men's Japanese red-selvedge denim Jeans
Beige klem

An essential basic

Made from durable Japanese red-selvedge denim fabric, Klem will develop a patina over the years.

Japanese red-selvedge denim

Hoalen called on a Japanese denim manufacturer, expert in red-selvedge denim canvas. The word “selvedge” is a contraction of “self-finished edge”, literally meaning “edge finished on itself”. A selvedge fabric is therefore a fabric with a finished edge, as opposed to an unfinished edge, on which the fabric frays. It is this edge that forms the famous “selvedge border”, usually red in colour, which appears when the fabric is hemmed on the reverse side. Above all, selvedge denotes a top-of-the-range quality of denim, because it's thicker and more slowly woven on old looms, creating the variations and imperfections that give this fabric its charm and uniqueness. Historically created for workwear, red-selvedge denim offers superior resistance to impact and abrasion in harsh conditions.

History

After the First World War, the major American fabric mills were faced with a growing demand for denim garments. They had to gradually abandon their old machines for new ones, producing fabric of lesser quality but in twice the quantity (especially in width). During the “Trente Glorieuses”, large-scale industrial production took precedence over the production of selvedge denim. Weaker fabrics with synthetic dyes washed out with pumice stone outlasted fabrics dyed with natural indigo. Selvedge denim jeans, which already took longer to produce and required more meters of fabric, were abandoned. It reappeared in the 1980s, when the first Japanese imported old looms from the USA and produced their own fabric.

Denim that develops a patina over time

The major advantage of red-selvedge denim remains its much tighter, denser weave than generic denim, giving it a much stiffer feel at first, which will soften over time, but also a much more beautiful appearance. Japanese denim is not only incredibly hard-wearing, but the specific yarn-dyeing process also ensures that the color stays beautiful for longer. While some people enjoy the speed with which jeans fade and tear over time, lovers of quality and durable garments will turn to Japanese denim instead. The cotton canvas will retain traces of wear and tear, making the Klem a piece that reflects one's own usage. Its scars make it unique and tell its own story.

Your Klem will last for years

A pair of Japanese yarn-dyed denim jeans of this quality is not a common item to be cleaned in the same way as the rest of your laundry. The material requires few washes, yet is suitable for long-term daily use. Prefer cold washing on the reverse side, gentle spinning, non-mechanical drying and gentle ironing.

The iconic details of the 5-pocket trousers

The Klem jeans, with their three front pockets including the famous fifth pocket, button fly and two back patch pockets, are enhanced by a discreetly stitched ‘Hoalen’ patch on the back waistband.