Happy Women’s Day!

That applies to everyone! All of our lady friends, customers, readers, suppliers not to mention family. Happy Women’s Day!

In celebration of this day I thought of posting some sneaky sneak previews courtesy of KIKS TYO from their upcoming Summer 2010 line. What KIKS have released on their Twitter as well as Facebook page indicate that we’ll be seeing more of Yuu Tejima, Yuki Hoashi and Aya Kiguchi shortly.

I’m a Laker fan, but this Suns shot ain’t half bad. All I can ask from the guys at KIKS is that, where’s Lakers at?

I mean take a look at this. Matt Barnes fakes the ball at Kobe’s face and he doesn’t even flinch, haha. I couldn’t help myself. Go Lakers!

For more sneak previews of what’s to come from KIKS TYO in the not so distant future, follow the crew on Twitter and Facebook. Naturally don’t forget our Facebook group and page. You can also follow us on Twitter, just look for denim_house.

The weather might be gloomy but I hope these pictures brighten your Monday. There’s still time to pick a flower to that special woman in your life. Or you can just give her a call or drop a line. It’s all good.

One love y’all. I’m out, peace!

Hi Y’all,

Super Sunday behind us and I’ve had a rather nice weekend. For those wondering where have we been as there has been only few posts lately, yours truly has been multitasking for the past few weeks on another level. In addition to this, I decided just to take an evening or two off, haha.

But what would a week be without a little checkup on the ongoing denim project.

I can see that others have taken up a challenge of denim project blogging as well. You can take a look at denim debate. They have a pair of Momotaro Jeans there as well. Well back to this wear and tear project. The winter has cooled down (or warmed up) since my last post and last few days have actually been pretty beautiful weather-wise that is.

This week I wanted to post a little comparison to my previous project being that we’ve hit the two month milestone. Starting off with the frontal shot. There are still plenty of miles ahead before the current project matches up with the previous one, but hey we’re getting there much faster than I initially expected.

Momotaro Jeans – Copper Label project:

Momotaro Jeans – Vintage Label project

The light does not do the Copper Label project justice. In natural sunlight the faded blue in contrast with the natural deep blue color of the Momotaro Jeans is really beautiful. I mean the jeans could stay at their current state and they would be awesome, but I am putting them through a lot more wear in attempt to get that ultimate fade, heh. Still plenty of wear ahead.

The stacking on the back of the knees is definitely going to top the previous project, that I know already.

A little closeup of the tags, just for the fun of it.

I decided to call this edition whiskers, because the jeans are really creasing nicely. These creases will most likely stay there throughout the project and will fade to give the jeans a hopefully symmetric set of whiskers. But don’t get me wrong an unsymmetrical set of whiskers couuld be rather nice as well. You can see my iPhone has made its mark as well. Lately I have not kept my wallet in my front pocket and this thus there has not been much wallet fade on the front. But also the left side of my jeans has gotten nice set of whiskers as well. Just a tip, to get a symmetric set of whiskers, don’t keep your wallet in the front pocket.

And then, the ass whiskers.

There were some seat whiskers in the last project but these jeans have defo more. Not that it’s a bad thing. What to do? I sit on my ass most of the day. I wonder if the type of chair affects the type of creasing the seat experiences? I would think so.

Lastly a little cuff comparison.

Those snow lines really fit the winter. I think that once all that snow melts I wither get a pair of rubber boots or the roping will get really obvious even before washing the jeans. Will keep you posted as the project and the spring progress.

That’s all for the day. I will try to chill for few more hours before another week full of crunching. Thus, no matter where you are; have a great and dynamic week ahead. I’m out, peace…

Hi Y’all,

I’ve been browsing not just new pair of fresh kicks for the summer (yeah, fresh purple kicks hunt is still on) but also a pair of basketball shoes for the summer’s upcoming pickup games. This edition is thus more focused on the basketball shoes. That said, what I recently came across with sure made me feel nostalgic. A pair of Adidas Kobes.

