Summer Weight Raw Denim Jeans – Five Plus One

Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.


Summer is a bittersweet time for denimheads. While everyone enjoys the sunny weather, it does mean that jeans, particularly those made of heavyweight denim, are all but unwearable. This week, we explored the world of lightweight denim: the best way to keep fading without fainting.

1) Naked & Famous: Weird Guy in 8oz. Featherweight Dungaree Selvedge

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Naked & Famous has produced jeans from many different lightweight denims, but their Weird Guy 8oz. Featherweight Dungarees are some of the most attractive. Produced in their popular Weird Guy fit, these jeans are produced from an 8oz. right hand twill denim with yellow contrasting stitching. “Normal” jeans are produced with denim that weighs between 12 and 15oz., making these jeans notably lighter.

Available for $163 from Tate and Yoko.

2) Left Field: Greaser Jean in Deadstock 10Oz. Japanese Nep Selvedge

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For those who like a medium- or high-rise these Left Field Greaser Jeans in Deadstock Nep Selvedge are a great option. They’re made from a highly neppy, deadstock 10oz. denim, and the cut is similar to jeans from the 1950s—a bit generous in the thigh with a light taper below the knee. These jeans come with all the other details you would expect from a pair of Left Field’s:  raised belt loops, custom hardware, and bandana pocket bags..

Available for $189 from Left Field.

3) Momotaro: 1705SP Slim Tapered 10Oz. Selvedge

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It can be hard to find lightweight denim from Japanese jean manufacturers, but Momotaro’s 1705SP Slim Tapered Jeans fit the bill nicely. They are made from 10oz., indigo-dyed denim complete with a pink selvedge ID, and are cut a bit slimmer than many of Momo’s offerings. Each pair features a deerskin patch, Battle Stripes on the back right pocket, and herringbone pocket bags.

Available for $168 from Okayama Denim.

4) Rogue Territory:  SK 11Oz. Selvedge

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Rogue Territory might not be particularly known for heavyweight denim, but their 11oz. Selvedge Denim is a bit lighter than their normal mid-weight jeans. Coming from the Nihon Menpu mill in Japan, it’s featured here in their tapered SK fit. Each pair is made in Los Angeles and comes with silk-screened pocket bags, lasso-stitched back pockets, and a single needle stitched waistband.

Available for $230 from Stag Provisions.

5) Japan Blue: JB0414 10.5Oz. Joker Jeans

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Japan Blue’s were once thought of as cheaper alternatives to Momo’s, but they’re a fantastic brand all on their own. These Joker Jeans are made from a 10.5oz. denim—normally used to make their jackets— that’s considerably lighter than most of their normal options. It features a heavily tapered cut, but with a normal rise and thighs, making them comfortable in the warm summer months.

Available for $123 from Denimio.

Plus One – Levi’s Vintage Clothing: 1890 XX501 Jeans Rigid 9Oz.

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Levi’s Vintage Clothing is Levi’s highest end brand, dedicated to reproducing some of Levi’s most famous patterns. Their 1890 XX501 Jeans are (as their name implies) a reproduction of the 501s that Levi’s produced in 1890, and as such, the pattern is quite unique. It features a very loose fit, a cinch at the back, buttons for suspenders, and a single back pocket. The denim used for this style is a 9oz. selvedge, which, in combination with the loose fit, make them an ideal summer jean.

Available for $280 from Unionmade Goods.