Japanese Selvedge Denim

URAHARA is Australia’s home of Japanese denim.

We offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of Japanese denim in Australia, with fits ranging from slim and tapered through to straight, wide and baggy. Every pair of jeans is made in Japan using Japanese selvedge denim woven on traditional shuttle looms in the Okayama and Hiroshima prefectures.

URAHARA stocks core and seasonal releases from some of Japan’s most respected denim brands, including TCB Jeans, Japan Blue Jeans, Momotaro, Iron Heart, Godspeed, The Strike Gold, Rats, Trophy Clothing and Radiall. These brands represent the craft, history and dedication that define Japanese manufacturing.

Our range includes straight, wide, relaxed, and tapered fits, allowing customers to compare different silhouettes within Japanese selvedge denim. Straight leg jeans draw from classic American workwear proportions, while wider cuts offer more room through the thigh and hem without losing structure.

Every pair of jeans purchased from URAHARA comes with complimentary chainstitch hemming on our Union Special 43200G, along with lifetime repairs using our vintage Singer 47W70 darning machine at our dedicated repair space above our Melbourne store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Japanese denim is highly regarded for its quality, durability, and unique texture. Both the fabric and the manufacturing process of Japanese denim are considered special and unique.

The production of Japanese denim is highly meticulous, with attention paid to every detail. The denim is woven on old-fashioned shuttle looms, which produce distinctive fabric that is full of more character, stronger and more durable than the denim produced by modern, automated looms.

Japanese denim is also renowned for its indigo dyeing process, which produces a deep, rich color that fades beautifully over time. The dyeing process is often done by hand, using natural indigo dye, resulting in a denim fabric that has a unique, uneven coloration.

Some denim fabrics feature slubby, irregular yarns that create a bumpy, textured surface. Other fabrics have a more uniform texture, but still have a subtle variation in color and texture that adds to their character.

Selvedge (also spelled selvage) fabric refers to denim or any other type of woven fabric that is finished with a self-edge, which is a narrow, tightly woven strip of fabric that runs along both sides of the fabric. The self-edge prevents the fabric from unraveling or fraying and is typically finished with a colored thread, often red or blue, which adds to the fabric's aesthetic appeal.

Selvedge denim is highly regarded among denim enthusiasts because of its durability, unique appearance, and history. Selvedge denim is typically woven on old-fashioned shuttle looms, which produce a narrower fabric width than modern, automated looms. This results in a denser, stronger fabric that is less prone to fraying and has a more textured appearance.

Due to the narrower fabric width, selvedge denim requires more fabric to make a pair of jeans, which makes it more expensive to produce than non-selvedge denim. However, many people consider the investment worth it due to the quality and unique characteristics of selvedge denim. Additionally, the manufacturing process of selvedge denim is often more sustainable, as it tends to use less water and energy than modern denim production methods.

Japanese denim is typically more expensive than other types of denim due to its high quality, unique textures, and manufacturing processes. Many denim enthusiasts believe that the unique characteristics of Japanese denim, such as its durability, indigo dyeing process, and selvedge edges, make it worth the investment.

There is also the environmental benefits to consider... All of the denim we sell at URAHARA is 100% Cotton.

Cotton is a natural and renewable resource, and using 100% cotton denim means that no synthetic fibers, which are made from petroleum-based materials, are used in the fabric. This can make 100% cotton denim a more environmentally friendly option than denim blended with synthetic fibers.

To mitigate the environmental impact of denim production, many companies are taking steps to use sustainable cotton, reduce water usage, and employ more eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Some companies are also exploring the use of recycled or organic cotton, as well as innovative new materials such as recycled polyester and hemp, to create denim that is more environmentally friendly.