The K-beauty retailer is set to open new locations across Greater Los Angeles and San Diego.
DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site
Blog
KSENIA, SCHNAIDER, LONDON – Documentary
We have always been staunch supporters of Ukranian based denim brand, KSENIACHNAIDER. Especially during the past war years. We admire Ksenia’s and her husband Anton’s tenacity in not giving up in spite of all the hardship.
And of course, all of us here at @Denimology are super curious about the “how”, and we’re sure many more denim lovers out there must be, too!
Scroll down to read the personal message from the KSENIASCHNAIDER team.
“What does it take to bring a collection from Kyiv to London Fashion Week while producing fashion in a country at war?
We invite you to watch our new short documentary, offering an intimate look behind the scenes of KSENIASCHNAIDER’s London Fashion Week shows.
From our atelier in Kyiv to backstage in London, the film follows Ksenia, Anton and our team as we navigate the challenges of running an independent fashion brand, creating collections and bringing our ideas to life despite uncertainty.”
It’s a personal story about creativity, resilience and the people who make it all possible.
The post KSENIA, SCHNAIDER, LONDON – Documentary first appeared on Denimology.
DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site
How Iron Heart Makes Military Jackets Work for Today
This is a sponsored story, one of our paid services. We maintain full editorial independence. Read more here.
Inside the Outerwear: Deck Jackets, Bombers, Field Jackets, and More
You don’t have to know military history to recognise the jackets. The N1 with its pile-faced collar, the four-pocket M-65, the short nylon flight jacket—sailors’, soldiers’, and pilots’ outerwear that has long since escaped into everyday menswear.
Iron Heart respects the archive, but it doesn’t worship it. The N1 gets handwarmer pockets the US Navy never specified. The M-65 gains a protective Ventile lining. Even the lightweight nylon L-2B gets a substantial two-way zip.
That’s where the range gets interesting. The jackets keep enough military identity to be recognisable, but the best of them don’t feel like reproductions you buy just to admire for their accuracy. The N1 is a good place to start.
The N1: Built for the Cold
The standard IHM-35 N1 looks substantial, but its 12 oz. whipcord is only part of the story. Wool/alpaca pile, a wind-blocking interlining, quilted sleeves and knitted storm cuffs do much of the work once the temperature drops.
The original N1 was designed for sailors working on cold, exposed decks. Its pile-faced collar and protected zip weren’t decorative details; they kept the wind out. Iron Heart keeps that purpose, but it was never really the reproduction purist’s first choice. The motorcycle logic wins: if a lining, pocket or other practical change makes the jacket better to live with, use it.
I own two standard N1s and wear them every winter. If you’re considering one, pay as much attention to the room for your usual layers as to the weight of the cloth. A well-insulated jacket still needs to let you move.
N1s for Harsh Winter and Milder Weather
The lightweight IHM-53 keeps the N1’s 12 oz. whipcord shell, but replaces the wool/alpaca pile with 6.2 oz. Ventile cotton. The insulated sleeves and hidden storm cuffs disappear, while corduroy at the collar and a lighter two-way zip suit the less insulated build.
It’s still recognisably an N1, just one you can wear when the standard version would be too much.
The oiled IHM-37 changes the outer cloth instead. A urethane/paraffin treatment adds water resistance and a waxier feel, taking the whipcord to roughly 14 oz. Yet its wool/alpaca insulation remains broadly the same as the standard N1.
The lightweight suits milder weather; the oiled version keeps the winter insulation but offers even more water resistance.
The M-65: Practicality in the Details
When a pile-lined N1 feels like too much jacket, the M-65 offers a different way to stay comfortable. It was designed as a field shell with room for layers. The current IHM-54 uses 10 oz. Japanese back sateen with a Ventile cotton lining rather than the N1’s heavy pile, letting you adjust the insulation with whatever you wear underneath.
