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The Strike Gold is a Japanese denim brand based in Kojima, Okayama — one of the world’s legendary denim regions.

Guided by Thoru Hamamoto, The Strike Gold relentlessly pursues perfection. Skilled artisans proficient in “Kibata” raw denim manufacturing produce each item, including leather accessories. Notably sturdy at first, the items gradually mold to comfort, revealing a second-skin fit. Over time, the denim’s exceptional fading adds distinct character.

The brand is known for its raw, unsanforized selvedge denim, made in Japan, and evolves uniquely with wear. Meaning that the denim features a distinctive slubby texture which creates high-contrast fading as the denim ages. A big draw for any denim enthusiast.

The collections are based on more rugged, character-focused aesthetic rather than fashion trends. The Strike Gold pays extra attention to craftsmanship, with features like gold sparkle selvedge ID, hidden rivets, button fly, and leather patch details.

Denim lovers describe Strike Gold jeans as stiff at first and incredibly rewarding once broken in, with fades and shape unique to how you wear them.

To sum it up, raw and unsanforized options mean the jeans shrink slightly the first time you wash them and then break in uniquely.

You can shop for Strike Gold here and here.

The post The Strike Gold – For All Denimheads Out There first appeared on Denimology.

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Several forces propelled denim and its American roots into the spotlight in 2025.  

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From vintage-inspired denim to tech gadgets, cozy blankets and exclusive vinyl, here are the top last-minute gift ideas for the Gen Zer in your life.

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This month, global lifestyle brand, True Religion, launched their latest ad campaign. Titled ‘New Year, New True’, the campaign features, media personality and entrepreneur, Chelley Bissainthe, and artist/rapper Kalan.FrFr.

Designed to capture a confident, forward-looking mindset at the start of the year, the campaign reinforces denim as the foundation of the brand while expanding the narrative to a complete, head-to-toe wardrobe that reflects how consumers dress today.

“New Year, New True is about showing up as yourself and setting the tone for the year ahead,” said Kristen D’Arcy, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Digital Growth, True Religion. “Chelley and Kalan each bring an authentic point of view and cultural credibility that align naturally with the brand. Together, they represent the confidence, individuality and real-life style that True Religion stands for, helping us tell a modern, denim-led story that feels relevant right now.”

Chelley Bissainthe continues her partnership with True Religion, bringing undeniable style authority and cultural relevance shaped by her influence in reality television and digital culture. She reinforces the brand’s connection to a Gen Z–driven audience. Dresses with intention and isn’t afraid to make an entrance.

Kalan.FrFr adds an instinctive, grounded energy rooted in music and culture. His lived-in approach to fashion reflects True Religion’s longstanding connection to authentic self-expression, embodying an everyday confidence that feels effortless, real and unapologetically true.

“Denim has always been our canvas, but we approach each collection with a full wardrobe mindset,” said Tina Blake, Creative Director and Senior Vice President of Design, Merchandising and Brand Image at True Religion. “This campaign shows how denim works in the real world—styled up or down and integrated into full looks that feel current while staying true to the brand.”

Make an entrance! You can shop for this collection here.

The post True Religion – New True Winter 2025 Campaign first appeared on Denimology.

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Calgary’s Denim Destination Is Easily One of the Best in North America

When you first hear “Brooklyn”, you probably picture the borough, not the prairies. But Brooklyn Clothing Co. sits in Calgary, Canada—a city better known for its rodeos than its raw denim.

The name nods to founder Brad Tien’s source of inspiration when he opened the shop back in 1989. For almost as long as I’ve been alive, Brooklyn has refined a simple yet enduring idea: stock the best and let the products speak for themselves.

Since introducing Japanese denim back in 2009, Brooklyn Clothing Co. has become one of the continent’s top denim destinations—pairing Japan’s toughest selvedge denim from brands like Samurai, and Iron Heart with North American icons like Wesco and Viberg, all curated with the same steady hand that’s guided Brooklyn for decades.

What To Shop at Brooklyn

Brooklyn Clothing Co. is located in Calgary’s Kensington neighbourhood, just across the Bow River from downtown, in a landmark flatiron-style building. After more than 35 years in the same spot, the shop has recently expanded into the adjoining space—creating one larger, light-filled store.

If you’re browsing online, these are the sections where Brooklyn truly excels. Each reflects the same focus on quality, craft, and wearability that defines the shop.

Denim: Serious Depth and Craft

This is where Brooklyn’s reputation in the selvedge scene was forged. Since shifting focus toward heritage in 2009, the shop has built one of the strongest Japanese line-ups on the continent:

Iron Heart, Samurai, Pure Blue Japan, The Flat Head, Full Count, Sugar Cane, Edwin Japan, and Studio D’Artisan. (That list needed a paragraph of its own.)

