4/05/22
This is an exciting week you guys. The third year of the Indigo Invitational has officially begun and I am participating for the first time. If you haven’t heard of this event, it is essentially a challenge to see who can beat the shit out of their jeans more to achieve bragging rights for the best “fades”. 99% of females think it is disgusting (not Dani because she is awesome), as many of the participants will wear the same pair of pants 365 days of the year without washing them once. Sounds crazy, but trust me when I say, don’t knock it until you try it. So let’s dive in and see which jeans I have decided to commit a whole year of my life to.
Japan Blue Jeans x Blue Owl 12oz Indigo Black Selvedge
These jeans are by far the furthest outlier in my wardrobe, yet I like it. It makes me think a bit more about the challenges of putting together an outfit with one garment to build off of everyday. This pair also happens to be my first dive into indigo by black jeans. In this case the warp of the jeans are dyed indigo (front facing fabric) and the weft is sulphur died black (the interior fabric). This makes a cuff look somewhat odd, as the colors slightly contrast each other. Indigo by black denim is known for high-contrast fades which will be interesting to see. Right now they almost look purple in direct light and bleed indigo everywear.
The texture is very uniform which is interesting knowing that these were woven on looser looms to create a “handwoven look”. I have a feeling this character might present itself as these get more worn. And, the 12 oz weight should be ideal for all temperatures throughout the year here in Portland. This actually is the lightest pair of raw denim I have.
I have been wearing these for less than a week now and already see some electric blue undertones around my wallet and Zippo lighter. Being so lightweight, I thought these would be a bit softer right out of the gate, but they hold their stiffness well which I think will be beneficial for the backs of the knees to really set in.
The selvage ID on these is one of my favorite features. There is something about the pinky-red color that really finishes these off and makes them pop when you look closer. I chose to go with the double cuff this time, so we will see how that goes as well.
Lastly, the hardware. This dark, brassy color gets me every time. I think they will patina nicely over the year (and years beyond). Plus, I am a sucker for the oversized “BLUE” on each button. For some reason, it feels like they aren’t taken themselves too seriously.
This competition is going to be an interesting experience to say the least. But, the community is full of fun people and creativity, so what is the harm in feeling like an idiot for a year? If you want to follow along, you can follow my instagram account specifically for the invitational @bluexblack22. If you are participating, good luck. If not, you’re lame. Just kidding. There is always next year. Cheers to a good week ahead. See you soon.