The best addition is hidden in the familiar four-pocket front. The two lower flap pockets conceal separate handwarmer openings. Purists can gawk; I call them useful. You keep the M-65 face, but when it’s cold you don’t have to lift a flap just to warm your hands. It’s one of my favourite details on my own jacket.
The substantial two-way zip is another welcome change, especially when sitting down. The hood tucked into the collar, meanwhile, was already part of the original military design.
The M-43: Knowing When to Leave Things Alone
Then there’s the FW26 IHM-51 M-43, where Iron Heart mostly leaves well enough alone. I’ll be doing a full deep dive on this jacket separately, so I’ll keep this section to the essentials.
With four patch pockets, a concealed button front, pointed collar and waist drawcord, it stays close to the wartime pattern. A 9.5 oz. Japanese back-sateen shell and water-resistant Ventile lining update the materials without loading the jacket with extra hardware.
On the body it feels closer to an unstructured military overshirt than my M-65. Four pockets, concealed front, hardly any visual noise. Next to the M-65, you can see how little Iron Heart needed to add.
The L-2B: When the Materials Change the Mood
Then there’s the black IHM-55 L-2B. I’d want to wear it even if I knew nothing about the military reference.
Its short silhouette and knitted edges remain, but the resin-coated 4.4 oz. nylon, lightly padded quilted lining and substantial two-way zip give it a different character from the cotton jackets elsewhere in the range.
I’ve tried it on in large, and the fit is spot on. The nylon doesn’t shine so much as shimmer, the hardware is all black, and the puckering along the sleeve seams gives the surface some life. It takes me straight back to an old Acne bomber I wore about twenty years ago.
I haven’t worn it outdoors, so I’m stopping short of a performance verdict. But with black jeans and a simple shirt? I would absolutely wear it. Sometimes that’s enough of a reason to want a jacket.
From Tanker to N-3B: Same Logic
The IHM-52 Tanker keeps the compact shape and knitted edges that made the wartime combat jacket practical inside armoured vehicles. Its 12 oz. whipcord shell and Ventile lining depart from the original wool-lined construction.
The IHJ-170 quilted field jacket borrows a different idea: the insulating liner once hidden inside a military coat. A proper collar, pockets and snaps turn that lightweight quilted layer into a finished jacket in its own right—not a removable liner for an M-65.
At the opposite extreme, the IHM-56 N-3B combines wool/alpaca pile with a longer body and insulated hood. The material family overlaps with the N1, but the extra coverage is just as important as the lining when the weather really turns.
FW26 Outerwear at a Glance
Whether you’re drawn to the familiar N1, the practical field jacket or something lighter, the differences are easier to judge when the jackets are side by side.
Availability varies by style. Each product page shows the current status and lets you sign up for a notification if a jacket isn’t available yet.
The six picks below cover the range without repeating every variation.
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Whipcord N1 Deck Jacket
Wool/alpaca pile, quilted sleeves and storm cuffs make this the cold-weather N1.
M-43 Field Jacket
Iron Heart’s restrained take on the four-pocket wartime field jacket.
M-65 Field Jacket
A Ventile-lined field jacket with hidden handwarmers and room to layer.
Whipcord Tanker Jacket
Short whipcord jacket with knitted edges and a Ventile lining.
Nylon L-2B Flight Jacket
Resin-coated nylon, quilted lining and tonal black hardware.
Whipcord N-3B Jacket
A longer winter parka with pile lining and an insulated hood.
The Details Make the Difference
The military references are obvious, but none of these feels like something you buy to admire for accuracy and leave on a hanger. Iron Heart changes enough to make them work as clothes for now.
I know why I reach for my N1s and my M-65. Yet it’s the black L-2B I keep thinking about—and I haven’t even worn it outside. That probably tells you more than another paragraph of specs.
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DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site
Lucky Brand – Get Ready To Party In Denim!
Just in time for the holiday dressing season, Lucky Brand is turning up the shine with its newest collaboration: a limited-edition partnership with Swarovski.
