Following the jeans, the second collection of denim aging samples from MOMOTARO JEANS crew and staff features jackets. Although the fading process tends to be slower compared to the bottoms, the way these jackets age clearly reflects each wearer’s movements and habits, sometimes resulting in more distinctive features than in jeans. This second collection showcases the selected jacket favorites from two lines: “Classic” and “Standard.”
PHOTOGRAPH：Koh Morimoto（Ye） EDIT & TEXT：Rui Konno
CLASSIC
JACKET
Narrating Contrast
The Vintage Heritage
The “Classic” line carries forward the former MOMOTARO JEANS “Shutsujin” label's fabric, updated with a modern twist. True to its roots, the distinct contrasts and fades that emerge through wear carry the melancholic essence of vintage denim into the present.
Model： 1105SP
Age： 10 months
Owner： Yuki Kanno
Occupation： Shop staff
This is a so-called first model from an earlier release. Worn five to seven days a week since early 2022, it developed this level of fading in under a year. With slightly slimmer arms than the current model, it shows distinctive, pronounced wear around the elbows. "This was the first piece I bought after joining MOMOTARO JEANS. For a while, I wore it all the time, except when taking a bath. I’m satisfied with the clear honeycomb patterns on the sleeves. Since then, I’ve started wearing other models more often, but I still love this one,” says the owner.
Model： 2105SP
Age： 10 years
Owner： Atsushi Yamamoto
Occupation： Shop staff
The natural fading across the sleeves and body beautifully highlights the wear patterns on the left and right pockets. "I wore it about three to four times a week in spring and fall exclusively. I also used to wear the Shutsujin Third model (3105SP), but after lending it to a new staff member who eventually left the company, it never made its way back…,"says the wearer.
Model： 2105SP
Age： 2〜3 years
Owner： -
Occupation： Archives
This is an old model that was kept at the MOMOTARO JEANS office as an aging sample. It is unknown who wore it, but the fine wrinkles inside the elbows suggest it was worn snugly.
STANDARD
JACKET
Fading Builds Character
Over Time
The “Standard” line showcases the deep Tokuno Blue, the signature feature of MOMOTARO JEANS. Woven with a higher-than-usual warp density, the fabric develops a striking contrast when worn in from new.
Model： #001
Age： 9 months
Owner： Yuki Kanno
Occupation： Shop staff
This is a good stage in the early fading process, with the white core of the warp threads starting to emerge against the deep blue. Although this is the period when fading starts to become noticeable, the strong color contrast prevents it from looking underdeveloped. "I’ve always been a fan of reproductions and was reluctant to wear modernized pieces, but I find this to be the ideal fade. The wide arms and body, combined with the short length, are irresistible to an American casual enthusiast like me. I started pairing it with jeans and have worn it frequently to match their fade," says the owner.
Model： #001
Age： 1 years 5 months
Owner： Fumiya Goto
Occupation： Shop staff
The denim started to fade from the bottom, creating a gradation across the fabric. "The color is turning out beautifully. There are marks from rubbing against cardboard, and seeing them reminds me of how hard I’ve been working. People often ask, ‘Where did you get that?’ which always lifts my spirits,” says the owner (laughs).
Model： #002
Age： 1 years 8 months
Owner： Kento Teranaka
Occupation： Shop staff
This jacket was intentionally cared for to allow gradual, even fading, while avoiding pronounced wear. "It’s fun to see my lifestyle reflected in the denim, but I’m not a fan of pronounced wear. I hand-wash it gently every two to three months, taking care to keep it clean," he says.
Model： #001
Age： 7 years 8 months
Owner： Yo Matsukawa
Occupation： International sales
Although it looks raw at first glance, the seams are already developing noticeable puckering and wear. "I started wearing it without much knowledge of denim fading, so I just wore it freely. But once I got into it, I wanted to really explore the fading process (laughs). I dyed white T-shirts blue so many times that my wife gave me a hard time (laughs)," he says.
Model： #001
Age： 10 months
Owner： Yuta Akagi
Occupation： Shop staff
The fading began at the front pleats, probably due to the perfect fit. "I’m not very tall, so this slightly shorter length really grew on me. When I was younger, I admired extreme fading, but now in my late 30s, I enjoy more realistic fading. That said, it’s at a tricky stage right now. I want it to fade even more!" the owner says.
Model： #001
Age： 1 years 7 months
Owner： Yuki Funaki
Occupation： MD
Although it has been worn for a long period, it’s used only about once a week for a slow, leisurely fade. "Whenever I wear it, I always pair it with the matching pants. The fading has progressed, and the blue tone has gradually deepened. I like it this way, with the colors blending nicely rather than standing out too much. It’s fading evenly, just as I expected," the owner says.