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Left Field NYC is a proud American label, but for this release, they’re exhibiting some of Japan’s most artisanal denim production. Limited to just 25 pairs per silhouette (online), Left Field has opened pre-orders for a duo of jeans made from heavyweight Japanese selvedge denim that’s been dyed using ancient natural dyeing techniques.
The denim sourced by Left Field for this drop utilizes the gold standard of natural indigo-dyeing — Tokushima Awa Shoai. Tokushima prefecture has been Japan’s most famous indigo-dyeing region since the Edo period. Its production of indigofera is naturally fruitful due to the presence of the Yoshina river, which enriches the earth and creates fertile soil that is perfect for growing masses of indigofera. In this instance, master craftsmen from Tokushima have dyed slub yarns with “shoai” (natural indigo), using hank-dyeing. This is a repetitive technique that requires a master craftsman to dip bundles of yarns (known as skeins) into a vat of natural indigo dye and twist them by hand to help the dye penetrate closer to the yarn’s core. While laborious, hank-dyeing results in rich indigo yarns that fades into a nuanced palette of indigo unlike any other. And it’s these yarns that feature on both pairs of jeans in this special release from Left Field NYC.
Both of the denims in this release use these Awa Shoai slub yarns for the warp, creating an uneven weave that mimics “falling rain” when paired with a contrasting weft. The Buckle Back Jean in Tokushima Shoai Hank Dyed denim weighs in at a beefy 17 oz, and has a white weft which really lets that indigo sing. This is Left Field’s widest cut, which comes complete with a cinch back that is a hallmark of earlier, wider jeans. If you want something a bit slimmer whilst remaining a true straight leg, the Smokestacks edition has you covered whilst offering even more natural-dye goodness. The weft yarns on this 16 oz. pair have been kakishibu dyed, using persimmon tannins to create a brown color with orange hues that will gently emerge as the denim fades. This is artisanal Japanese denim at its absolute peak.
Both denims are sanforized, so you can buy 1 size down from your normal denim size, and these will stretch out to your true size after a few wears. Each pair is made in the USA using custom pick and shovel logo hardware, 5 oz. vegetable-tanned waist patch, selvedge coin pocket, and more details than I can fit in a nice, tight sentence.
If your denim collection is missing something truly rare and unique, Left Field is offering you something that shows the pinnacle of Japanese denim production and American garment manufacturing in one, fade-ready package.
Pre-order your pair while stocks last over at Left Field NYC.
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