CARE GUIDE
SELVEDGE DENIM
SELVEDGE DENIM IS WOVEN ON OLD SHUTTLE LOOMS THAT WORK MORE SLOWLY AND MORE NARROWLY THAN MODERN MACHINES. THE RESULT IS A DENSE, TIGHTLY CONSTRUCTED FABRIC WITH A CLEAN, SELF-FINISHED EDGE, VISIBLE AS THE COLOURED STRIPE ON THE INNER SEAM. THE TERM ITSELF COMES FROM "SELF-EDGE," REFERRING TO EXACTLY THAT: A WOVEN EDGE THAT DOESN'T FRAY. THE TECHNIQUE ORIGINATES IN JAPAN. WHEN AMERICAN MILLS SWITCHED TO MASS PRODUCTION IN THE 1960S, JAPANESE MANUFACTURERS BOUGHT THE OLD DRAPER LOOMS AND KEPT REFINING THE CRAFT. THAT'S WHERE THE STANDARD FOR SELVEDGE DENIM WAS SET.
WHAT RAW DENIM MEANS
RAW DENIM IS UNWASHED AND UNTREATED, WITH NO STONEWASHING, NO ARTIFICIAL FADING, AND NO CHEMICAL FINISH. THE FABRIC IS STIFF AND DARK STRAIGHT OFF THE LOOM. OVER TIME, IT SOFTENS AND FADES EXACTLY WHERE YOU WEAR IT: BEHIND THE KNEES, ACROSS THE THIGHS, AT THE WALLET POCKET. EVERY PAIR DEVELOPS DIFFERENTLY DEPENDING ON THE PERSON WEARING IT.
BREAK-IN
EXPECT AT LEAST SIX MONTHS OF REGULAR WEAR BEFORE THE DENIM FULLY CONFORMS TO YOUR BODY. THE STIFFER THE FABRIC FEELS AT FIRST, THE MORE DEFINED THE FADES WILL BE LATER.
CARE
FOR THE FIRST YEAR: NO MACHINE WASH. UNTREATED DENIM SHRINKS SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE WASHING MACHINE, WHICH PERMANENTLY AFFECTS THE FIT. SPOT CLEAN INSTEAD: A DAMP CLOTH OR SOFT BRUSH ON THE AFFECTED AREA, COLD WATER, NO RUBBING. AFTER WEARING, HANG THE JEANS TO AIR OUT. THAT HANDLES MOST ODOURS WITHOUT ANY WASHING AT ALL. IF A FULL WASH BECOMES UNAVOIDABLE, DO IT BY HAND IN COLD WATER, NO WRINGING. HANG WET TO AIR DRY. NEVER TUMBLE DRY. MACHINE WASH ONLY AS A LAST RESORT, COLD, INSIDE OUT, NO SPIN CYCLE.
OUR LEATHER BOOTS ARE MADE IN ITALY AND BUILT ON A WOODEN LAST COVERED WITH LEATHER, AS IS STANDARD IN QUALITY FOOTWEAR CONSTRUCTION. FROM THE FACTORY, THEY COME FITTED WITH A VIBRAM SOLE PROTECTOR AS THE OUTER SOLE, WHICH TAKES THE DIRECT WEAR SO THE LEATHER SOLE UNDERNEATH STAYS INTACT. THE VIBRAM OUTSOLE WILL WEAR DOWN OVER TIME. THAT'S NORMAL AND EXPECTED. ONCE IT'S WORN THROUGH, TAKE THE BOOTS TO A COBBLER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD REPAIR THAT EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE BOOT SIGNIFICANTLY. ALWAYS USE A PROFESSIONAL COBBLER RATHER THAN ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE IT YOURSELF.
