Studio D’Artisan SD-4101E 15oz GL3 Selvedge Denim Ecru

The SD-4101E GL3 Ecru from Studio D’Artisan is a rare interpretation of the Type I denim jacket, built on the famous GL3 Toyoda loom, one of the earliest automatic shuttle looms developed in Japan. In this ecru version, the piece focuses on the raw cotton itself, fully revealing the exceptional structure of the weave without the influence of indigo dyeing.

Features

• 100% cotton / 15oz
• One wash / Pre-washed to stabilize the fabric
• Type I / boxy jacket fit
• Selvedge denim woven on Toyoda GL3 shuttle loom
• Highly pronounced irregular slub texture
• Workwear construction inspired by historical Type I jackets
• Single chest pocket with buttoned flap
• Front pleats
• Back cinch / martingale
• Engraved Studio D’Artisan metal buttons
• Copper rivets
• Leather patch
• Chainstitch construction
• Made in Japan

Description

The GL3 Toyoda Automatic Loom, developed over 50 years ago, is one of Japan’s earliest automatic shuttle looms. Today, this machine has become a living archive: no spare parts are produced anymore, and every repair requires salvaging components from out-of-service machines. This artisanal reality makes each GL3 loom rare, fragile, and highly valuable.

Its production speed is extremely slow — around 5 meters of fabric per hour. This deliberately non-optimized rhythm stands in opposition to modern industrial logic. Yet it is precisely this slowness that creates a uniquely characterful denim: a raw, irregular, and deeply textured material reminiscent of mid-century workwear garments.

To fully express the potential of this historic loom, Studio D’Artisan develops custom-made fabrics designed as true textile recipes. In the case of the SD-4101E, the fabric structure is calibrated to maximize the natural irregularities of the GL3 weave, resulting in a living and expressive surface.

The result is a denim that cannot be standardized: no two pieces are exactly alike. The texture shows visible variations, intentional irregularities, and a depth that high-speed modern looms cannot replicate. This controlled imperfection is at the core of the GL3 identity.

In this Ecru version, the complete absence of indigo dye highlights the pure structure of the cotton. The jacket becomes a direct reading of fiber and weave: a raw, luminous, and architectural material where color disappears in favor of textile relief. A radical approach that places construction at the center of the garment.

Fit

• Type I boxy jacket fit
• Short and structured silhouette
• Boxy volume inspired by vintage workwear
• Functional pocket and construction details
• Dense fabric that softens and evolves with wear
• Ideal for layering
• We recommend taking your usual size for an authentic fit

Why we selected it

We selected this piece for its radical approach to raw denim and its construction on the historic GL3 Toyoda loom. In its Ecru version, the jacket highlights the material in its purest form, without any dyeing intervention. Between slow production, intentional weave irregularity, and rich texture, it embodies a vision of denim focused on fiber and construction rather than color. An essential piece for understanding Studio D’Artisan’s work at its most refined level.