Deadstock fades are the order for today’s Fade of the Day with this pair of early 1990s Levi’s! Heddels reader Riccardo Grillo, of Essex, England, says he bought this pair of 501 STF in 2013 but that they had been tucked away in someone’s drawer, never worn, since the early ’90s. As such, the fades are all Riccardo’s.

What’s even better is that these were Riccardo’s first pair of raw denim jeans. He gave them a soak at the 6-month mark int he bathtub, and kept track of every day of wear, even counting half days only as half a day of wear. In total, he’s worn this pair 10 months, but it looks more like ten years!

Riccardo did wear these cycling a lot, and for all kinds of physical activity, including digging a five-foot hole for a rainwater storage tank in his garden. He also repaired them lots with a pre-war Singer sewing machine, and even one repair with silicone sealant, which is a first for us. Riccardo says these jeans are almost ready to be hung up…almost.

Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit (STF) Raw Denim Jeans

• Fabric: 100% Cotton
• Fabric weight: 12.5 Oz.
• Fabric source: Unknown
• Made in: Unknown
• Fit: Straight leg with high rise
• Additional details:
  • Levi’s signature model
  • Contrast stitching
  • Button fly
  • Unsanforized
• Available at: Levi’s for $64.00