There’s range, too: from heavyweight repro cuts to more relaxed, modern fits from 3sixteen, KATO, and Nudie.

T-Shirts: Heavyweight Staples

The basics here aren’t basic. Brooklyn stocks proper loopwheel knits from Merz b. Schwanen, Samurai, and Whitesville, dense jersey from 3sixteen, plus refined sweats from Reigning Champ. All of them are the kind that hold their shape and soften with age.

Shirts: Warmth and Weight

Calgary winters call for layers with substance, and Brooklyn delivers. Iron Heart’s Ultra Heavy Flannels set the benchmark, but UES gives them real competition with equally rugged, beautifully brushed weaves. Add KATO’s soft Japanese flannels and Kamakura’s crisp oxfords, and you’ve got shirts built for both the cold and the everyday grind.

Canada’s Strongest Boot Wall

Few stores in North America can match Brooklyn’s boot line-up. Wesco, Viberg, White’s, and John Lofgren anchor a collection that covers both Canadian and Japanese craftsmanship. Heavy leathers, clean shapes, no shortcuts—just proper boots made to last.

Outerwear: From Workshop to Winter

The outerwear selection at Brooklyn bridges workwear durability and cold-weather practicality. Expect heavyweight wool from Dehen 1920, precise leather tailoring from Simmons Bilt, and rugged denim and military-inspired jackets from Iron Heart.

Good to Know Before You Order from Brooklyn

Shipping and duties: Free shipping in Canada and the continental United States on orders over $350 CAD. Products made in Canada or the USA ship duty-free within North America; items made elsewhere may be subject to import duties when entering the US. For international orders, shipping starts from around €30—reasonable considering the distance—and includes tracking.

Returns and exchanges: Returns are accepted within seven days of delivery for exchange or store credit only. Items must be in new condition and in their original packaging. Sale and collaboration items are final.

Sizing and service: Japanese and heavyweight fabrics can fit differently from most jeans. Check the measurements, compare with a pair you own, and reach out to the team if you’re unsure—they’re quick to respond and happy to help.

Why Brooklyn Should Be on Your Radar

Brooklyn Clothing Co. shows how a shop in Western Canada can stand among the world’s best for denim and heritage menswear. The selection is deep, the staff know their craft, and every piece has purpose.

If you care about the way clothes are made—and how they age—this is a shop worth your click, and your visit if you ever find yourself in Calgary.

If you want to dig deeper into Brooklyn Clothing Co.’s story—the early years, the shift toward heritage, and how founder Brad Tien built one of Canada’s most respected menswear shops—check out our in-depth profile.

The post Bookmark This Canadian Heritage Shop Immediately appeared first on Denimhunters.

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In 2025, fibers were central to sustainable progress.

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Exclusive Interview with CEO Mustafa Denizer

Diktas is a long-established company in Turkey’s sewing thread and yarn industry. Interview with Mustafa Denizer explores the company’s global growth through long-term investments, multi-country manufacturing, and strategic partnerships with leading brands.

As the textile landscape evolves, Diktas is expanding its international footprint. The company is adapting to rising demands for denim performance, sustainability, and responsible sourcing.

In this exclusive interview, CEO Mustafa Denizer shares insights into the company’s growth journey. He also discusses the impact of the QIZ framework, sustainability priorities, upcoming innovations, and Diktas’s strategic roadmap for the next five years.

Diktas has a long history in sewing thread and yarn production. How would you describe your core strengths today? And what has allowed you to grow significantly over decades?

Diktas, founded in 1945, is an 80-year-old company deeply rooted in sewing thread production. In its early years, the textile industry was almost entirely cotton-based, and our operations reflected that landscape. As the sector transformed in the 1980s with the introduction of new fibers and technologies, Diktas evolved in parallel expanding its industrial thread portfolio while continuing to serve the hand-knitting and hobby markets, particularly products designed for women and end consumers.

This dual-market focus enabled us to build two long-standing brands with strong recognition in the Turkish market. One of our longstanding strengths is that nearly everything produced in our factories is sold under Diktaş-owned brands. We do not sell raw materials, and contract manufacturing has always been extremely limited. This approach created a healthy, balanced structure: a robust industrial thread range for apparel manufacturers combined with a strong consumer-facing hobby segment.

A major turning point came in 2007, when Diktas established a greenfield investment in Egypt. This facility continued to grow and helped transform the company into a multinational producer. The expansion opened doors to new markets, enabling us to sign licensing agreements and later enter strategic production partnerships with some of the world’s top thread and accessories manufacturers.

Today, our international partners include A&E, Gütermann, Wing Hing, Copen, and TAT Zippers. These collaborations began as licensing agreements and gradually deepened into strategic alliances that combine technical exchange, shared innovation, and market development. For us, working with these international brands has supported our technical development and market expansion.