The collaboration is the latest in Lucky Brand’s series of strategic partnerships, following recent collections with Vanson Leathers and Madhappy.
The Swarovski capsule combines crystal glamour with the brand’s signature denim heritage. Launching exclusively online, the collection reimagines everyday denim through a high-fashion lens.
The collection features crystal-embellished jeans, bustiers, and jackets designed to take you from day to night. The assortment taps into the growing trend of elevated casual wear and standout holiday dressing.
Are you ready to stand out in your denims at your next party?! Scroll down to have a first look.
Denim that shines. Featuring celebrity stylist Dara Allen. You can shop for these limited edition styles made with Crystals by Swarovski on the Lucky Brand website.
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True Religion – Winter 2026 Ad Campaign
True Religion is bringing the holiday season to life with “THE GIFT WORTH GOING ALL IN FOR.” A bold, cinematic campaign starring three music powerhouses: Latto, Metro Boomin, and Summer Walker.
Uniting three of music’s most distinctive forces, the campaign unfolds in a glamorous Diamond District-inspired world of gold, diamonds and ice, where the most coveted piece of all is – True Religion.
Step inside a world of jewellery counters, coveted treasures and high-stakes ambition, “THE GIFT WORTH GOING ALL IN FOR” reimagines holiday gifting through the lens of personal style, cultural value and self-expression.
With a visual language that is bold, sexy and unapologetically over the top, the story challenges the idea of the perfect gift. It’s not just about getting what you want; it’s about scoring something that means more, a statement piece that reflects individuality and the confidence to stand out.
At the center of the holiday campaign are three of music’s most influential forces, each bringing a distinct energy to the story. Latto is the showstopper, bringing fearless confidence and undeniable presence. Metro Boomin is the mastermind, with a cinematic sensibility and an instinct for creating culture-defining moments. Summer Walker is the rule breaker, embodying the individuality and unapologetic self-expression at the heart of True Religion.
“Holiday is all about going after what you want,” said Kristen D’Arcy, Chief Marketing Officer at True Religion. “With ‘THE GIFT WORTH GOING ALL IN FOR,’ we’re bringing a little extra attitude, glamour and True Religion energy to the season.
Latto, Metro Boomin and Summer Walker each bring their own flavor to the story, making it bigger, bolder and unapologetically individual. And the collection? We went all in on the details, from standout denim to crystals, texture and statement-making finishes. This holiday, True Religion jeans are the gift worth their weight in gold.”
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The Stories Surface When the Indigo Wears Away
The Fade Off Winners, KATO Teacore, Iron Heart Flannels and 33 oz. Selvedge
I spend a lot of time talking about jeans before they’re worn: the weight, the weave, the fit, the dye. But the part that interests me most happens afterwards.
Indigo wears away. Creases develop. The fabric softens, and those specifications begin to matter less than the life you’ve put into the jeans.
That’s why I organised The Fade Off for Denimhunters’ 15th anniversary. I didn’t want to make the celebration about me; I wanted to see the denim you’ve actually worn. And that idea—what happens after we buy our jeans—runs through almost everything in this issue.
The Colour Beneath KATO’s Indigo
Usually, the surprise in a well-worn pair is the pattern of the fades. With KATO’s teacore denim, it’s also the colour underneath: brown, where you’d normally expect a white cotton core.
I took a closer look at the idea and the 14.5 oz. Japanese selvedge behind it in What’s Beneath the Indigo in KATO’s Teacore Denim. It’s an interesting change to one of the things we usually take for granted about how indigo wears away.
Why I Keep Coming Back to Iron Heart’s Flannels
My first two Iron Heart Ultra Heavy Flannels were second-hand finds back in 2018. I still wear them. After years of use, it’s the combination of substantial 12 oz. cotton and a soft, brushed finish that keeps me reaching for them.
