This pair of Pure Blue Japan 13.5oz Left-Hand XX-011 Denim is worn by our Melbourne friend -- Charlie. As he puts it:
"This is my favourite PBJ's denim and also my first pair of 'Japan-Made' left-hand twill denim! It represents Iwaya San's High-End personal taste perfectly, I think, it explains well what 'Simple & Special' mean in Japanese Denim culture!"
As Charlie told us, " I was (still am) a big fan of Pure Blue Japan, my very first three pairs of Japanese denim are all PBJ's. My first pair of PBJ's denim is XX-007, it has a dotty slubby texture, and both weft and warp are thread-dyed with grand indigo. So after I aged my XX-007 so well, I was considering another pair of PBJ's denim that came with a different texture, that was why I chose XX-011 as my 2nd pair of PBJ."
"I had asked CORLECTION's Lee's opinion about this pair of XX-011 before I purchased it 15 years ago. As Lee explained it to me, '99% of Japanese denim is right-hand denim, and only less than 1% is left-hand denim (that time was 15 years ago). The Left-hand denim usually fades to the strongest vertical textures and comes with a smoother touch compared to most of the right-hand denim.' I think that was what I was keen on, I did need a pair of ALL-SEASONS denim that time, especially in summertime!"
"The brand new XX-011, it looks almost like a pair of Sumi-Black denim, so I think that was why, Iwaya-San spent extra time to make the buttons all Black-Coated. With wear and wash, you will see the brownish copper colour underneath coming up slowly. 'Tea-core Feeling' I bet? Lol~"
"Same logic for the black-coated rivets, they age beautifully as well! When I look back on this pair of well-aged XX-011, it reminds me of a little detail about an Old-School Japanese Denim fan like me. I did place a Zippo in my coin pocket, if my memory is correct, some others might place a rare silver coin or an iron candy case there. That was The Time!"
"Raised belt loops? Not just make the construction even more SOLID! You will enjoy the ageing in the middle of belt loops with time."
"I started to wear XX-011 when I was turning 20, I was PARTY-TOO-HARD! Check back that Worn-Out-Knee-Part, I still remember that night, I did have a Fully-Drunk night in a Rock & Roll concept...Sometimes I miss those 'Young & Naive Days'. Especially when I stare at my well-aged XX-011, just now."
"Oh, one thing I might have forgotten to mention, at the very beginning, I did not understand why Iwaya-San uses military-grey colour to do thread-dyeing for the warp (interior). After I wore out some parts of my XX-011, I started to understand his High-End taste, the XX-011 ages to a more 'Hardcore Rockstar Denim' look for me! Thanks to your efforts, Iwaya San!"
"As an Old-School Japanese Denim fan like me, we needed to fill our own pockets fully to achieve the BEST FADES! The right back pocket was for my Kawatako short wallet, and the left back pocket was for my iPhone 3! Anybody got my feeling here? Lol~"
"I do designs as well, one thing I love about PBJ is, I love how Iwaya San positions the trademark -- Leaf Logo on the back pocket. Till today, I still believe this is a genius design that changed the Japanese Denim game."
"Vegetable-tanned deerskin leather patch, ageing to a chocolate brown with a beautiful sheen. I bet I did wear them too often in the summertime, it looks COOKED!"
"In my opinion, the most beautiful ageing part of a Slim-fit denim is the HONEYCOMB FADES on the back of the knee parts. I also love how strong the vertical fades formed with time, it is CRAZY! I do not wear Slim-fit denim often nowadays, however, I do really miss the Good Ol' Time~"
"15 years later, I started to understand what Lee told me before -- 'Life's Short, Journey's Long. Let's enjoy some quality time together.' I would like to thank Japanese denim, you taught me how to ENJOY QUALITY TIME，TOGETHER!"