Where are Big John jeans made

Big John jeans are made in Japan, with denim woven at Japanese mills and garments cut and sewn in Kojima, Okayama—the birthplace of Japanese denim

What’s the history of Big John

Big John was Japan’s first denim brand, established in 1940. In the 1960s, they pioneered domestically made jeans and in 1972 released Japan’s first selvage denim using Kurabo’s KD-8 fabric

Do Big John jeans shrink after washing

Most Big John jeans are one-wash or sanforized, so shrinkage is minimal. Expect less than 3% shrink in raw models. Always check the product label for washing status

Are Big John jeans worth it

Big John delivers true Japanese denim heritage—original fabric development, in-house sewing, and timeless cuts. They're priced fairly for the quality and history behind every pair

Are Big John jeans selvedge

Many Big John jeans use selvedge denim, especially in the Rare, M-Series, and Vintage lines. Look for redline or custom-colored selvedge IDs at the outseam

Who made Japan’s first selvedge denim

Big John released Japan’s first selvedge denim in 1972, using Kurabo’s KD-8 fabric. It marked the start of Japan’s legacy in high-end denim manufacturing

What’s a good entry point into Japanese denim

Big John’s one-wash styles are ideal for first-timers: no shrink surprises, clean fades, and heritage-level build without needing to baby them

How do you style wide-leg denim

Big John’s wide tapered and relaxed straight fits pair well with tucked-in tees, chore jackets, or stacked boots. Just lean into volume and weight

Big John | URAHARA

Big John

Big John are the godfather of Japanese denim and responsible for the selvedge denim manufacturing scene in the now famous Kojima, Okayama. Founder Kotaro Ozaki initially began his business manufacturing school uniform, work wear and U.S military inspired clothing. Kotaro is known for producing the first pair of jeans entirely made in Japan in 1965 using fabric from Canton Textile Mills from America under the brand name ‘Canton’. He would then later develop the first denim fabric made in Japan in 1972. Big John pioneered the Japanese Selvedge Denim scene as we know it today!