A second completion, a second chance.
I decided to remake FUKUBORI's 5-pocket jeans.
Initially, they were sampled from 501XX, featuring concealed rivets and a leather patch. Considering the compatibility of unbleached fabric and natural leather, and the washing process, we decided to change to a paper patch.
Why I remade them
For the first FUKUBORI jeans, I wanted them to be based on the 47 model, which is said to be the completed 501. I sampled the era known as the 501XX-47 model. Just like the denim jacket, it was born out of admiration. It's an era where the great 501 was lauded as complete. I wanted to start with that.
Along with the patch change, I decided to sample my favorite era of 501s. These are the jeans from around the 1960s, known as the 501 Big E. In this era, the "XX" designation was gone, and it was a transitional period towards an era that could be called a second completion, almost perfectly refined in terms of modern manufacturing. I'm drawn to the blend of changes unique to that transitional period.
The biggest change from the initial model is the absence of concealed rivets.
I love concealed rivets as a feature that allows one to imagine Levi's identity.
However, it's also a feature that's hard to love for practical use.
It hurts when it hits your backside, and it feels like a foreign object.
With this model change, I feel that the jeans have been completed as a product that allows people to enjoy the subtle differences of the 501, which has a long history. I believe it was also the optimal choice for FUKUBORI's philosophy.
About the fabric
We use the same fabric as the denim jacket. The reason is as written in that article.
→ A blueprint called admiration.
About the silhouette
The silhouette of this model has hardly been changed. A characteristic feature is the seat. Perhaps to improve sewing efficiency, the pattern has a generous amount of fabric in the seat, which often results in excess fabric when worn.
I don't believe these are pants meant to be worn with the waist pulled up high. The large seat makes the line straighter, and if pulled up too high, it will almost certainly dig into the backside because the curve of the hips cannot be fully accommodated.
Beauty is not justice; having unique characteristics is best.
I hope that this will be an opportunity for people to try various ways of wearing these pants, not just FUKUBORI's, and consider what ideas went into their design.
The finished look
I hope that through these 5-pocket pants, people can feel the craftsmanship that has continued from the past to the present. Most clothes made today are connected from the past to the present, and it's exciting to think that they also connect to the future.