Denim Questionnaire - Calling All Denim Aficionados

Hey everyone. I'm a college student and I'm doing a project on people who appreciate repro/Japanese denim. I have a questionnaire for people to fill out and I'd love it if you guys would participate. My professor emailed Fok and he gave me permission to post this in Streetwear and Denim.

Some of the questions may require lengthy answers, so Fok suggested a 10 minute phone interview for those who interested in participating but don't have time to fill out the questionnaire. You can PM if this sounds like a good idea.

Some notes about the survey. When I say repro denim, I don't just mean the cut. The cut can be modern, but what I'm really talking about is the little details (hidden rivets, for example) that make faithful reproductions. Although they're American brands, you can certainly include brands like RRL and KMW into the mix. However, brands like APC shouldn't be included.

Here is the survey:

Age:
Location:
Profession (optional):
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a denim enthusiast are you?

1) Why do you like Japanese denim/repro denim?

2) What are some of your favorite denim brands? Why?

3) How much are you willing to spend on Japanese denim? Why? How much have you spent on Japanese denim (total/most expensive pair)? What was your justification?

4) Why do you prefer Japanese denim over brands like Diesel, True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, etc?

5) On the other side of the spectrum, why not just purchase a pair of standard Levis 501?

6) What other repro garments/brands do you appreciate? Why?

7) Although Japanese denim isn’t always dry, much of the denim purchased by members is dry? What draws you to dry denim?

8) What do you think started the initial interest in dry denim? Any companies in particular?

9) Have you ever followed any of the following “rules” with your jeans? If anything is left off the list, feel free to mention.
- Not washing your jeans for 6 months?
- Putting them into the freezer when they smell?
- Febreeze?
- Additional starching?
- Soaking them and wearing them them while wet/damp?

10) What brought you to Styleforum.net?

11) Do you post in the “Post pics of your denim” thread? Why?

12) What do you think of Japanese denim offered by brands like Gap, Uniqlo, J. Crew, etc?

Any other general thoughts and comments are welcome.

Thanks for participating! I look forward to reading your answers.

Any reason why you made this strictly Japanese?

Yellow fever

Although there are American brands that are arguably as good as, or even better than, Japanese brands, I wanted to focus more on Japanese brands because they seem to focus more on reproductions.

By asking City\\State, it seems you're only asking about US residents, is this specifically aimed at only US forum users?

Don't forget the internet has no borders. People in the UK, Australia, Korea, etc, have an interest in denim as much as US residents, even if there are less of us.

I suppose so but I have a few suggestions. I'd just caution that Japanese and repro jeans aren't one and the same although those questions are worded that way. While I love PBJ, for example, their best selling cuts aren't repro at all and I'd argue that most of their production isn't focused that way, either. Plenty of non-Japanese companies use Japanese denim so for question 6, for example, could someone say that they prefer RRL over TR? What about KMW, an American company that makes everything in Japan or Sugar Cane that's made in the US? Also, what do you mean by "repro?" The denim manufacturing? The dying? The details? The cut? Or the combination of all these factors together? I use the word to describe the cut but several Japanese companies describe their jeans as "faithful reproductions" while their end products aren't cut that way. Not trying to be an asshole but the vernacular is a bit fuzzy with this questionnaire. Feel free to ignore me if this is for a cocktail course.

I agree with you who. I took into account brands like RRL and and KMW. My phrasing is a little fuzzy, and I definitely wouldn't exclude RRL and KMW if people wanted to consider them "Japanese" denim since they have many of the specs faithful reproductions would have. I wouldn't, however, include brands like APC in the mix.

For location you can really put whatever you want, I would just prefer something more specific than America or Australia.

I only own APC's right now, but will be shopping around for new denimz, including some repro stuff, soon. Can I take the questionnaire?

Age: 18
Location: california
Profession (optional): student
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a denim enthusiast are you?
8
1) Why do you like Japanese denim/repro denim?
i have a pair of lvc and would like to see what a japanese brand(samurai in particular) has to offer me
2) What are some of your favorite denim brands? Why?
samurai (got a pair of BKs waiting), warehouse (always turn out nicely), sugar cane (whats not to like?)
3) How much are you willing to spend on Japanese denim? Why? How much have you spent on Japanese denim (total/most expensive pair)? What was your justification?
$300 is the max and highest ive spent. its 19oz so i expect it to last for at least 2 years
4) Why do you prefer Japanese denim over brands like Diesel, True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, etc?
...
5) On the other side of the spectrum, why not just purchase a pair of standard Levis 501?
not to say they dont turn out nice(go 501 contest!), 501 quality just doesnt cut it for me anymore.
6) What other repro garments/brands do you appreciate? Why?
anything mister freedom just because i want a shore jacket
7) Although Japanese denim isn't always dry, much of the denim purchased by members is dry? What draws you to dry denim?
it's mine and once you wear it for a while, you get attached.
8) What do you think started the initial interest in dry denim? Any companies in particular?
my friend fascinated me with the concept of fadez
9) Have you ever followed any of the following "rules" with your jeans? If anything is left off the list, feel free to mention.
- Not washing your jeans for 6 months? not yet
- Putting them into the freezer when they smell? used to do this
- Febreeze? no
- Additional starching? used to do this
- Soaking them and wearing them them while wet/damp? yes

