Some of the best jeans in the world are crafted in Kojima, a seaside district of Kurashiki, Okayama province. Widely known as Japan’s “denim capital,” Kojima has long been the textile mecca of the country and is where jeans were first produced in Japan. Amongst the cluster of denim manufacturers in the area, Japan Blue has separated itself with loyal followers through its quality in production. “We spend most of our time developing and creating the material, because that’s the essential element to quality denim” says Hiroki Kishimoto, longtime designer and founder of Japan Blue Jeans.
Continuing the tradition of crafting durable and timeless denim, Kishimoto and his team undergo a meticulous process each season, from the special wash and dye treatments to the way the denim is hand cut and sewn. While denim originally hails from the States, Kojima denim has set itself apart from competitors in the market by portraying a unique beauty in their jeans that reflects Kojima’s culture. We visited Japan Blue’s studio in Okayama to learn more about the “Kojima way” of creating denim.