Fade Friday – Big John R009 (10 Months, 2 Washes, 2 Soaks)

It’s that time, folks, Fade Friday! And this week, Big John is setting you up for a big weekend with this pair of Big John R009 that come to us from Brandon in Pennsylvania. As one of the original Japanese denim brands, we don’t see enough Big John ’round these parts. But Brandon’s pair is here to remind us why the brand is so important with some top-drawer fades.

Brandon has worn these jeans how raw denim should be – every darn day. He hasn’t even been wearing them a year yet, and the fades have come thick and fast, with super faded thighs and stacked-up whiskers in the lap. The shots in broad daylight show the rich, varying indigo tones the denim has developed after two washes and two soaks, and the those defined honeycombs in all their carved-up glory. There’s even some subtle stacking towards the hems, which have got some roping fades of their own, too.

Aside from a crotch repair undertaken by Railcar, these Big Johns are holding up nicely. So who knows, maybe we will see them again someday. We sure hope so.

You can find Brandon posting on Reddit with the handle – u/mukoh.

Big John R009 Raw Denim Jeans

  • Fabric: 100% cotton selvedge denim
  • Fabric weight: 15.5 oz.
  • Fabric source: Japan
  • Made in: Japan
  • Fit: Slim
  • Additional Details:
    • Unsanforized
    • Button fly
    • Indigo-dyed deerskin leather patch
    • Hidden polyester reinforcing stitching
    • Leather-backed rivets
  • Available at: Tate + Yoko for $288