10) What brought you to Styleforum.net?
sw&d
11) Do you post in the "Post pics of your denim" thread? Why?
no but i browse regularly
12) What do you think of Japanese denim offered by brands like Gap, Uniqlo, J. Crew, etc?
no opinion

Age: 27
Location: Arlington, Texas
Profession (optional): Construction Management, Student
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a denim enthusiast are you?
6

1) Why do you like Japanese denim/repro denim?
Numerous detail variations on a simple theme (primarily interested in 501-style cuts), high quality product, produced in factory/manufacture conditions superior to those of more mass-produced brands.

2) What are some of your favorite denim brands? Why?
Warehouse - vintage character to fading
RRL - easily found at affordable prices
Ooe Yofukuten - produced by (I believe) a brother and sister team, customized to individual preferences on the basic 501 theme, 50-60+ types of denim to choose from

3) How much are you willing to spend on Japanese denim? Why? How much have you spent on Japanese denim (total/most expensive pair)? What was your justification?
$300ish - probably $1000 total
Justification is that there's not really anything comparable out there. More affordable brands (APC, Crate) generally don't offer the cuts or denim I prefer.

4) Why do you prefer Japanese denim over brands like Diesel, True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, etc?
Generally made to recall postwar Americana, subtle detailing

5) On the other side of the spectrum, why not just purchase a pair of standard Levis 501?
I do that too.

6) What other repro garments/brands do you appreciate? Why?
Not necessarily repro, but Carhartt, Dickies, Red Wing, LL Bean, Filson

I like FlatHead/Toyo/SugarCane/etc. apparel, but it generally doesn't fit me.

7) Although Japanese denim isn't always dry, much of the denim purchased by members is dry? What draws you to dry denim?
Individual customization through wear, most factory washes look terrible.

8) What do you think started the initial interest in dry denim? Any companies in particular?
Levi's obviously. As the vintage Levi's craze hit Japan, it became easier and cheaper to buy high-quality reproductions than to source deadstock.

9) Have you ever followed any of the following "rules" with your jeans? If anything is left off the list, feel free to mention.
- Not washing your jeans for 6 months?
- Putting them into the freezer when they smell?
- Febreeze?
- Additional starching?
- Soaking them and wearing them them while wet/damp?

No to all.

10) What brought you to Styleforum.net?
I think I was looking up something about raw denim.

11) Do you post in the "Post pics of your denim" thread? Why?
No. Nothing to really share, yet.

12) What do you think of Japanese denim offered by brands like Gap, Uniqlo, J. Crew, etc?
I'm all in favor of affordable, quality merchandise, but in general the cuts offered (in Japanese denim) by these companies don't interest me.

Originally Posted by wmmk

Click to expand...

I only own APC's right now, but will be shopping around for new denimz, including some repro stuff, soon. Can I take the questionnaire?

Yes, of course. All participation is appreciated. Thanks guys.

Age: 21
Location: California
Profession (optional): Bum (graduated uni 3 weeks ago)
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a denim enthusiast are you?
7
1) Why do you like Japanese denim/repro denim?
I love the historical aspect of it
2) What are some of your favorite denim brands? Why?
RRL- quality denim that you can get for dirt cheap prices if you look around
Samurai- For the consistently epic fades you can get with them
Evisu- i love how the gulls look, tho i dont think id ever wear them
3) How much are you willing to spend on Japanese denim? Why? How much have you spent on Japanese denim (total/most expensive pair)? What was your justification?
Im willing to spend around 300 ish since thats what most pairs run for. My most expensive pair of jeans was my most recent purchase of the SExDBxSF09 which totaled to 275 with tax, i held them at selfedge and fell in love with them.
4) Why do you prefer Japanese denim over brands like Diesel, True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, etc?
the mall brands are all badly predistressed it seems. i love the concept or idea of distressing them all by urself to make them your own

5) On the other side of the spectrum, why not just purchase a pair of standard Levis 501? they arent as nice

6) What other repro garments/brands do you appreciate? Why? flathead shirts. they look really nice, though i don't think i would ever get one because its not really my style

