There are deep, shallow, low rise, high rise, wide, narrow, tiny, huge, uncomfortable and unnoticeable watch pockets. Yet all these are just scratching the surface, as the different styles are as varied as the brands that make the jeans.

A few universal pointers to bear in mind if you’re using your watch pocket: The higher the inlet, the more difficult it is to access, especially if you’re wearing a broad belt. The deeper the pocket and the more stuff, say, a mobile phone, is shoved in, the bulkier and less enjoyable using the pocket gets. Vice versa, if the watch pocket is just big enough for the tips of two fingers, all usefulness is gone. As it is with all things, so it is with watch pocket size and cut – moderation. As the differences are so great, so are the uses. This is an unofficial Momotaro Going to Battle label project update presenting just what can fit into this specific watch/coin/fob pocket.

Now, the smallest items are easily carried in the watch pocket. Spare change, my trusted Zippo lighter, guitar picks, tokens (if anyone can be bothered), keys, condoms, scraps of paper with phone numbers on them, pot (not that we endorse using – unless you’re selling) and condoms (these are important). What about the bigger items then? Have a look below to see how an iPod Nano, a credit card, and the go-to tool of all men about town and other places, the Swiss Army knife, fit into the watch pocket of Momotaro’s Going to Battle labels.

We introduced the collaboration on our blog in the past and you might have spotted them on sites like Hypebeast as well. Now you have a chance to get these special jeans.

Pictures courtesy of Hypebeast.

The Skinny Guy Naked & Famous x Momotaro Jeans will be priced at 239 € and the sizes available will be from 28 to 36. Please note that this will be a limited edition collaboration and we will take orders until Friday 13th of August.

The Jeans are Okayama made by Momotaro Jeans. The sanforized 14 oz denim is produced by Rampuya (Japan Blue Momotaro Jeans)  and carefully chosen by the brands and the hardware such as rivets, hidden rivets and buttons are also from Momotaro Jeans. The Jeans are finished with Union Special Chain stitching and feature a sheep skin patch with graphics representing both brands. The fit for the jeans is Naked & Famous Skinny Guy. The style of the jeans is kept clean, that is no decorated back pockets or such.

Below is a size chart (in inches) for the Skinny Guy jeans and if you have further inquiries, feel free to contact us for more details. The denim itself is sanforized and there should be no more than 1% shrinkage.

The jeans will be released around October/November and this will be a must buy for those who have been looking for a “slimmer” Momotaro Jeans or Naked & Famous for that matter.

In order to pre-order yours, please contact info@nordicdenimhouse.com or taavi.kuisma@nordicdenimhouse.com for details.

Act fast to ensure yours!

–Edit– 28.07.2010

For those unfamiliar with Naked & Famous fits, I added a picture to give indication of N&F Skinny Guy raw denim fit.

–Edit– 29.07.2010

I added more pictures of the collaboration courtesy of Black and Tanned NY.

Pictures courtesy of Black and Tanned NY.

Nonetheless, the jeans are looking dynamite, following the Gold Label post I would say that the blue is almost that of a Gold Label (not even close). But there is still another 6 more months before these babies get any rest.

I have not had the time to take proper pictures of the jeans in their current state but I’m making up for that this week. So first off, the damages.

The cuffs are getting pretty banged up, but yet they remain intact. You can’t really count the stitching as the hems are still in their full form with no rips.

The right pocket fabric has been a bit torn, but since the tearing is places in between the stitching the pocket also remains intact, jsut includes some added edge with the tearing.

The twills have broken a bit in the crotch, inseam and back of the knees, but just one pic below to show you what I mean.

What I’m really happy about is the constant whiskering and evolution that happens on the surface of the denim. The washes have not slowed down the evolution at all. It’ more like the effect is getting stronger and the signs of wear are more obvious.

The back of the knees or the honeycombs are developing nicely. I’m pretty sure the summer heat and constant sitting in font of the computer is doing its fair share of the development.

So here you have it the jeans in their current state at the end of week 27 but that’s all for this week’s Copper Label edition. Stay tuned for more updates and upgrades. I’m out, peace!

The jeans are (as per my knowledge) one of a kind in the world as no-one else is producing such delicate works of art as the demand for mass produced single use clothing is ever increasing. Needless to say, the price is high as it is with any artisan product that takes enormous amount of working hours and attention to details not to mention all natural materials. All of the jeans are dyed using natural indigo which is fermented using sake and natural indigo plant but most talked of jeans are the G001-T Gold Label jeans which are fully hand made from beginning to the end.

