For today’s review we will be taking a look at the Hug 01K jean from Companion Denim. Companion is a one man brand hailing from Barcelona owned and operated by Iu Franquesa. Check out the feature we did on the brand to learn more about Companion and Iu.
The Hug is the second fit that Iu has developed in addition to his original Joel fit, these are some pretty tough and sturdy jeans with a great skinny fit.
Details
- Name: Companion Denim Hug 01K
- Weight: 13oz.
- Fabric: Sanforized 100% cotton indigo Kurabo Mills selvedge denim
- Unique features:
- Double layered belt loops
- Back lacker loop
- Chambray lined back pockets
- Completely constructed by Companion owner Iu Franquesa
- MSRP: $245 at Companion Denim
Fit
Side, Back, and Front Fit. Dennis wears a size 31 and is 5’7″ and 170lbs.
For those wanting a skinny, tight fitting jean these are right up your alley. They have quickly become one of the favorites in my selvedge rotation.
The jeans will limit your vertical and lateral leg movement initially due to the stiff nature of the denim and its skinny cut. However, they will be fully mobile within two weeks of wear. Definitely stay away from these jeans if you have fuller legs as the thighs are quite tight.
The most appropriate body types are those who happen to be skinny and lanky or those looking for a nice, tight fit. Nothing too out of the ordinary with the fit here, thankfully Iu was kind enough to provide us with a sizing chart for the Hug as well. All measurements are true to the chart.
Fabric
The jeans are made of sanforized 100% cotton green cast indigo raw selvedge denim (blue ID) from Japan’s Kurabo Mills. Woven in a 3×1, right hand twill, the weft of the jeans has an interesting yellow tint.
The fabric comes in a nice regular pattern with a bit of surface hairiness. I noticed after this initial wear process that the waist stretched about two inches while the knee, thigh, and crotch areas each stretched about an inch. Information on shrinkage is anticipated at about two inches all around but it is not clear yet as I don’t plan on washing these for a while.
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The fades that are coming in are quite defined after such a short time and I would like to see how they progress. Due to the green cast indigo dye and the yellow weft I anticipate some pale green type of fading.
Details
These jeans are loaded with features that make them interesting for those looking for the little details that make a pair of jeans unique. The jeans come with a branded leather patch accompanied by the brand’s signature “nerve” back pocket stitching in relief.
All of the belt loops are double layered for added durability, while the back center loops connect to make a nice loop to hang the jeans from. The inside of the back pockets are lined with blue and red chambray with added loops to hang the jeans or keys from as preferred. The front coin pocket and key loops express visible selvedge detailing.
All rivets present on the jeans are Companion branded and hand pressed. The waist and fly buttons are hand pressed as well and share similar Companion branding. All stitching done is in yellow yarn with the exception of the second inseam stitch in dark indigo.
Construction
I was surprised at how tough these jeans were from the get go. At first it was almost like they were fighting against you wearing them but eventually they ease up as you break them in. The fabric itself is pretty tough for a 13oz. denim.
Iu took quite a few precautions to ensure that the jeans were as sturdy as they could be. There are no raw edges present in the jeans. All seams are hand felled and the hems are custom chain stitched to match your length.
As mentioned before the belt loops with the exception of the center two in the back are doubled up. The waistband and fly are both constructed of a single piece of fabric, respectively. And the back pocket linings will help to prevent pocket blowouts due to phones and wallets.
Value
As compared to other jeans in the 250 dollar range I would say that they stack up nicely against the competition. I couldn’t tell you yet about how they’ll fare in the long run, but for the quality and sturdiness of the garment that you receive paired with the fact that they are all hand made piece by piece by Iu, the price is justified.
For experienced denimheads looking for a unique skinny fitting jean, Companion Denim’s Hug 01K is a great option.