For my new feature on Iron Heart’s heavyweight flannels, I’ve looked at how the fabric is made, how my own shirts have aged and what separates the Western and work cuts. There are also the newer slubby and herringbone versions, which take the familiar idea in different directions.
Things Worth Your Attention
Five things I kept coming back to while The Fade Off was taking shape:
33 oz. indigo selvedge (SOSOBROTHERS) – The second batch of this extraordinary heavyweight denim is landing, and I’m at least as interested in the gallery of worn pairs as the weight on the label. I shared my first-hand impressions in this hands-on review.
20 years of Self Edge collaborations – The remastered 21 oz. Iron Heart jeans from its 2006 collaboration caught my eye first—188 numbered pairs—followed closely by the Sea Island cotton take on the Merz b. Schwanen 215 T-shirt.
Felted-wool Supply Jacket (Rogue Territory) – Japanese Melton wool and a faux-fur collar give this Los Angeles-made Supply Jacket an unexpected N1 deck jacket feel, which is what made me notice it.
Gift guides ready for the season – Bryan’s been updating the picks across three price brackets: under $150, $150–$400 and over $400, whether you’re shopping for somebody else or quietly making your own list.
60XX denim (ONI) – The 12 oz. selvedge takes its cues from the slightly lighter, irregular denim of the 1960s, with Redcast offering it in the wide 900HM and the more regular 270.
The Fade Off Winners and Their Stories
More than 150 entries came in for The Fade Off, and the community cast over 2,600 votes. After the final checks, we had seven online winners: three clear top places and four people tied for fourth. Considering how quickly I put this together, I’m grateful for the response.
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Swipe to see the seven winning fades
You can see the seven winning garments and read their stories in The Fade Off winners article. One pair survived a year of motorcycle commutes and long working days; one jacket has been through mountains and moshpits. I’ve also explained the voting checks and why two entries had to be excluded.
At Brund, Peter and I had another problem: we couldn’t agree on three winners from the in-store Fade Off, so we picked four equal winners. The shop was packed, the mood was brilliant and even Danish media turned up. So much for keeping the anniversary low-key.
From the Archive: Why Denim Fades
Put two people in the same pair of raw jeans, and they’ll end up with different fades. Creases behind the knees, fading across the thighs, worn pocket edges—every mark tells you something about how those jeans have been worn. That’s what makes a good pair of fades interesting to me. They’re personal.
To understand why denim does this, start with indigo. People have been dyeing textiles blue for thousands of years. Once a rare, expensive colour extracted from plants, indigo became far more accessible when synthetic production arrived in the late nineteenth century.
The interesting part is how that colour gets onto the yarn. Indigo is dissolved in a dye vat, then turns blue as the yarn meets oxygen in the air. The dye stays largely on the surface of the cotton yarn rather than permeating to the centre. This is called ring dyeing. As friction and washing remove that outer layer of indigo, the lighter core begins to show through.
Where the colour disappears depends on the fabric, the fit and the person wearing it. Some denims hold their colour longer; others develop pronounced contrasts quickly. The same fabric can look completely different after a year on two different people.
There’s no single recipe for good fades. The way you wear your jeans shapes the creases. Washing changes the colour over time, and repairs become part of the story. That’s what The Fade Off is about: seeing how different lives leave different marks on denim.
For more on the yarn and dyeing, visit my archive guide to why denim fades.
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Why We Can’t Get Enough of Iron Heart’s Heavyweight Flannels
This is a sponsored story, one of our paid services. We maintain full editorial independence. Read more here.
Heavy on Paper, Soft to Wear: The Appeal of Iron Heart’s Heavy Flannels
Buy one of these shirts and it’ll outlast even a pair of Iron Heart jeans. So why do some of us have wardrobes full of them, collecting flannels almost like Pokémons.
I’m one of those people. My first two Ultra Heavy Flannels (UHFs) were second-hand finds in 2018, and I still wear them. Two should have been plenty. Somehow, I’ve ended up with enough flannel to last me a lifetime. Yet another great colourway still catches my eye.
