OD+SDA 18oz. "Panther" Selvedge Jeans

ODSDA-006

An incredibly rare breed amongst even endangered wildcats, the Black Panther is a wildlife sub-species that has been considered extinct in North America since as early as the 1930s. Actually scientifically classified as either black leopards or jaguars, the large feline features a lustrous Black coat as a form of protection, a camouflage effect for dusk. This genetic variation in the DNA of “Black Panthers” means these types of feline cats constitute less than 5% of all leopards and jaguars in existence (as they still exist, predominantly in Asia).

Reimagining one of our favorite wildlife animals, the “Black Panther”, as a pair of jeans has been a dream project for our squad. Teaming up with the OG fam over at SDA, the generously textured 18oz. Indigo x Black Selvedge we crafted the latest collaboration from, is a deviation of the previously released 18oz. “Godzilla” jeans. Sharing the same slubby Warp yarn as the Godzilla’s, the Black Weft on this fabric gives the textile an exaggerated aesthetic of stealth. With both the warp and weft featuring No. 5 threading, the result on the face of the fabric is subtle unevenness that is hard to capture with the naked eye because of the dark face of the fabric, but is obvious when you run your hand along the fabric. Almost Black in most lighting, the blue hues of the jeans really only rear its head during moments of direct sunlight, an effect of the dyed yarn combination that gives it the same incognito aesthetic as a real wild Black Panther. The real pleasure with this pair is going to be with the fades, which are bound to result in some intense contrast given the inky composition of the yarns. It also helps that the yarns are 100% American cotton, renowned for its rough and rugged cotton yarns, which will yield some epic, high contrast fades.

Taking cues from a Denim jacket collaboration we did years ago with our friends from Momotaro, rather than only using navy stitching for the construction of this piece as we've done in the past, we use a combination of two shades of dark blue, and black, to complete the construction of this latest collaboration. The combinations of the deep blues and black featured alongside the Indigo x Black fabric help encapsulate our vision of the "Panther" denim.

The pocket bags & leather patch is where we were able to tie in our "Panther" motif, and brought in artist & friend, Nathan Spoor, for the design. Getting a pocket bag printed with approximately ten colors as we did for this pair, as opposed to the conventional single color print, increases the print cost exponentially. But we wanted to maintain the integrity of Nathan Spoor's insane freehand design to the best of our ability, without a concern for cost. While we have used Pony hair in previous collaborations, the Black pony hair fit the profile perfect for the animalistic aesthetic we were going for with these Panther’s. Combining this with the Black Rayon lined back pockets, a fabric usually reserved for Japanese souvenir jackets (or Sukajan jacket), the smooth and lustrous feel of the inner back pockets elevates this pair with a detail reserved only for the owner to enjoy.

Finally for the flasher - we've seen a lot of these in our day. But continuing on from previous collaborations we have done with SDA like the "Matcha" jeans, we opted for the use of Japanese Washi paper. Traditionally used for book covers and origami, Washi paper is both highly durable & malleable. As to be expected at this point, the designs developed by Nathan specifically for this collaboration are impeccable. So much so that the pressure was on to make the denim and details as perfect as possible, to be on par with Nathan's flawless freehand work on this "Panther" project.

Other details we've chosen to use for this pair include SDA's original Black coated buttons, single deep navy stitch on the back pockets sans the classic arcuates, red & white "OD" color stitching on a single belt loop.

The updated OD relaxed tapered has a lengthier front rise, a wider thigh and aggressive taper from the knee down creating an aesthetically pleasing silhouette, while still maintaining maximum comfort. The updates we made were opening up the waist, and slightly narrowing down the leg opening to create a nice balance.

*First model is pictured wearing a size 31, Raw. He weighs 79kg (174 pounds) and is 185cm (6'0") tall.. Second model is wearing a size 31, Raw. He weighs 75kg (165 pounds) and is 175cm (5'10") tall

**Available in either Raw or One Wash denim fabric. 

***Size chart reflects the Raw models. Unsanforized denim will shrink 1-2 inches around the waist after the first soak, 1.5-2.5 inches in the length and 0.5 inches in the rises, thighs, knee & leg opening. The waist will stretch back out to the original Raw measurements with wear.

Made in Okayama, Japan