The denim produced with hand loom takes a whole day just to weave one meter of the fabric. The Gold Label jeans are artisan made products with each product different from one another as you cannot copy a hand made product and make it exactly the same. The natural indigo dye and weaving result depend on the environment and even the weather. The jeans have a very beautiful blue and the jeans are washed in the essence of Seto Sea water. Due to the deep natural indigo dye, the jeans don’t fade like other labels but retain their color nicely.

I can just imagine how these babies would wear in. The fit is pretty awesome although I would have to special order a pair in order to get ones that fit my tall frame. But never say never. It is easier said than done though, as these jeans are all seasonal goods that are produced for special orders. The entire production is a community event, with the local people taking part in the production process. The profit from the jeans is then shared with the community as well. The process from picking up the plants for dyeing, choosing the right cotton and yarn and then dyeing the yarn with the rich natural indigo blue. Not to mention that the actual fermentation of the indigo dye is a delicate process which involves using Sake and “growing” the dye stuff as it is playfully called with utmost attention. The dye actually includes living bacteria that requires patience and right skills to produce the beautiful Japan Blue color.

The dyes yarn is also different as with the natural repetitive dyeing process the entire yarn is dyed blue and thus it will not wear in like the traditional denim which uses yarn only dyed from the top using most often than not pure indigo or synthetic indigo dye.

As mentioned the elements like weather and temperature affect the production from the dyeing to weaving process. During a hot weather the dyeing result as well as weaving are totally different in terms of hue and density. Thus two pairs of gold label jeans are never alike. But same applies to every hand made artisan product, it is impossible to mimic the hand made work. This is also part of the awesomeness of these type of Vintage jeans.

The buttons of the G001-T design are Sterling Silver but the G003-A and G003-O for instance feature copper buttons and rivets. Even the inside pocket fabric and lining are all hand dyed with natural indigo.

There are not many brands in the world that still retain the mentality to produce such items. I have seen jeans that fetch even higher price than any of the Gold Label jeans, and I can honestly say they don’t even come close to the detail and quality possessed by these jeans. Again pictures can only show so much, where as seeing the jeans live is a whole different thing. So hope you get a chance to see these jeans yourself at some point in time.

I still have a Copper Label project update to post but until then, stay cool everyone… Sunday is just starting. Peace.

This was what my Momotaro Going to Battle labels looked like six months in. Now, two months and three washes later.

It is noteworthy to mention that a boat was captained while wearing these. Initially the jeans got soaked from the spray and the rain, but after the storm eased up they dried quickly in the wind and when dry (much to my liking), became rather wind proof. The skiff was pushed for all its clattering 35 horsepower Evinrud was worth, and still nothing permeated the protective layer of hardcore Japanese denim. Momotaro 1, The Elements 0.

These Momotaros have experienced no noticeable extra shrinkage after the initial washes. My Going to Battle labels were also dipped into the Baltic Sea nearby and given a little rub with sand after which they were left to dry out in the sun. The irregular blotches and lines at the front and back of the knees is from said sanding. The stacking abrasions at the hem have grown lighter. I discovered that the more the denim is washed the higher the contrast between the unbroken, unscathed indigo and the worn parts becomes. The jeans adduce more wear than tear, with only a slight rip at the hemline from cuffing.

The traditional Japanese white lines and the leather patch have all evolved quite nicely. The patch, supple to begin with, is now completely unnoticeable from the rest of the jeans. Which is a good thing, as I have a tendency to rip out patches that are too big, heavy or studded. Because why would you not want to be comfortable in your jeans?

Last time I wrote about my Going to Battle labels I mentioned a wish to have worn them rougher. I now echo that desire. The jeans have more character and look far better than two months ago, but the fading is still too slow for my taste. I think these need to experience the concrete concrete kiss. Road rash here we come.

Momotaro Going to Battle labels after eight months and five detergent washes:

Another day another project, not a denim project but a positive challenge nonetheless. Finland is experiencing the highest temperatures in a century (global warming anyone) and you know what, I love it. Reminds me of Malaysia. All we need is 50% more humidity and that’s it. People are going crazy and acting crazy as well. I mean folks don’t feel like working (which is why majority of the country is on summer vacation right now) and those who do work mostly complain about the hot weather. Chill folks, no pun intended. It’s summer time. Just sit back, relax and listen to some Aston Martin music.

The heat is doing “wonders” to my denim project as well. Yeah, I do wear my jeans all-year-round. It’s a wear and tear project after all. From -30 to +30 degrees Celsius, these jeans have seen it all. And the more I wear the better they get. I try to retain the once a month washing cycle, but I can tell you, it ain’t easy. I like my jeans clean and fresh and summer is treacherous. Still, loving every minute of it.

Here’s a view from the surface.