These were the shoes I wore back in high-school when I was still actively playing basketball. Naturally I did play for many years since then but these were the shoes that “helped” me in my games back in the day. The shoes really fit my feet, probably better than many other shoes since then. The kicks had one major flaw though. The shoelace loops broke after few months of active wear. I remember having had something like 3 pairs in one season. Then again I did break a lot of other shoes as well, so not really blaming the shoes because I liked them. The shoes were designed in collaboration with Audi and the design was inspired by Audi TT. The shoes still look like space shoes but I like them. Now that I found a pair online in my size I’ve been very tempted to get them but then I found these.

Nike Hyperdunk + Zoom Kobe V x Aston Martin pack.

Pictures courtesy of freshnessmag.com.

I saw this video way back and thought it was a pretty nice viral video. At least it got people talking and sending it around. The video also inspired the respective shoes. So if you haven’t checked it yet, you can do so now.

Aston Martin collaborated with Nike and Kobe on a silver and gray shoes with Kobe and Aston Martin logos on the shoe tongue and other video related features like “I told you” and “I got this” slogans on the lacelocks which refers back to what Kobe stated on the video. The rumor is that these are limited to only 500 pairs so I might have tough time copping a pair. Nevertheless the shoes look nice enough for few pickup games.

Another basketball shoe I am fancy is the new Air Jordan IX. The shoe is inspired by Japanese designs and reflects the stardom of Michael Jordan. The shoe is among the best known designs from the AJ series. I think this pair is so fresh that it would fit casual wear just as well as a pickup game.

Picture courtesy of marqueesole.com

We’ll see what pair I end up copping but I will be sure to post a little something on that pair once I get them. There’s still plenty of snow that needs to melt before the street season starts so there’s also time to browse around for more shoes that spell F-R-E-S-H. That’s all for now, I’m off to chill from the blog for a minute now just to get back to it like an addict. Peace…

Hi Y’all,

Sunny Saturdays! I should rather say soggy Saturdays as all that snow is now turning soggy thanks to the recent 0 Degrees Celsius temperature. As long as you’ve cleaned your roof from excessive snow, everythign should be just fine. The great thing about soggy snow is that you can now make snowmen and have a snowball fight. Great!

Last week I introduced our first batch of erect81 arrivals and this week it’s time to introduce you to Azumi Harusaki and Risa Kasumi. Both of whom are featured on the fresh erect81 shirts straight from Tokyo, Japan.

Azumi Harusaki, a Japanese av star and media celebrity is on adds to the impressive number of erect81 collaborations. They say words speak a thousand words, so let the pictures speak.

While on the topic of Ms. Harusaki I thought of sharing something that sure made me laugh. A Japanese game show where they put their male contestants through on hell of a test. The goal is apparently to avoid giving in to temptation while the lovely ladies do their utmost to seduce the contestant. Hahaha… See for yourself.

Watch kissgaman – azumi harusaki 090102 in Entertainment |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Our next contestant, sorry I meant entry is Ms. Risa Kasumi. Known for her full lips this model, actress and an av star has been making name for herself since 2007. But needless to say her lips are not her only asset. The shirt features erect81’s signature contrast style mixing gray-scale and pink color.

Hope this has made your day even better than it has already been. I mean I just watched the video again and it cracks me up, haha. Good job fighting the temptation. If you are tempted to try something different, head to our store-side and check out what erect81 has to offer.

That’s all for now, I’m off to make a snowman. Peace and have a great weekend.

Hi Y’all,

Pardon for the post free Wednesday. I had a day like no other. February 24th 2010 is definitely marked in my books as a day to remember. So much electricity in the air, so many things happening. Haha, so much that even my beloved iPhone crash landed on the floor.

Crackberry free week ahead (yes, I know it’s not a Blackberry). I should be able to get a replacement for the damaged iPhone soon but I feel the abstinence symptoms kicking in already. But things like these don’t slow me down. The day was so good I was actually able to smile about the whole incident.

Enough of this intro though. Back to business.

I titled this week’s edition “the snow lines” because the snow has already left marks on the jeans that need hours and hours of walking ankle deep in the snow. As I have. Just take a look at the situation at my home yard. Like I said, ankle deep.

Yes, that is a small tractor (not sure if this machine has its own name) clearing some path on the yard just so that you can walk around.

The last two days have actually been bright and sunny, but the beginning of the week was something like 24/7 snowstorming. Due to popular demand some picture material to show what I mean. The picture looks gray because there’s so much snow flying around.

