period of activity, that thread felt like a real high point of Denimbro

[Double 0 Soul]

I even picked through the regular Roy thread on DB yesterday.. in fact, I spent most of the day reading about him, having no interest in his denim offerings, I’ve never paid much attention in the past.. you just think these people will always be around, like part of the furniture..

Denim aside, he certainly managed to touch a lot of people.. folks loved him,  made me think about my own outlook, in comparison my obituary would read “he dearly loved his cat and offspring but beside immediate family and close friends, would actively avoid contact with almost everyone “ 

 .. something I need to work on 

[reallypeacedoff]

I have always found Roy a super nice dude. I had an issue with the first round of Ducks and he got me to send them to him, he fixed them up and sent this cool note that he made with the chainstitcher. I can tell he was a BMX nerd a while back, we'd chat about it, but the image Kiya posted of his death, he was on a S&M Challenger from 1990s, a pretty sweet bit of kit. Kinda regret selling the few pieces that I had from him but I also wont be paying $2,000 for a pair of jeans on eBay. My good memories of him will suffice. RIP

[srudy]

ROY was one of those people if you knew him, you knew him well. He had a way about him that was really intriguing, witty, deep, and as another friend described, he had an almost monk-like quality. He had a really interesting life and diverse group of friends. If he liked you, you knew it and he was generous to so many people. His roots in skateboarding were so deep, and in denim and in his friendships. He didn’t like the notoriety that the denim world brought him, it was too much-he wanted to just be regular. He loved Oakland, especially running up in the Oakland Hills barefoot, and afterwards getting a homemade poptart and coffee at Cole Coffee, where I would meet up with him and talk, sometimes for hours. There will be a memorial for him in Oakland at his friend’s bar Thee Stork Club Sept 27th, 2026 from noon to 5pm. 
 

🩵ROY

[Jared_Lee]

Just beautiful. Trying to do them justice.

[Jared_Lee]

After a wash. I'm hanging these to dry as the more dense White Oak cloth has a tendency to crease really badly when tumbled dry. As expected, a classic White Oak cloth is only just beginning to show signs of wear after an effective 8ish months. I can say that I believe I've broken through that initial "varnish" and expect things will likely progress a little more quickly now, though again, it's White Oak.

[shredwin_206]

Really special brother @Jared_Lee! 

[Dr_Heech]

Reading back through this thread l can remember being fascinated by the skills of this one man band who could put together a decent, well made (in USA) 5 pocket traditional jean from Cone Mills denim. Not only that, the fact he was using old original sewing machines that he collected and repaired himself, was like a dream. 

From page one I followed Roy's journey here and his emerging success in the denim world as we knew it at the time. By page forty four l finally spoke up about my interest and by page eighty something l finally got my hands on a pair, albeit second hand. They were a pair of the original run of Roy jeans and coincidentally were acquired in January 2011, from @mikecch the same time l was lucky enough to be a participant in the RoyxCone Contest. The RoyxCones are now long sold but my pair of Roy Og's are still alive and well, if unfortunately not really worn any more. Definitely keeping them now. Thanks Roy. 

Edited September 20 by Dr_Heech
To edit

[UkeNo]

There’s some nice photos and words about Roy’s time in Japan Here  and Here. 
 

I hope the memorial went well @kiya? 

[shredwin_206]

I know @srudy was there. Maybe they could share some photos and info on how it went. 

Edited September 29 by shredwin_206

[chicote]

Oh man, this made me tear up. I hope that Roy's family, friends and community had a beautiful celebration of his life.

[srudy]

I was not able to attend unfortunately but here’s @high.grade.u.s.standard pics from the event. From what people told me it was a beautiful celebration, lots of his friends and family, people who knew him well there. I believe Kiya will be doing another memorial. 

[indigoeagle]

[shredwin_206]

@indigoeagle that’s my dream pair. Always wanted those. 

[Ciabatta]

On 10/6/2026 at 4:16 AM, shredwin_206 said:

@indigoeagle that’s my dream pair. Always wanted those. 

Well if you have $2k to burn....... 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267593264418

[ATWM]

Personally feel like anyone profiteering off Roys like that deserves a good haunting. 

[Broark]

Roy hated that kind of shit.

[indigoeagle]

On 10/6/2026 at 1:16 PM, shredwin_206 said:

@indigoeagle that’s my dream pair. Always wanted those. 

Yes, really a lovely pair.

[shredwin_206]

[eeejayaich]

Those Big Bros are my favorite pair as well. The way he integrated the buckle back with the yoke is just incredible. 

[JohnM]

I love his shirts.  I only have one, but it's a favorite.  A grey striped XL, but not especially large.  I know, pics or it didn't happen 😉 

[mlwdp]

@shredwin_206What does the back of the shirt look like?  Nice!