I thought that it would be good to post a little comparison of the fresh out of the box and my worn Copper Label Momotaro Jeans. Kind of like a before and after shot. Don’t worry you’re not seeing double, and I did not accidentally post two very similar pictures. One is with the natural sunlight (inside the house) and one with flash.

It’s amazing that there are more and more things happening right every week. I must say it’s a very interesting project. Another 6 months to go. Following the summer heat, there is the Autumn grime and winter snows. Four seasons anyone? These babies will see it all. But now, I’m off to lounging. The sun is still shining and I think I’m finished with everything today.

Go out, get some sun and eat an ice cream folks. Or if not that, a glass of water will do just fine as well. Peace.

So LeBron decided to move to Miami. I guess we all saw that coming. Everyone except those from Cleveland, including the Cavs’ owner who wrote bitter letter (in Comic Sans) expressing his disappointment about LeBron’s decision. The fact that he actually wrote the letter in this “beloved” font got him plenty of air time in the web especially Twitter, where Comic Sans at one point was trending above LeBron himself. I can’t really blame LeBron, although Miami still has many roads to cross before fighting for the title, at least they are collecting key players that could perhaps challenge the top teams of the NBA next season. I still believ in a three peat by Lakers, but Miami now has another star in their team and I know the team is hungry. Still, there are many bitter and angry people in Cleveland burning jerseys and other nonsense. Stay cool folks, it’s just basketball. Although I think I would also feel a bit bitter if Kobe left the Lakers. Touch wood, this won’t be happening for a while.

Another follow up to yesterday’s post is about Paul, the beloved octopus with psychic powers. Our friend Tim gave us a shout on the Soap Box telling that Paul has already predicted that Spain will take home the championship. Good look for Spain, not so good for the Dutch. Well at least Ms. Bobbi Eden won’t have to claim her promises.

So what’s so shiny about this post? The shiny comes from the pretty OTT findings I recently came across in the web. Neither of these items are new, but there has been so much to write about I have just not had time to post anything about the crazy stuff people do to customize their gadgets.

Now, we love limited edition stuff and I truly understand the value of a one of a kind piece. Whether it’s a pair of jeans, a rare T-shirt or a phone like no other, I’m down with it. But dropping $20 000 to an iPhone 4 seems a bit much, even for me.

Picture courtesy of Mashable.

Jeweler Stuart Hughes is selling these diamond encrusted iPhone 4 devices with 6.5 carats of VVS quality diamonds encrusted on the phone. Hey, I know there are people who buy this and I respect that. The only question in my mind is if this will affect the reception?

If the phone itself wasn’t enough, as an accessory you will get an ostrich foot carrying case with a platinum and diamond apple logo on it.

Picture courtesy of Mashable.

And if iPhone is not your thing and you’re more of an iPad person, have no fear. You can also get a solid gold iPad with 11.43 carats of hand set diamonds for a cool $ 189 000.

Picture courtesy of Mashable.

Again there are definitely folks who buy this without a moment’s hesitation. This got me thinking about the Gold Label Momotaro Jeans G001-T. The which are hand made from the beginning to the end. These jeans are currently only available by order and since the production takes a whole year. You might have to wait for a while to get yours. But all those interested in the jeans, feel free to contact us for details.

The jeans that got plenty of publicity few years ago for the price tag of 178 500 Yen are not that much different from any other specialty product such as a fine watch or a jeweled iPhone. These are artisan made products and each product is different from one another as you cannot copy a hand made product and make it exactly the same. This is especially true in the case of Gold Label Momotaro Jeans, since the natural indigo dye and weaving result depend on the environment and even the weather. I think I want to write a Gold Label special sooner or later (been planning to do this one for a while as well). So let’s save some stuff to that one. But what I want to say already now is that these would be “the ultimate” denim project.

All and all, these products would not be made unless there was no demand for the goods. Seeing the likes of Bryan “Birdman” Williams and others in the rap game having so much money to blow, not to mention the real money makers behind the scenes I would argue that the demand for these luxury goods will even increase in the future.

However, luxury as a word is a very open one. Tied to not just material but also immaterial luxuries like time spent with the family or time to spend just on your own. It is however easy to tie money to the word as that’s what the world seems to be all about. Blowing money fast and so on…

But what’s luxury to you? A fresh pair of jeans, an evening spent with friends or just more time spent with the fam? Let us know and let’s put the Soap Box to good use. I’m out, peace…

Rainy morning, loving it. Not sure what’s the weather like in your neck of the woods but I am really loving the cool and clean air. The air must be filled with expectation and anxiety as the Bread and Butter trade show kicks off once again. Although we received number of invitations from several parties, we are present at the B&B. Too much to do on our side and no time for any excursions. Some of our friends from Japan are however present at the fair and you can find them presenting a new label Japan Blue Jean at B&B from 7th until 9th of July.

