FILE 047: Warehouse 14oz 2001XX [Late 1940s Copper-Coloured Steel Buttons] Type 1 Denim Jacket -- 4 Years of Wear

This Warehouse 14oz 2001XX [Late 1940s Copper-Coloured Steel Buttons] Type 1 Denim Jacket belongs to CORLECTION's Lee, who shares: 

"People who know me know that I’ve always been a big fan of Warehouse & Co., and this late-’40s Type 1 denim jacket is one of my all-time favourites from them. If my memory serves me correctly, this was from the first generation of the 'Deadstock Blue' collection, before the series even had a name. It wasn’t exactly a best-selling denim jacket at the time, mainly because the 'copper-coloured steel buttons'  and stitching run-off details made the jacket look a little 'CHEAP' (laughs~).

Back in the early 2020s, not many people appreciated that authentic, 'UNEVEN' vintage look as much as they do now. However, this Type 1 denim jacket was the BLUEPRINT. Over time, it became highly collectible among Warehouse & Co. fans.

Time Will Tell."

" To recreate a WWII, rush-hour-production-alike Type 1 denim jacket, I was fascinated by how clean and precise the stitching run-offs were on the sleeves, collar, and leather patch.

The Shioya Twins, founders of Warehouse & Co., once told me that achieving this level of sewing technique requires the craftsman to practise hundreds of times. Each run-off stitch has to look like Faulty Stitching — but always in exactly the right position, every single time..."

" The shape of the single chest pocket is slightly uneven when you look closely. After four years of continuous wear, the folded red tab has naturally formed into a tube shape, while the colour has faded slightly, giving it that authentic vintage aesthetic."

"During WWII, most garments were produced in a rush, with little time for patience or perfection. This led to some interesting details found on vintage Type 1 denim jackets from Levi’s, just like this Warehouse & Co. Type 1. The armpit-to-sleeve section was usually cut straight, without the curved shape we often see today, and the cuffs were sometimes left completely unpressed. It was probably considered a horrible QC issue back then (laughs)...

However, to this day, some hardcore vintage denim fans see these imperfections as a one-of-a-kind beauty. The straight-cut sleeve construction creates more creases throughout the sleeves, which eventually leads to even more beautiful 'Honeycomb' fades around the sleeves and cuffs."

"These copper-coloured steel buttons definitely look lighter and a little cheaper than the standard buttons used on Warehouse & Co.’s Type 1 denim jackets. However, they are actually one of my favourite design details on this jacket.

I thought about it twice — if I were the brand owner, I might never have had the courage to make a denim jacket like this. You really have to trust your customers, believing that they have the knowledge and taste to understand and appreciate the design."

"Because I washed this denim jacket every three months for four years, I started to notice a strong 'Roping Fade' effect developing around all the seams and joint areas. It really shows how good the vintage chain-stitching machines they used were, and how incredible the craftsmanship of those sewing artisans truly was...

The black-coated cinch-back buckle has also slowly started to reveal a reddish-brown copper tone underneath, little by little. Wow... 'The Beauty of Time,' I’d say."

" Denim taught me a lesson — I should spend my time on things of quality. I would love to look back one day and see that my past has developed its own unique textures.

Sometimes... life feels a little like the back of this iron button. As time goes by, it may pick up a little rust along the way. But you know what? That was PRIME..."