7) Although Japanese denim isn't always dry, much of the denim purchased by members is dry? What draws you to dry denim? fadez and the dark indigo color

8) What do you think started the initial interest in dry denim? Any companies in particular?
well im only going to talk about my own personal experience, but i went to a university where the majority of the students were asian (im asian btw) and im sure there was a japanese kid who came to school one day wearing some evisus and some other kids thought the gulls looked cool and asked him about it

9) Have you ever followed any of the following "rules" with your jeans? If anything is left off the list, feel free to mention.
- Not washing your jeans for 6 months? my nudies have gone 7 months without a wash
- Putting them into the freezer when they smell?nope
- Febreeze? febreezed the nudies a few times
- Additional starching? i dont like starch. starch= sharp creases in the combs and sharp creases during a sweaty skating session=pain to the back of the knees
- Soaking them and wearing them them while wet/damp?nope, i dont want to turn blue >.<

10) What brought you to Styleforum.net?
i have no idea how i found this site
11) Do you post in the "Post pics of your denim" thread? Why?
no because im too lazy to take pics
12) What do you think of Japanese denim offered by brands like Gap, Uniqlo, J. Crew, etc?
i actually just came back from gap and jcrew and finally saw their selvedge denim, and i must say, its not bad, i cant comment on how the indigo will last or how it will fade but the cut was nice. but another reason i like japanese denim is that i know that from any single company only a handful or so of workers, skilled workers, who put alot of heart and soul into creating these masterpieces. but with gap, j.crew, they prolly just have some random person making them who couldnt care less if they were working with natural indigo dyed denim or walmart brand denim

Thank you to those who participated. I'd love it if a few more people could fill out this survey. Some members PMed the answers and others have emailed the answers. You are more than welcome to do that if you prefer.

Age: 15
Location: Suburban Chicago
Profession (optional): Student/political intern/freelance photographer
On a scale of 1-10, how much of a denim enthusiast are you?: 6

1) Why do you like Japanese denim/repro denim?: I care more about the history of clothes/messages sent by clothes than the way the clothes actually fit & look, in a lot of ways.

2) What are some of your favorite denim brands? Why?: Imperial, because the Duke is a cut which I really like. I also really like the way Flathead jeans fade.

3) How much are you willing to spend on Japanese denim? Why? How much have you spent on Japanese denim (total/most expensive pair)? What was your justification?: I'd be willing to spend up to $300 for a pair of Japanese denims. I figure that I wear them often enough to justify that. I currently only own APC's, but will be buying Japanese denims when they are worn out.

4) Why do you prefer Japanese denim over brands like Diesel, True Religion, Seven for all Mankind, etc?: For the most part, I simply prefer the aesthetic (it looks better with the rest of my clothes), but I also would like to avoid being associated with the stereotypical True Religion wearer.

5) On the other side of the spectrum, why not just purchase a pair of standard Levis 501?
They're a bit big on me and and lack the "mystique" that makes Japanese denim interesting.

6) What other repro garments/brands do you appreciate? Why?: Not really any. Most of my style is based more on trad/preppy parts of Americana, rather than workwear. The companies who originally made the type of clothes I wear (Brooks Brothers, J. Press, Andover Shop, etc.) are still in business, but their clothes are usually too large, so I instead turn to brands like Band of Outsiders and Ralph Lauren's "Rugby" brand.

7) Although Japanese denim isn't always dry, much of the denim purchased by members is dry? What draws you to dry denim?: The idea that my jeans will be like noone else's jeans just seems cool to me.

8) What do you think started the initial interest in dry denim? Any companies in particular?: I thought the fades on my friend's Imperials were really cool-looking, so I bought a pair of dry APC's...

9) Have you ever followed any of the following "rules" with your jeans? If anything is left off the list, feel free to mention.
- Not washing your jeans for 6 months?
- Putting them into the freezer when they smell?
- Febreeze?
- Additional starching?
- Soaking them and wearing them them while wet/damp?

I haven't washed for 5 months, and will try to go for 12 months without washing. I will have to freeze or febreeze my jeans pretty soon.

10) What brought you to Styleforum.net?: I was originally looking for advice on how to dress well at a summer internship.

11) Do you post in the "Post pics of your denim" thread? Why?
I have once. I mainly posted in order to ask for feedback on the fit of my APC's when they were new.


12) What do you think of Japanese denim offered by brands like Gap, Uniqlo, J. Crew, etc?
It's OK, but I don't understand why someone might pick it over a similarly priced, but higher quality brand such as Crate, APC, or Good Society.

A quick bump for those who may have not seen this yet. Again, thanks to all those who already participated.