Back to the lines. Just few days back I posted some fit pics of the jeans in their current state and I could do the same now but instead I rather limit myself to just one picture.

These lines will as long as I have these jeans remind me of this crazy winter. An old fashioned winter like Finland has not had in years and will probably not have either. The creasing would normally cause such lines in some parts of the jeans after the soaking/ washing of the jeans. While I have not washed nor soaked my jeans the cuffs get soaked every day. But hey they’re like battle scars just telling stories of battles of the yesterday.

That said, don’t cry over the amount of snow, appreciate it. Snow is great unless you’re covered in it, or something. And the snowy days when the sun is shining are just amazing, aren’t they?

Stay safe everyone and clear those roofs. Once the plus degrees arrive the snow will turn really, really heavy. I wonder what kind of effect it will have on the cars covered in snow? Be easy I’m out.

Hi Y’all,

As the title says, a little greetings from the Momotaro Jeans brand as well as Nordic Denim House to everyone for their support this far and especially during the Copenhagen Fashion Week.

We would like to thank everyone for their interest in Momotaro Jeans, checking our updates on our Blog, Twitter and Facebook and for visiting our stand at the Terminal-2 during the Copenhagen Fashion Week. It’s always great to meet and talk with people who share our passion for vintage denim and Momotaro Jeans in particular.

Your feedback about the brand and its products inspire us to reach new heights in the denim scene. All you have to do is try a pair of Momotaro Jeans and you will see for yourself, in the exquisite details and the rich indigo blue that Momotaro Jeans are of superior quality. Your support helps us carry the brand to new regions, so that even more people can experience the essence of true vintage denim.

We look forward to continuing the dialogues started during Terminal-2 and should you have any questions regarding the brand and products, feel free to contact us at info@nordicdenimhouse.com for information.

Thank you and see you soon!

Regards,
Rampuya&Co. & Nordic Denim House

www.japanblue.co.jp/momotaro/
www.nordicdenimhouse.com
info@nordicdenimhouse.com

Hi Y’all,

Sunday snowy Sunday… and so on. It has indeed been a very snowy and cold weekend here in the jolly old Finland. It feels as if it was just yesterday but last week at this time yours truly was still in Denmark. Shout out to everyone we met there, CPH Vision/ Terminal-2 staff and of course Momotaro Jeans. We love you all. On that note, you can check interview conducted TribaSpace during the fair.

How important is Copenhagen for your business?

This edition of my Momotaro Jeans Copper Label project has a twist to it. But for that you need to read all the way until the end of the post. Or just scroll down if you feel like it.

Anyway, the jeans have been worn non-stop for a month now and all I can say is that I love my jeans. The wear is already starting to show already when it took months with the previous project. Detailed pictures will follow next month. But this week is all about fit pics.

The first pic already shows well started fading process on the jeans’ thighs. I have already developed a nice set of whiskers on the front of jeans as well. Plenty of more creasing is expected in the following months but this is a rather splendid start.

The side shows the color difference between the untouched and already (slightly) faded parts of the pants. The cuffs are getting plenty of “snow lines” as I will call them from now on. But it’s all good though, they add in to the uniqueness of the project. My iPhone has left a mark on my right pocket as well.

Most notable thing about the back of the jeans is the stacking. The creasing is leaving a nice set of lines to the back. The seat is not all too faded yet though there is some creasing and fading appearing on the seat as well. Still the front shows the fading and change in color much better than the back.

Lastly, the surprise I was telling you about. Along with our new T-shirts, we also got a little something else from the guys at KIKS TYO. A rare piece of wood that comes with a pretty picture and nice graphics.

Yes, the fresh KIKS TYO collaboration with China’s premier skateshop Fly that resulted in a limited edition skateboard deck featuring an imprinted pictorial of Yuko Ishida on one side and graphics of spilled milk and milk carton with Fly’s founder Jeff Han on the other side. Don’t forget that we already have a shirt to match the deck.

