Fade Friday – Uniqlo MIJ Slim Fit (11 months, 5 washes)

Fade Friday – Uniqlo MIJ Slim Fit (11 months, 5 washes)

Before. Courtesy: Uniqlo

Fade Friday – Uniqlo MIJ Slim Fit (11 months, 5 washes)

AFTER

Once upon a time, there was an international clothing empire and they made some pretty great jeans. The denim was rope indigo dyed and woven in Japan, they had the subtle but practical details like hidden rivets, they were made entirely in Japan, they came in two decent fits, and they retailed for under $100.

Unfortunately those days are long past, and Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo has since discontinued their Made in Japan (MIJ) line and moved everything to China. Don’t confuse this with their ersatz Pure Blue Japan line, the MIJ ones were something special, as today’s Fade Friday shows.

They belong to Baltimore’s very own Mikino Papa, who nearly made it a year in his raw denim project. They needed no repairs over the course of their relatively short lifespan, but their fades live on. The chainstitched hem (a feature sadly dropped on their new Chinese jeans) produced some amazing roping, the honeycombs show up loud and clear, and the atari fades on the back yoke are some of the best we’ve ever seen.

I know we’ll meet again, Uniqlo MIJ, you were unfortunately too beautiful for this world.

Details

  • Name: Uniqlo MIJ Slim Fit Jeans
  • Fabric: 100% cotton Japanese selvedge denim
  • Fit: Slim straight
  • Weight: 14oz.
  • Unique features:
    • Hidden rivets
    • Chainstitch hem
  • No longer available

Think you’re fades are worthy of Fade Friday fame? Send ‘em in!