Then you pick one up. Remember how a good TV remote felt heavier than a cheap one? You get that same feeling. The cloth hangs like sturdy denim but feels so soft, really soft.
TL;DR – The Weight Gets You, the Softness Keeps You
Iron Heart’s heavy flannels have the heft of sturdy denim and the softness of flannel. The classic UHF leads the way, but slubby fabrics, herringbone weaves and changing colourways offer plenty more to explore.
How Iron Heart’s Flannels Got So Heavy
Iron Heart didn’t arrive at the Ultra Heavy Flannel overnight. Its first checked flannel, the IHSH-01, dates to 2006 and weighed 10 oz. That was about as heavy as its factories could reliably sew at the time, which says something about how far Iron Heart wanted to push the idea of a shirt.
You make flannel heavier by using thicker yarns, weaving more threads into each inch of cloth, or both. More cotton also means more bulk where layers meet at collars, cuffs and pockets. The factory had to be able to sew it.
The classic UHF eventually settled at 12 oz. That’s an extraordinary amount of cloth to put into a shirt, but the achievement isn’t just the figure on the label. The result still buttons up, moves with you and works beneath a jacket.
Iron Heart’s motorcycle roots help explain the appetite for rugged clothes, but you don’t need a motorcycle to appreciate a shirt like this.
How Do You Make Heavy Flannel So Soft?
Twelve ounces is the weight of a square yard of fabric, not the finished shirt. But pick up a classic UHF and there’s no mistaking it for an ordinary flannel.
The starting point is Aspero cotton, grown and hand-picked in the foothills of the Andes in north-eastern Peru. Its long fibres are prized for their softness and strength.
Japanese mills weave the cotton yarn into a dense twill, with diagonal lines familiar from denim. That compact weave helps cut the wind and gives the shirt its distinctive structure across the front and sleeves.
To soften all that cloth, Iron Heart brushes the outside once and the inside twice. The brushing lifts fibres into a fine nap; the face retains more texture, while the reverse feels wonderfully plush.
The finished shirts are one-washed to take care of most initial shrinkage. Hot washing or tumble drying can still change the measurements, though, so it’s worth checking the fit before buying.
How I Wear My UHFs—and How They Age
You could easily mistake a UHF for an overshirt. I don’t think of them as such.
The fabric has almost jacket-like substance, but I consider them winter shirts. I run hot, yet I’ve never found a UHF particularly hot. It’s nothing like the warmth of a thick wool jumper.
I wear mine over a T-shirt, with an M-65, a hardshell or an N1 deck jacket when it gets colder. That’s been my routine since 2018, from around September until spring.
My red buffalo-check western has been with me since 2018, when I bought it second-hand. It was already an older shirt then. There was some pilling on the outside when I got it, so I shaved the face to tidy it up. I haven’t shaved the inside, thought, and the brushed reverse is still soft.
The green buffalo-check western has had far less use—around 50 wears or so—and its surface is still noticeably fuzzier.
That contrast says a lot about the raised nap on a UHF, although it’s not a straight wear test: I’ve shaved the outside of the red one, while the green has seen much less wear.
I wear them around the house/office, and throw on a jacket when I head outside. I wash them when they need it, on a cool cycle, and leave them to air-dry.
Western or Work Shirt: Same Cloth, Different Fit
Western and work-shirt UHFs share the same 12 oz. flannel, but they’re quite different shirts. I wouldn’t choose between them on colour alone.
Iron Heart originally offered each colourway in one cut or the other. Customers asked for both, and the brand obliged—for years. Eventually, the sheer number of options became difficult for retailers to stock and customers to choose between, so the brand scaled back.
The western has a trimmer shape, pointed yokes, flap chest pockets, a curved hem and those unmistakable snaps. It’s the silhouette I associate most closely with the UHF.
The work shirt is roomier, with buttons, simple patch pockets and a more relaxed workwear look. One is a little sharper, the other gives you more room.