Diktas is now transitioning into a five-country manufacturing group. In addition to Egypt, we have launched operations in two more countries, with a fifth planned in the coming years. We are also expanding our product ecosystem by adding new categories including items we do not produce ourselves but distribute through our established brand network.

Despite global demand challenges and rising input costs in Turkey, we continue to scale. Over the next five years, we project 50% growth driven by new factories, new product categories, and advanced technology partnerships. Diktas is expanding its international operations and strengthening its business structure.

Your product range includes industrial sewing threads, nylon/polyester threads, cotton threads, and hand-knitting yarns. Which of these categories has the most applications in denim, and how do you see this category growing, especially within the QIZ framework?

In denim, performance is everything. Because denim garments undergo intense washing, abrasion, laser finishing, tinting, and other demanding treatments, the threads must maintain exceptional durability, strength, and color consistency. For this reason, the leading thread types used in denim production are poly-core threads, high-tenacity polyester threads, and bonded polyester threads.

Today’s denim supply chains require not only durability but variety. Brands typically need five to six different thread types simultaneously to meet diverse stitching, strength, and texture requirements. Speed has also become a critical factor. Customers who once tolerated 10 – 12 week lead times now expect samples within days, salesman samples soon after, and bulk production delivered in 3 – 4 weeks. Diktas has built the rapid-response manufacturing model needed to support this new reality.

Within the QIZ (Qualified Industrial Zones) framework, the growth potential becomes even stronger. Historically, QIZ provided roughly a 30% cost advantage for Egyptian apparel exports to the U.S. With the recent tariff changes introduced under the Trump administration, Egypt’s competitiveness has increased even further. When combined with QIZ benefits, the total cost advantage can reach 30 – 50% compared to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, or Vietnam.

While global demand softness is currently affecting overall export growth, the tariff structure positions Egypt for long-term expansion potentially 20% annual growth in U.S.-focused apparel exports.

Moreover, Egypt benefits from Mercosur, Agadir, and Euro-One trade agreements, making it a strategically well-connected sourcing destination.

As Diktas, we are now a key supplier across the QIZ supply chain. We aim to support customers with critical components – including sewing threads, zippers, pocketing fabrics, and buttons, contributing meaningfully to the 10.6% input requirement for QIZ-qualified manufacturers. This allows us to play a broader role within the QIZ supply chain.

With the growing global emphasis on responsible sourcing, how does Diktas approach sustainability in raw materials, manufacturing processes, and environmental or social compliance?

For Diktas, sustainability is not a trend , it is an obligation. We view environmental responsibility as a core part of our operational approach. Our sustainability strategy encompasses major investments in green energy, reduced water consumption, improved production efficiency, and strict adherence to environmental and social compliance standards.

We continuously enhance our certification portfolio, and these certifications influence our operational standards and continuous improvement efforts.

The next major shift in the industry will be the expanded use of recycled products, and we are fully prepared. We have already implemented internal material recycling programs and are actively expanding our capabilities in plastics and packaging recycling.

Additionally, we work closely with our American partners to ensure our compliance systems meet world-class sustainability benchmarks. This collaborative, transparent approach strengthens our position as a responsible global manufacturer.

Thank you for supporting the D&J Show in Egypt. What are your thoughts on the show, and how can it become even more relevant for the Egyptian market?

From both an industrial and investment standpoint, events like Denimsandjeans play a crucial role in strengthening national textile ecosystems. When a country grows economically and industrially, companies like ours grow with it. Supporting such events is therefore both a responsibility and a way to contribute to the markets where we operate.

The show launched last year with great success, and it will be even stronger this year. Egypt’s denim sector is sizable and continues to expand. The event provides an important platform connecting manufacturers, suppliers, designers, and global brands.

What makes this show especially strong is the combined support of Egyptian ministries, local investors, and the Turkish textile community. This community views Egypt as a strategic market and contributes valuable experience to the platform.

Our long-term vision is to further professionalize and expand the event. We aim to strengthen links with international textile exhibitions and increase its value for the entire industry.

Looking at innovation, what will be the most important product categories for denim and non-denim segments?

For both denim and non-denim, we expect the core product groups of the past five years to remain dominant. In denim, key thread categories such as poly/poly, poly/cotton, nylon filaments, bonded threads, and chlorine-resistant dyeable threads will continue to lead. Their reliability during heavy washing and finishing processes remains critical.

In non – denim, cotton threads used in garment dyeing remain essential. At the same time, elastic threads are becoming more important as stretch fabrics gain market share.

Instead of dramatic changes in product composition, the next stage of competitiveness will revolve around service. Brands are demanding more color options, fewer standard models, faster sampling, and more complex decorative stitching. This means flexibility, speed, and technical reliability will be the true differentiators for suppliers.