So I guess I get to say Got Milk? once more. Got Milk? Yes sir…

That’s all for now but check out our newest additions from erect81, QUOLOMO and KIKS TYO and stay tuned for more updates. I’m out but definitely staying indoors, coz it’s cold outside…

Hi Y’all,

Yes, this edition is titled Naked Girls. You might be asking why? Why does the blog post have such an absurd title? Well, this edition is pretty much about naked girls. Naked like piece of art naked.

Most of you already guessed it, we have finally released the new tees from erect81, the brand that takes things on another level. We’re very excited to be one of the first stores in the world to carry the brand. Below just a little info on the newcomers just to show what we have in store for y’all.

First up, Naho Ozawa Tee 01.

Naho Ozawa is a Japanes av star and a singer. I’m pretty sure she’s more known for her firstly mentioned career, just to say I have not heard any of her songs, but she makes the below shirt look good. The shirt is among the first releases from the erect81 brand.

Next up, Megu Fujiura Tee 01.

Megu Fujiura just like Naho Ozawa is a Japanese gravure and av star known for her looks. The shirt shows the contrast erect81 portrays in their shirts. The images all black and white with strategically used colors that create some contrast.

We’re just getting started with the brand. More will follow, mark my words.

With this we switch to another of the new brands introduced to our catalogue, QUOLOMO.

QUOLOMO which means “wear” in traditional Japanese and it is focused on creating wearable items dedicated to the time tested sensibilities and standards of quality, artistry and originality. The brand stands behind words, Design Japanese Culture. These very well fit he brand and its products.

We’re now introducing to you Yukie Kawamura, a popular gravure star and an actress. One of the latest collaboration projects from the QUOLOMO brand, Yukie Kawamura delivers just like the brand’s previous collaborations with the likes of Sora Aoi. One of her latest acting roles was in a movie Vampire Girl Vs. Frankenstein Girl.

Not too shabby, not too shabby at all. For more, check out our QUOLOMO section.

Last but definitely not the least we have Yuu Tejima. KIKS TYO’s first model for the year 2010, or at least the first Girl Collaboration for the recently started year of the Tiger.

The first set features Yuu Tejima in a feline pose rocking AJIII Black Cats. The Black Cat Air Jordans are the inspiration for the Halloween Like scene topped off with a black full moon. The shirt is a sure winner.

The other new release is the White Wings Tee which features Yuu Tejima rocking the Jeremy Scott Adidas Wings. The angelic pose is highlighted with angel wings art by manga artist SP Nakatema. For those wondering the “feathers” in the wings do cleverly spell KIKS TYO. Heaven oh heaven…

On that note… Although this is not an official Kicks Edition, I thought of dropping a little something on the latest from Jeremy Scott Adidas Wings series.

Picture courtesy of sneakerfreaker.com

The Rainbow Wings kicks are actually covered in a reflective coating that changes color depending on the light. The trippy shoes are one of the most extroverted kicks I’ve seen in a while and you know what, I like them. Normally I keep my kicks plain and simple, but these somehow attract me. Well, at least I know what shirt to match with the kicks.

That’s all I am willing to bare in this edition. More will follow as soon as tomorrow actually. So stay tuned and and I leave you with a video My Chick Bad (feat Nicki Minaj) from Ludacris’ new album Battle of the Sexes. I thought it would kind of fit the theme.

So keep your eyes open, we’re out there like truth in X-Files.

Hi Y’all,

Momotaro Jeans is getting its due attention in the online media and I was happy to see some of Nordic Denim House’s pics at the Sartorially Inclined.

The sneaker world never seizes to amaze me. The world is full of awesome kicks and in a perfect world I would have a pair of sneakers for every situation. The Spring and Summer are approaching faster by the minute and I personally can’t help but to check for new kicks every other day. I got my eyes on a certain pair of Nike Gucci RESNs but I might change my mind after seeing the below kicks. Big Nike High Kobe Bryant “Black Mamba”. The shoes are inspired by Kobe’s favorite movie Kill Bill. The black leather upper and yellow rubber soles with top having blood splatters and the silver swoosh representing Hattori Hanzo sword (I suppose). I also read that the insoles would have Black Mamba’s kill list on it, with a Kobe Bryant twist. Since Lakers beat Celtics for the championship last season, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are already crossed over, heh. I really like these kicks.

