About Big John

Big John – The creators of the very first Japanese jeans

When the world thought that real denim could only come from the USA, Big John decided to prove it wrong. As the very first brand to produce a 100% Japanese-made pair of jeans, Big John has been the epitome of perfection and craftsmanship for over 80 years. This is the brand that taught an entire nation – and then the rest of the world – what true Japanese quality really means.

The Pioneering Spirit of Kojima: A Story of Stubbornness

The story begins in Kojima, Okayama , at a time when Japan only remade used American military clothing. Founder Kotaro Ozaki refused to accept that they should simply copy others.

In 1965 they launched their first collection, but it was in 1973 that the real breakthrough came: Big John developed the "M-Series" – the first denim weave that was 100% made in Japan, using Japanese cotton and Japanese indigo. This laid the foundation for what we know today as "Okayama Denim" – the world's most sought-after textile.

"Quality Comes First" – No shortcuts

Big John's motto has never changed. While the fashion world moves faster and faster, Big John sticks to the traditional methods:

Hand-dyed Indigo: They use techniques that produce a deeper and more complex blue color than mass-produced brands.
The legendary "Rare" series: These are perhaps the world's most accomplished jeans, where every detail – from the thread to the button – is specially designed to last for decades.
Natural materials: Big John uses only the finest natural fibers, ensuring that the jeans breathe, are durable and develop a patina that tells your unique story.

Why buy Big John from us?

A piece of history: We are proud to offer a brand that not only makes clothes, but preserves an entire craft tradition.
Free shipping and returns: As with all our jeans, you always get free shipping and returns throughout Norway. We're happy to help you find the right size in these Japanese masterpieces.
Made to last: A Big John jean is an investment. By choosing natural fibers and traditional construction, you get a garment that only gets better with each passing year.
Duty-free to the EU: We ship from Oslo and take care of shipping costs and customs duties for our European customers.

It's your brand

Big John

Big John er selve pioneren innen japansk denim, med en historie som strekker seg tilbake til 1940 i Kojima, Japan. Som landets første denim-merke har de definert kvalitet og håndverk i over åtte tiår, og de har gått fra å være en liten systue for arbeidstøy til å bli en global autoritet innen premium selvedge-denim.

The story behind the brand

Big John

Historien startet med Kotaro Osaki og Maruo Clothing i 1940, som opprinnelig produserte skoleuniformer og arbeidstøy. På slutten av 1950-tallet forutså Osaki jeans-trenden og revolusjonerte bransjen ved å produsere Japans første innenlandske jeans i 1965 (under merket CANTON). I 1967 ble merkevaren Big John offisielt lansert, og i 1973 presenterte de landets aller første 100 % egenproduserte jeans. Innovasjonen toppet seg i 1983 da de skapte verdens første selvedge-denim vevd med «slub yarn», en teknikk som i dag definerer selve uttrykket til japansk premium-denim.

M1011RC (001) Yoshidenim Wild Duck Jeans

We love the brand because

Vi har valgt Big John fordi de representerer selve fundamentet i den japanske denim-arven. Merket er relevant for enhver entusiast fordi de kombinerer en unik industrihistorie med en uopphørlig jakt på teknisk perfeksjon. Deres evne til å produsere tidløse plagg som bare blir bedre med årene, gjør dem til en essensiell del av en garderobe bygget på kvalitet og varighet.

This product is the essence of the brand's identity

BIG JOHN

R008 (000W) RARE JEANS / Straight

5.499,00 NOK

R008 RARE Jeans from Big John are 15.5oz Japanese selvedge denim representing the pinnacle of textile craftsmanship, developed under the guidance of vintage pioneer Sakamoto Kiyoshi.

These jeans are the flagship product of Big John and are the result of Sakamoto Kiyoshi's lifelong quest for the "ultimate blue." The fabric is woven with precision to achieve a pure indigo shade that offers exceptional depth and unique fade potential. The construction follows a highly labor-intensive single stitch method, requiring more than twice the effort of standard production, ensuring extreme durability and an authentic vintage character. Details like hardware reinforced with leather rings and double stamps on the pocket lining emphasize the "Quality First" philosophy. As this is an unsanforized shrink-to-fit model, the textile will shrink and mold to the wearer's body after the first wash, creating a personalized fit and unique fades over time.

Love your jeans to death! ...and then repair them.

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