Looking ahead 3 – 5 years, what are Diktaş’s priorities?

Our roadmap centers on ambitious growth of approximately 50% over the next five years. This will be driven by new factories, expanded markets, and additional product groups.

Diktas is on track to operate manufacturing facilities in five countries, giving us greater flexibility, resilience, and proximity to customers.

We plan to enter accessory and garment trim categories through joint ventures and partnerships – including pocketing, zippers, and buttons. Additionally, we are also preparing investments in specialized technical threads for high-value niche applications.

In short, Diktas is evolving into a wider and more international group. This growth is built on sustainability, multi-country operations, and a long-term strategic vision.

Register here to attend Denimsandjeans Egypt Show.

Save Dates for Denimsandjeans (D&J) 2026

D&J Vietnam | D&J Egypt | D&J India

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A Guide to the Brand, the Product, and the Philosophy

WeftSide popped up on my radar in the autumn of 2024, right around the time it launched. I remember opening the site and instantly recognising something familiar—not just in how it looked, but in the thinking behind it.

The product philosophy is more zen than seasonal. It’s minimal and intentional from top to bottom. The brand covers the essentials: jeans, shirts, and jackets, plus a few complementary items—all built from carefully chosen fabrics and shaped by decades of denim experience. 

It speaks to the instinct that’s always guided my own work, a kind of denim essentialism. The belief that a great pair of jeans doesn’t need reinvention. If you have a denim religion, this is somewhere near the altar.

The Jeans

If you’re drawn to what WeftSide stands for, the jeans are where to start. It’s the core of the brand—the clearest expression of the philosophy.

001 Tight Fit – Italian Stretch Denim in Charcoal

This is the only fit with stretch, and the only not available in a selvedge denim. 

The 13 oz. black denim is from Italy and has 2% elastane for comfort. It’s overdyed black for a soft fade to grey over time. 

The 001 Tight fit is slim, not skinny—designed for those who like a tight-fitting, modern silhouette.

002 Regular Fit – Japanese Selvedge in Indigo or Charcoal

This is for sure the most versatile fit in the lineup. It’s straight through the hip and leg, cut for balance—neither slim nor loose. 

Available in two unwashed, selvedge denims from Japan: a 13.7 oz. pure indigo and a 13.8 oz. black denim. 

Both are made from 100% organic cotton, woven on shuttle looms with just the right amount of texture. Fades come slowly, but once you get there, it’s a stunner!

003 Loose Fit – Soaked Selvedge or Raw Chalk

Wider, roomier, but not baggy. The 003 is for those who want shape and movement. 

It’s available in two soaked denims—a selvedge indigo (13.7 oz.) and an undyed white (13 oz.)—both made from organic cotton and rinsed to take the edge off. 

The white skips the selvedge but keeps the texture. Indigo delivers all the fade potential you’d expect, just with a broken-in head start.

The Jacket

WeftSide’s denim jacket takes the classic Type I as its starting point, but filters it through a modern minimalist lens. 

It’s boxy and cropped, with neatly pleated front panels and a single chest pocket—no flap and minimal branding. At the waist, side tabs replace the traditional cinch, giving it a cleaner silhouette without losing the spirit of the original.

It’s available in three denims— the Japanese indigo and black selvedge denims, plus the undyed white—making it easy to pair or contrast within the collection.

The Shirt

WeftSide’s shirt comes in four versions, all built on the same regular-fit block with flap pockets and snap buttons. 

The lightest is a chambray (4.5 oz.), which works perfectly for layering, followed by a mid-weight indigo denim (8.5 oz.) for everyday wear. 

The heavier options—in the black selvedge charcoal and the chalk—are overshirt territory, made to pair with the matching jeans if you’re after a full look.

Sizing note: It’s the same model in so they’ve also got the pictures across all four shirts, but he’s wearing size M in the chambray and indigo, but a size S in the charcoal and chalk.

Go WeftSide Head to Hem (and Wrist)

Outside of the core lineup, WeftSide also offers a few additional pieces. There’s a lightweight tee, some gorgeous oversized bandanas (that they call “flags”), and a made-to-order watch.

The watch is assembled in Sweden with a 39.5 mm case made from 316L stainless steel and powered by a Japanese automatic movement. It ships with both a metal bracelet and a NATO strap.

Why WeftSide Should Be on Your Radar Too

There’s no shortage of denim brands trying to do less—but few that do it this intentionally. WeftSide isn’t out to flood your feed or your wardrobe. What they offer is quiet, deliberate, and built to hold up—not just in construction, but in relevance.

From fabric choices to fits, from understated details to the philosophy behind it all, WeftSide is denim reduced to its essence. If that speaks to you, there’s really no need to overthink it.

The post Exploring WeftSide: A Minimalist Brand Built on Belief appeared first on Denimhunters.

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