Picture courtesy of highsnobiety.com

Another set of shoes I am seriously thinking of copping for the summer are the Converse Chuck Taylor Sweatshirt sneakers. With sweatshirt fleece top and the basic Allstar essentials this shoes has an edge to it and it would go very well with a very special pair of Momotaro Jeans coming up this summer (wink, wink).

Picture courtesy of Freshnessmag.com

Next up, something for the ladies. I know Valentine’s day has passed already but if you’re still without a gift and would like to make up for that and if your girl happens to be a sneaker freak, you might want to consider getting her the Nike Women’s Air Force One Premium Valentine’s day kicks. The colorway is true to the theme of the day and the shoes come in a nice box.

Picture courtesy of Kix-Files.com

And if you really want make your girl happy you can surprise her with a pair of Jimmy Choo sneakers (once they’re available in May). Yes, the time has come that Jimmy Choo does not only mean slippers and heels but the ladies can wear their favorite shoe brand and still represent their inner sneaker freak. With five high top and three low top models mixing materials like patent leather, suede and slim soles these kicks look like a winner. Good to see the brand bringing out something fresh. I mean this is something, I got worried after the H&M collaboration. Wonder if Jimmy himself is still behind the design?

Picture courtesy of Freshnessmag.com

Nevertheless the initial pics look good so you might as well get ready for the release in May. Oh yeah, the price range is from $465 to $595 depending on the style of the shoe. Not too bad, what else would you expect from Jimmy Choo.

That’s all for the new Lunar Year’s first kicks edition. We’re finally getting back on track after the Copenhagen trip. Life’s good so cherish it. Take it easy everyone and those interested of becoming and official stockist of the Momotaro Jeans brand you can check some initial info here and drop an email to info(a)nordicdenimhouse.com for more details. Peace, I’m out.

Hi Y’all,

Good evening! The wonderful Copenhagen Fashion Week has come to an end. Or it did, yesterday. For us at least. My apologies for not being able to post the update in real time, but the day was just to say busy. We’re back in the snowy old Finland all safe and sound. The flight was pleasant and everything went well if you don’t count few obstacles on the way from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport back to our crib. But I rather focus on the pleasant things like the last day of Terminal-2 and the fifth week of my Copper Label project. Some fit pics from Copenhagen, a reference point as well as status pics.

As always the day started with a walk to the CPH-Vision venue at Øksnehallen. The week went by so fast. Time flies when you’re having fun, damn right.

The shuttle bus driver was the same guy as on previous mornings and he still spoke only Danish with me, heh.

Off to the Terminal-2. You know it’s funny how I never had difficulties hitting the fair venue even in the early morning after next to no sleep. I’m gonna miss the venue. See you next time, or next year…

There was plenty of speculation whether there would be any people at the venue on Sunday. Well, I’m pretty sure Sunday was as buzzing as the other days. Most of the visiting folks were indeed part of the general public with most of the buyers already back to their respective homes. Still, plenty of action for a Sunday.

At this point a shout out to our neighbors from New Balance.

So a general fit picture of my current Momotaro Project. The jeans are developing rather nice whiskers on the front. Some fading on the front around the pocket areas but the jeans are still as fresh as they were a week ago.

Still, there’s a long way to this…

It’s not just about the fashion and business but also about great people you meet.

Next up, some pics of the project. I’m really amazed of how nicely the jeans fade. It’s been a month and I see fades that I only saw months later with my last project. I do have to say that the Vintage label jeans are dyed with darker indigo. But still… Damn, I’m pretty sure this is going to be an awesome project (it already is). So for those who are in doubt of whether sanforized denim fades as nicely as raw denim? Yes they do, denim fades as long as you wear it.

The cuffs and back of the knees are fading nicely as well. At this pace the jeans will have a nice collection of details by the time I give them their first soaking.

The obvious, hidden rivets and the spots between the stitches have gotten much lighter since last week. One of the special features of Momotaro Jeans is the special way the middle of the belt loops as well as the “pocket borders” are sewn folding the fabric inside to create an embossing that will fade really nicely.

That’s all for now. I have nothing more to say tonight, as said, it’s the people that make the difference. Thanks for a great fair guys! Stay tuned for more. Although the Copenhagen Fashion Week is over, we’re just getting started. Peace, I’m out…