The label is not the same as Momotaro Jeans but a new brand under the textile division. Same group as Momotaro Jeans, same origin but includes more washed denim. The brand uses fabrics from Rampuya & Co but the jeans are produced at their friend factory in China. This enables the brand to sell at a lower cost while still retaining the good quality Okayama made Japan Blue fabrics are known for.

I guess some could call this a diffusion line of sort. More made to compete with brands like Edwin, Levi’s and Nudie whom offer quality jeans for lower cost.

The label is also introducing experimental products such as indigo dyed work boots. This is a first one for me.

Japan Blue’s stand at B&B at booth L 28.4.

From what I have heard there will be 30 styles of jeans and 12 styles of shirts in the first collection for the European market.

Pictures courtesy of JapanBlue Jeans.

Momotaro Jeans is and will always be Momotaro jeans. The original fully Okayama made Vintage denim and I find that it is strategically good to differentiate the brands instead of including a diffusion line under the well known brand to meet the demand of consumers with a tighter budget.

I am sure this won’t be the last you will hear about Japan Blue denim and if you happen to be in Berlin, go check them out by yourself. You can also find more information about the label from their Facebook page.

Before I go, I have one more thing to share with you and yours. Fresh video from Young Jeezy – I’m Just Sayin’ which will be the song of the day as well. Keep it real and catch y’all later. I’m out, peace.

Today was spent lounging, eating good food and enjoying the sun with few gin tonics to cool things down. Now back on my blog. I did not post anything yesterday due to the very hectic day moving from one apartment to another. The kitchen/bathroom renovation drew us out of casa de Stark and such a move usually involves plenty of work. I was basically carrying stuff the whole day.

Lucky we had some help!

Well after all those boxes, washing machines and ovens my jeans were feeling filthy. That said this morning I threw the jeans into the machine for another wash. It’s all good, it’s been almost a month since the last wash anyway.

The jeans before the wash and after the wash hanging outside.

Now that the jeans have dried nicely outside in the shade and sometimes under the sun they look nice and more importantly smell and feel fresh.

Although the color is much lighter again, the jeans don’t really leak much color during the wash. I purposely added a light cloth to the machine to see the end result and the cloth is still white.

The creases have left their mark on the back of the jeans and some of the twills have started to break. Nice add to the look.

The creases and lines on the jeans are getting lighter and lighter. It’s like a map o nthe jeans’ surface.

The patch is also nicely tanned, although I have seen some patches that have a much darker shade though they have been washed only once or twice.

The cuffs are very worn and starting to tear from the hem. Not really but both at least the jeans look like they have been worn a plenty.

All and all the jeans are lighter and look awesome. The fades on the front are there to stay and are bound to get lighter. I will post more pics next week, but I think this is enough for today. Need to catch some shuteye to make sure all the batteries have been charged for another dynamic week ahead.

Stay safe everyone, I’m out. Peace!

First and foremost, Happy 4th of July to all of our American friends!

Yesterday went by in a jiffy. I will get into those details on my Copper Label project update later tonight. However, this Sunday “morning” edition is dedicated to the soon to be released collaboration between Canadian Naked & Famous brand and Momotaro Jeans. I gave some sneak preview pics of the collaboration (courtesy of Hypebeast) just few days back and promised that I would have more to come. I’m a man of my word and here are some more detailed pics of the collaboration courtesy of guys at Naked & Famous.

Familiar Momotaro Jeans patch on the inner side of the waistline.

The “hardware” includes Momotaro Jeans copper rivets with Momotaro’s peach design on the rivet bottom.

More Momotaro specific “hardware”. Momotaro Jeans style rivets

Momotaro Jeans buttons with Naked & Famous patch on the inner side of the waistline.

The leather patch features Naked & Famous and Momotaro Jeans details. The patch stitching differs from the Momotaro Jeans as it is stitched from the top and bottom only.

The signature pink inseam is one of the Momotaro specific details although the selvedge differs from the basic Momotaro Jeans lines. Do note that there are plenty of Momotaro Jeans designs without the pink selvedge.

The jeans will be released around October/November just nicely for Autumn/Winter season. The price will be released later although you can expect to see the price to be close to the lines like Vintage Label and Going to Battle Label of our current Momotaro Jeans designs.

I like the way the jeans look and this will be a must buy for those who have been looking for a “slimmer” Momotaro Jeans or Naked & Famous for that matter.

As promised I will be back later with an update of what went on yesterday together with the latest Copper Label updates.

Have a great 4th of July everyone! Lounge if you can but be easy no matter what. I’m out, peace and prosperity!