5 BEST SELVEDGE DENIM Brands | Weirdest, Best Fits, Stretch, American Made, and More

* LINKS to brands mentioned:

I've been making dozens of videos about selvedge denim for like five years and after much research and much reflection, I've landed on my list of my five favorite brands. Whether you want classic Americana, weird knotty Japanese creations, subtly super tough, or sweatpantsy stretch, I've got something for you in this video — and more in the full article I linked up top!

00:00 Intro
00:20 What is selvedge denim?
00:56 The best selvedge denim
02:49 Vaer Watches sponsored content
04:09 Best Japanese selvedge denim
06:21 Widest variety
07:33 Toughest raw denim
08:54 Best stretch denim
11:33 Best fitting jeans
12:25 Wrapping up

[philipbeadle]

I started off with Gustin when i first got into selvedge denim because of the affordable price and huge selection. My only beef with them is they could incorporate some roomier fits. Their straight fit is their most accomodating, and even that isn't made for guys whose hobbies include lifting (or eating 😂).

[DanielSzilagyi]

I started my denim journey with Naked & Famous (living in Canada as well and seeing them in stores like The Bay and Nordstorms helped) and while they are decent I found I much prefer other brands for how they feel. N&F is alright but it's nearly as expensive as some of the pure Japanese brands so I felt those were better for me and I don't really care about the gimmicks but I do appreciate that they have different colours (I own a pair of dusty rose jeans for example)
I own Momotaro, Samurai, Pure Blue Japan (Chinos though), IronHeart, Naked & Famous, Oni, Brave Star and Kato and I have to say of all the weights, types and overall feels I really love my Samurai (the texture, weight and comfort along with the nice pocket bags are amazing) and IronHeart, it's just smooth to the touch, easy to wear and have started to fade amazingly.
The Oni's and Momo's are close seconds for me as well!

[StrickenBiged]

Iron Heart have been making a 16oz slubby denim for a couple years now, in all their regular cuts, plus one or two exclusive cuts for specific retailers. I have a Type 3 in their slubby denim.

[michaelshearer]

Love Iron Heart, but just got some 20oz Imogene + Willie and absolutely love them. Also their Oscar Black Indigo Selvedge Trousers that are amazing! You can't beat them and good pricing too.

[DildoDaggins]

Bradley Mountain jacket? Looks good man!

[AgonxOC]

Shockoe Atelier truly makes an amazing and relatively inexpensive pair of Denim jeans. I own several pairs to include the Kojima. The prices, due to inflation, have recently gone up. I also own a few Raleigh Denim, but a few of them ripped, one pair within two months. Raleigh Denim does not stand behind their product as they offer no warranties or repairs. Meanwhile Shockoe stand behind their work and none of the trousers I own made by them have ripped.

[DavidJahr-dioe]

I love my Ace Rivingtons out of Santa Barbara. You gotta check ‘em out.

[_bats_]

I was a little shocked in Troy's IH vid that he has so many of their pairs but doesn't have their flagship 21oz! From my understanding that's the go-to IH fabric, even moreso than the 25oz (not that it's "better" but just more well-known). I got some 21oz IH's in the 888 fit (same fit you wear I think?) and I'm in love. The fabric is thick as hell but weirdly soft and comfortable right out of the gate. They're going to be amazing broken in.

I also wanna name-drop Left Field. Still waiting for a Left Field Stridewise vid as they're a NYC brand that makes great jeans at a great price and in fits that actually work for guys with bigger butts/thighs (the Atlas is their relaxed tapered cut, the Greaser their classic straight leg cut).

[natewoods]

I love my Tanukis and Katos. I like Naked and Famous's fabrics and own a pair but none of the fits quite work for me. I'm surprised you didn't have a full entry for Pure Blue/Syoaiya, who made my single favorite pair of jeans (despite the pocket durability issues you point out).

I would love a pair of Onis but even their "slim" fits make me look like MC Hammer. I didn't know they partnered with Tanuki, that may be my path forward...

[ChrisGryphon]

I live in Richmond. I dream of Shockoe Atelier and N&F doing a collaboration with a hemp or tobacco fiber.

A company called Ploughboy Organics founded by Suzanne DeVall, in Antakya, Turkey have methods that change tobacco byproducts into fibers, that blend with cotton, wool, silk and cashmere.

[frankkitajima]

$700 hundred dollar pair of of jeans, wow! Maybe some day when I'm millionaire! Nice review!

[quirinwick]

Great video, very informative. Do you have any experiences with Schaeffer‘s Hotel Garment jeans? They also look very cool…

[kwfown]

My journey from start to now:
Gap’s 1969 collection (college, junior)
Diesel
Nudie
R by 45rpm
Ernest Sewn
N&F
APC
IH
PBJ
Momotaro (jacket)

[CurlyPewbes]

I think Kato has a 30% off sale ending tonight

[Highland_Paddy]

Yes, I can't stand when some company has no consistent long-term offerings. Maybe I will check out the first one some time next year, but wish I had seen that before bought those other ones maybe, but likely still would not have wanted to pay that much, anyway.

[thSonSchaefer]

Is there any additional resources or info on Tanuki? Just curious on sizing and care, consistency…

[shanegraham]

Nice roundup, thanks. I wish you'd talk a bit about the fly options on each brand. I know that die-hard heritage nerds disdain zip flies, but for me spending 60 extra seconds at the urinal wrestling with a button fly every time I take a whizz is a complete deal breaker. (This is the "leather soles" debate of the jeans world.) I know N&F and Nudies offer zippers on some designs, but as far as I can tell it's only the ones with stretch denim. Kato only offers zip flies, I think. What about Shockoe and the other brands you talk about?

[James-idxq]

Nice grey suede jacket Nick! Where from?

[shaunr.]

Great looking bomber! Just got mine. Thanks for the advice & Happy New Year!

[HARMAN]

I can't believe you didn't include Brave Star!