With fabric this thick, those differences are worth paying attention to. The western sits closer to the body, while the work shirt offers more space to move.
Whichever style catches your eye, compare the actual chest, shoulder and sleeve measurements with a shirt you already own. I wouldn’t buy a 12 oz. shirt based on the words slim or regular alone.
Beyond Checks: Slubby and Herringbone
Flannel isn’t a particular weave. The brushing creates its soft nap, leaving room to play with the yarn and the structure underneath. Iron Heart’s Slubby Heavy Flannel and herringbone UHF both weigh 12 oz., but get their character in different ways.
Slubby Heavy Flannel – Rougher Face, Soft Reverse
The red IHSH-455-RED western uses irregular slub yarns rather than the more even yarns of a classic UHF. I’ve handled a sample: run your fingers across the face and you feel dry, rougher patches and small changes in texture.
Turn it over and the brushed reverse is soft, although less fluffy to my hands than the standard UHF. It’s a separate fabric, with a rougher exterior but much of the comfort I enjoy in a heavyweight flannel.
Black Herringbone UHF – The Quieter Option
The black IHSH-459-BLK is a UHF, just with a subtle, broken-zigzag herringbone weave instead of a check. Iron Heart has done this before: the IHSH-239-BLK was a black 12 oz. Aspero-cotton herringbone UHF released in 2019.
The current sample’s face feels less fuzzy than the checked UHF I compared it with, although that shirt has been worn. Both use the same single-brushed face and double-brushed reverse. What draws me to the herringbone is how easily its restrained pattern works with clothes I wouldn’t pair with a bold buffalo check.
FW26 Flannels: Checks and New Textures
The familiar buffalo checks return for FW26 with updated button hardware and new model codes, alongside grey plaid, slubby yarns, black herringbone and a lighter 10 oz. flannel.
Iron Heart says the newer reactive-dyed UHFs hold their colour more consistently than older direct-dyed versions, which softened in tone with washing.
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Blue Check Heavy Flannel Work Shirt
10 oz. Heavy Flannel | Work shirt cutIHSH-458-BLU
Not a UHF, but a slightly lighter cotton flannel with a heavily brushed reverse. Blue-grey checks, white buttons and the relaxed work-shirt fit.
Black Herringbone UHF Western – IHSH-459-BLK
12 oz. UHF | Western cut
The 12 oz. Aspero-cotton UHF without the check. An understated black herringbone weave and matching snaps make this an easier shirt to dress up.
Red Slubby Heavy Flannel Western
12 oz. SHF | Western cutIHSH-455-RED
Irregular yarns give this red-and-black plaid a more uneven texture than classic UHF, with contrasting pearl snaps and a soft brushed reverse.
Grey Check Western – IHSH-461-GRY
12 oz. UHF | Western cut
A quieter grey check interrupted by a flash of yellow, finished with black snaps. The familiar UHF weight in a more subdued palette.
Red/Black Buffalo Check Western
12 oz. UHF | Western cutIHSH-467-RED
Red-and-black buffalo checks, a trimmer western fit and snap fastenings. The familiar Aspero-cotton UHF in its most recognisable form.
Green/Black Buffalo Check Western
12 oz. UHF | Western cutIHSH-467-GRN
The classic heavyweight buffalo check in green and black, cut as a trimmer western with snap fastenings, flap chest pockets and pointed yokes.
Why One Is Enough (Until the Next Colourway)
After all these winters, my oldest UHFs are still among the shirts I reach for most. That’s the strongest case for a heavyweight flannel: find one that fits, and you can keep wearing it for years.
Of course, that argument falls apart when you see another check you like. Or feel how different the slubby fabric is. Or realise the black herringbone would work with clothes your buffalo checks don’t.
You only need one good flannel. But that’s not the same as only wanting one.
The post Why We Can’t Get Enough of Iron Heart’s Heavyweight Flannels appeared first on Denimhunters.
DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site
The Fade Off: 7 Winners and the Stories They Wore
Announcing the Winners of The Fade Off, the DH15 Anniversary Fading Competition
Denimhunters turned 15 back in January. By October, I’d managed to celebrate precisely none of it. I’d meant to do something, of course, but taking centre stage (and sometimes action) isn’t really my thing.
Then I remembered the little fading competition I ran with Meadow in the early days. That sounded much better than a birthday speech: put the readers’ denim in the spotlight.
DH15 was the anniversary celebration, and The Fade Off was the competition anyone could enter.
How The Fade Off Worked
The idea itself was simple enough: invite readers to submit photos of their worn-in denim, ask the community to vote for their favourites. The execution was classic Thomas; very last minute.
No advance announcement, no weeks of build-up. In fact, I only pitched the project to my developer on October 17—just six days before The Fade Off opened—and he pretty much built the system as we went! More than 150 entries came in. Considering how late I left it, I’m pretty pleased with that.
For the online vote, I hid the names, Instagram handles, brands and models. The point was to judge the fades. More than 2,600 votes came in, and after email verification and a review of the results, I had the final standings.
The top three places were clear. Fourth place was another matter, because four entrants finished with exactly 44 verified votes each. That gave me seven online winners instead of six.
We also ran an in-store Fade Off at Brund in Copenhagen on November 5, with four more winners that evening.
The 7 Winning Fades
Here’s what the seven winners from the online competition wore and what they put it through.
First Place – Ido Kurniawan
Entry #150 | 58 verified votes | @denimevozz
Ido wore his 25 oz. Oldblue Co. The Mighty Beast Special Anniversary 8th jeans almost daily for a year in 2018 and 2019. He rode his motorcycle 20 to 30 km to work and spent 12 to 14 hours a day in the same pair.
Scorching heat, heavy rain, storms and visits to hotel construction sites were all part of it. I like that there’s no elaborate fading routine here. Just long working days, a commute, and one pair of jeans that came along for everything.
Second Place – Sven
Entry #77 | 51 verified votes | @lovogrett
Sven’s 16.5 oz. Tellason Coverall has seen mountains, moshpits and endless walks with the dogs. That was almost his entire submission. The same jacket had already won the Re(PAIR) category at Redline Rally Year Three.
Now it’s taken second in The Fade Off. Some entrants sent detailed wear diaries; Sven didn’t bother. Between the mountains, the gigs and the dog walks, I reckon the fades say enough on its own.
Third Place – Jørn-Bjørn Fuller-Gee
Entry #36 | 49 verified votes | @denimdawg_
Jørn-Bjørn has already won first place in the Rest of the World conference at Indigo Invitational Year Five with his Iron Heart IH-555L jeans. Now he’s added third in The Fade Off.
Time in the Arctic, five months of winter snow and four months of demanding theatre rehearsals are only part of the story. Add a whisky soak, a bourbon spill, dips in a glacier river and the Mediterranean, a bath and three machine washes.
Joint Fourth – Aaron Kikola
Entry #49 | 44 verified votes | @thedoublecuff
Aaron wore his Iron Heart 888s-21ib jeans for Year Four of the Indigo Invitational. His submission was short, but he did mention one detail worth noting: Iron Heart no longer offers this particular denim.
That’s all the background he gave me, which is fine. The jeans had already been through one fading competition. Here, 44 verified votes put them in a four-way tie for fourth. Not a bad encore.
Joint Fourth – Paul Hope
Entry #69 | 44 verified votes | @pauls.yard
Paul’s Brave Star Ironside jacket is his entry for the 2026 Redline Rally—his first fading competition. It’s been battered by Scottish weather and taken into the Mediterranean. So far, so normal.
Then Paul mentioned “an elephant” giving it a wash in a swimming pool. After 15 years of writing about denim, that’s a new one on me. It certainly beats another story about waiting six months to wash your jeans.
