Raw jeans

History of Dry/Raw denim

Dry (or Raw) selvage denim is a fabric that used to be utilised for major denim manufacturing companies in USA from the early 20th century (or even earlier) into the 80s, for various denim products (jeans, jackets,
shirts, curtains, tents, even aprons!).

Due to the high demand for jeans between the 70s and 80s, old shuttle looms were used to produce selvage denim fabrics, (29-32inch wide) about 50 meters a day per machine was extremely time consuming and expensive.

Manufacturing companies shifted from these old shuttle looms to modern cost effective projectile looms which are capable of making denim fabrics faster, as well as wider (60-63inch)*, and sold the old shuttle looms to various Japanese companies.

It is a well known fact that the last red selvedge denim was manufactured sometime in the early 80s (sometime between 1974-1986) prior to the Japanese selvedge denim boom started in the beginning of 90s. 

Japanese cotton industry and indigo fabrics

In Japan, the start of the textile and dyeing/colouring industry began in the Edo Period (mid 18th century). Okayama region became famous for producing/cultivating cotton and indigo plants** in Meiji Era (mid 19th century), and is the birthplace for the Japanese denim/jeans industry. There are many denim related companies based in Okayama from multinational companies to small family mills, especially in Kojima (Kurashiki) as well as Ihara region and Okayama becomes the place for denim product designers. 

Allevol denim products are all made in Okayama, Japan

We strongly believe that by manufacturing in Japan offers a competitive edge to our product.

Top quality raw jeans fabrics as well as craftsmanship are incomparable to anywhere else. We would like our clean cut designed jeans at the highest standard possible, and the Okayama region in Japan offers precisely this extraordinary standard for exceptional quality.

Please see our raw jeans.  

*Wikipedia states that the new projectile looms make less durable fabrics, but we believe it makes stronger fabrics with a less unique fading process.