Japan has become a hotspot for denim heads to get their hands on raw denim, and local label Big John specializes in these unfinished jeans that wearers can put their mark on.
Based in Kojima, Japan, Big John’s origins date to 1940 when it was a cut-and-sew factory for workwear and uniforms. The brand kicked off its denim business in the late ‘50s, serving up the style that was increasingly popular with young consumers. By 1965, the company was able to go to market with a domestically made jean under the Canton brand, and it introduced the Big John brand in 1967. The name Big John is a play on founder Kotaro Osaki’s name, since Kotaro is a similarly common in Japan as John is in predominantly English-speaking countries.
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This article is one of a series on SJ Denim from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. From conversations with the experts behind the mills that make some of the world’s most-wanted denim to the global brands bringing novel denim made with TENCEL™ Lyocell and Modal to the market, Carved in Blue shares the stories of those whose roots run deep with denim. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.
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