Joint Fourth – Muhammad Azizul
Entry #145 | 44 verified votes | @xkecikxjourneyx
Muhammad wore his Samurai S710XX25oz-UW jeans daily during Year Three of the Indigo Invitational. He gave them an initial soak and four washes, waiting seven months before the first wash.
After wearing them, he’d air them out and give them some sunshine each week. Once the competition ended, he slowed down the wear because he didn’t want to lose more indigo. Fair enough. When you like the way a pair looks, sometimes you want to keep it that way.
Joint Fourth – Rico Ahmad
Entry #151 | 44 verified votes | @rricoahmadd
Rico’s 18 oz. Adelaide Denim Kamikaze jeans have already been around the competition circuit. He finished eighth in the Southeast Asia conference at Indigo Invitational Year Four.
He entered The Fade Off hoping for another win. He didn’t get first place, but 44 verified votes put him joint fourth and earned him a prize. I’d call that a decent second showing.
7 Winners Meant a 7th Prize
When the votes were counted, I had four people tied on 44 votes and only six prizes. Easy fix: I added another Weirloom x Heimat Mechanics Beanie. Seven winners, seven prizes.
The final line-up: a pair of Indigofera jeans, a Tellason belt, a SOSOBROTHERS mystery prize, a US$150 Brave Star gift card, a Weirloom gift card and two Weirloom x Heimat Mechanics Beanies. Weirloom is my own brand, so those last three are my contribution.
Online Prizes
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Swipe to see the prizes
I’m following the Indigo Invitational’s approach to prizes: first place chooses first, then second, then so on. So Ido gets first pick, followed by Sven and Jørn-Bjørn. For the four tied in fourth, I’ll draw names to decide the order they choose in. It’s still joint fourth for all four; the draw is only about who picks next.
I’ve emailed all seven winners with their results. They have 24 hours to confirm their details, but only Ido gets to choose a prize straight away. I’ll contact the others again when it’s their turn, and nobody needs to come to Copenhagen to claim an online prize. If someone doesn’t reply, I’ll offer the prize to the next eligible entry.
A Note About the Voting
I checked the vote records before finalising the results. Some patterns didn’t add up, so I had to disqualify two entries and voided a number of votes. The numbers next to the winners above are the verified totals.
Not the fun part of running a fading competition, but everyone who entered deserves a fair count. And I’d rather spend the rest of this article talking about denim.
Four More Winners at Brund
The Fade Off wasn’t just online. On Thursday, November 5, we held a separate, in-store competition at Brund in Copenhagen as part of the DH15 celebration.
Brund was packed, and the mood was brilliant. After months of putting the anniversary off, this was exactly the sort of celebration I could get behind: people getting together to talk denim. Danish media turned up to interview a few of us too, including me. So much for staying out of the spotlight.
Peter and I did the judging during the evening and couldn’t agree on just three winners. So rather than force a ranking, we picked four: Alexander, Asger, Niels and Rene. All four were equal winners. We’d lined up a Brund gift card, a Freenote shirt and a Weirloom x Heimat beanie, so I threw in a pair of Weirloom jeans as a fourth prize. Problem solved!
In-Store Prizes
Swipe to see the prizes
Thanks for Taking Part of DH15
Thanks to everyone who entered, voted or came along to Brund. I wanted to celebrate the people who make Denimhunters worth running, and you turned up with the denim and the stories to prove the point.
Thanks to Peter and the Brund team for having me, and to Indigofera, Tellason, SOSOBROTHERS, Brave Star, and Freenote for putting prizes on the table.
Motorcycle commutes, moshpits, Arctic snow, a few trips into the sea and an elephant-assisted wash. I couldn’t have made up a better collection of denim stories if I’d tried. I’ll take that over a birthday speech any day.
You can still explore all the other entries in The Fade Off gallery.
The post The Fade Off: 7 Winners and the Stories They Wore appeared first on Denimhunters.
DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site