3220 12oz Type II Cube Sashiko Denim Jacket

Omoto Denim 3220 12oz Type II Cube Sashiko Jacket

• 100% cotton / 12oz
• Cube Sashiko fabric
• Pre-washed to prevent shrinkage
• Boxy cut
• 2 buttoned flap chest pockets
• 2 piped side pockets
• 2 internal pockets
• Iron buttons / Copper rivets
• Vegetable-tanned leather patch
• Chain stitch seams
• Made in Japan

"More Wear, More Wonderful" is the guiding principle followed by Omoto Denim, a young Japanese label created by Hiroki Kishimoto, former general manager of Japan Blue Jeans. By surrounding itself with the best Japanese artisans, Omoto Denim aims to continue promoting Japanese denim craftsmanship by preserving the traditional skills and techniques that have built its reputation.

The Type II denim jacket is a historic model created in 1953. It differs from the Type I, the first denim jacket that appeared in the early 1900s, by adding a second twin pocket at the front and eliminating the cinch back. It features a "boxy" cut enhanced by double pleats on the front. These sewn pleats were initially designed to prevent the jacket from shrinking or the wearer from gaining weight. With a simple cut of the scissors, it is possible to cut the seams and regain the extra space created by these famous pleats. The Type II has a straighter fall and a slightly shorter length that sits on the hips. This version by Omoto Denim also features two piped side pockets, sewn on the reverse of the jacket to create two internal pockets as well.

It is offered here in a 12oz Cube Sashiko fabric, dyed indigo for the warp (outer) thread and black for the weft (inner) thread, thus offering more depth to the overall hue. This is a fabric that will develop a beautiful patina as the dye fades with wear. The beauty of a Sashiko fabric's patina lies in the different levels of wash, with the embroidered points lightening first, leaving a deeper hue between them, which accentuates the nuances. Another advantage of this weave is its comfort. Being not densely woven, it gives a very pleasant feeling of flexibility from the first wear.

The Sashiko weave is an integral part of Japanese culture. It is a decorative embroidery technique also associated with clothing making. Formerly used for firefighters' uniforms during the Edo period, today Sashiko is found in Judo and Kendo outfits, as well as among many Japanese brands keen to perpetuate the tradition. The term Cube here refers to the Jacquard loom used which weaves a regular cubic-looking Sashiko.