OD+SDA "Matcha" Selvedge Jeans (Slim Straight)

ODSDA-012-S

• 15oz. 'G3' Slubby Unsanforized Selvedge denim 
• 100% cotton
• Rope dyed Indigo Warp
• Matcha tea dyed Weft
• Forest Green Selvedge ID
• Selvedge button fly construction
• Slim Straight (SD-903) Silhouette
• 4 Button fly featuring Original Studio D'Artisan buttons
• Engraved copper male/female rivets
• OD+SDA custom "10th Anniversary" waistband tag
• Custom print "Matcha" design Herringbone pocket bags 
• Fifth pocket selvedge detail
• OD+SDA cowhide leather waistband patch
• Raised belt loops
• Red & White "OD" color stitching on a single back left belt loop
• Back pockets lined with Indigo Kasuri fabric
• Dark Green back pocket stitching

First popularized by Chinese Zen Buddhist monks during the Song Dynasty, Matcha’s history dates back almost a thousand years to humble roots in China. Ritualistically and meticulously prepared through a process of steaming & brick pressing, tea leaves are transformed into the magical green color powder that we know today as “Matcha”. Matcha arrived to Japan during the Heinan period (8-9th century), and has been used in an array of consumable products outside of just being drunk as tea in recent history.

Tea cultivated specifically for Matcha is typically grown in the Uji area of Kyoto. Due to the growing demand for tea in the 1100’s, the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu allowed for the Uji region to be used to open tea gardens and cultivate tea. With the extremely high quality of the soil and topography of Uji, it quickly led to the region being one of the best places to cultivate and produce the beverage in all of Japan.

This collaboration started from the soul of any pair of jeans - the fabric. With this particular 'G3' Selvedge denim produced on a Toyoda shuttle loom known as the G3, this shuttle loom is considered the first and finest example of a non-automatic changing shuttle on a Selvedge denim producing machine. Somehow, these green tea dyed yarns kick the already notoriously slubby "G3" denim into overdrive! The result is a highly irregular and hairy denim featuring ample slub, a combination sure to yield some epic patina with wear. 

Approaching SDA with an absurd idea, we weren't sure of what the response would be. We just wanted to do something outside of the conventional box that would be fun and playful, while still saluting Japanese culture in an honest and sincere way. Luckily SDA were all about it, and after three sample runs of the "Matcha" Selvedge fabric and switching out the hues of green (the number of times the yarns were dyed in the green tea derived dye vat changes the depth of the color), we landed on the color we felt best represented Japanese Green Tea. 

The pocket bag, leather patch & custom "OD 10th Anniversary" tag is where we were able to let loose, and brought in artist and friend, Nathan Spoor, for the design. The custom OD+SDA "10th Anniversary" rayon tag sewn into the inner waistband draw inspiration from the rising sun imagery, and a classic red Selvedge ID, but with updated blue & silver coloring to commemorate our decade in denim. Getting a pocket bag printed with four colors as we did for this pair, as opposed to the conventional single color print, costs four times as much. But we wanted to maintain the integrity of Nathan Spoor's insane freehand design to the best of our ability, without concern for cost.

Finally for the flasher - we've seen a lot of these in our day. But just to complete the package of the direction we took with this collaboration and it's instantly recognizable Japanese roots, we opted for the use of Washi paper. Traditionally used for book covers and origami, Washi paper is both highly durable & malleable. Riding that Matcha wave, 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.

Other details we've chosen to use for this pair include SDA's original Black coated buttons, single forest green stitch on the back pockets sans the classic arcuates, red & white "OD" color stitching on a single belt loop and of course the rear pockets are lined with a beautiful Indigo Kasuri fabric to complete the collaboration.

*Model is pictured wearing a size 31, One Wash. He weighs 75kg (165 pounds) and is 175cm (5'10") tall.

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

***Please note that this is an unsanforized pair of denim, and the raw version will shrink up to 10% with the first soak, and will then stretch out with wear. Learn more about Unsanforized denim through our Raw Denim Care Guide, and also through this infographic! All measurements are based on the way we measure, according to our Fit Guide.