Osaka Denim Shopping Guide

LJ

— 5 min read
Osaka Denim Shopping Guide
Photo by Pichai Sodsai / Unsplash

Osaka is a renowned destination for denim shopping due to its historical significance in the Japanese denim revival movement. While Okayama Prefecture is often called the "denim capital of Japan" for its production, Osaka is where the high-end, vintage-inspired denim culture truly began.

The "Osaka 5" are the five seminal denim brands that are credited with pioneering the Japanese raw selvedge denim movement. They each brought a unique philosophy and vision to the craft of denim-making.

The five brands are:

Studio D'Artisan
Founded in 1979, Studio D'Artisan is considered the first of the Osaka 5. They were a veteran brand that went against the popular pre-faded and acid-washed jeans of the time by reintroducing vintage details and raw, unwashed selvedge denim.

  • Address: 1 Chome-11-9 Minamihorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0015 , Japan

Evisu
Established in 1991, Evisu is perhaps the most globally recognizable brand on the list due to its iconic hand-painted "seagull" logo. While known for its more experimental and artistic approach, it was still built on the foundation of vintage-inspired craftsmanship. Note that Evisu is no longer owned by the original founder, Hidehiko Yamane.

  • Address: 1 Chome-6-7 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0085, Japan

Fullcount
Founded in 1992, Fullcount was a trailblazer for its use of Zimbabwe cotton, which is known for its long fibers and softness, resulting in a durable yet comfortable denim.

  • Address: 1-chōme-1-1 Kyūtarōmachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0056, Japan.

Denime and Warehouse & Co.
Founded in 1988, Denime aimed to create the most faithful and accurate reproduction of a vintage Levi's 501. The brand was known for its clean, classic interpretation of American vintage jeans.

Today, Denime's production and brand are under the stewardship of Warehouse & Co., another "Osaka Five" company, ensuring the continuation of the brand's legacy of excellence and vintage-inspired quality.

Founded in 1995 by former Evisu employees, Warehouse & Co. is known for its "faithful reproduction of authentic vintage garments," focusing on period-correct details like iron buttons and copper rivets to recreate the look and feel of mid-century jeans.

  • Warehouse Address: 4-Chome-6 Kawaramachi, Chuo Ward, Osaka, 541-0048, Japan

Other denim stores in Osaka are:

Iron Heart
Iron Heart is a Japanese denim and workwear brand founded in 2003, initially catering to the Japanese motorcycling community. The brand is renowned for its "over-engineered" approach, producing extremely durable and heavyweight denim. They are particularly famous for their 21oz and even 25oz denim, which is designed to be tough and resistant to wear and tear. Their products are built to last a lifetime and are known for developing unique, high-contrast fades over time.

  • Address: 5-chōme-4-29 Takaidanishi, Higashiosaka, Osaka 577-0067, Japan

UES
UES (pronounced "waste") is a Japanese denim and workwear brand founded in 1994 by Chuji Matsumoto. The name is a nod to the brand's philosophy of making durable, high-quality garments meant to be worn and used until they are completely worn out, like a waste cloth used in a factory.

UES has a flagship store in Japan, which is located in Osaka, and they offer services like free repairs for their products to encourage long-term use.

  • Address:1-9-14-101 Kitahorie, Nishi-Ku, Osaka 550-0014, Japan

Samurai Jeans
Samurai Jeans is a renowned Japanese denim brand, founded in Osaka in 1997 by Toru Nogami. Samurai Jeans stands out in the world of raw and Japanese denim for its unique blend of traditional craftsmanship, exceptional materials, and distinct samurai-inspired branding.

  • Address: 2-5-5 Nakatsu, Kita Ward, Osaka, 531-0071, Japan

Momotaro
Momotaro Jeans is a Japanese denim brand famous for its uncompromising commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and unique design features. The brand's name comes from a popular Japanese folk tale, "Momotarō," or "Peach Boy."

  • Address: 1-chōme-12-10 Kitahorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0014, Japan

The Flathead
The Flat Head is a Japanese denim and Americana-style clothing brand founded in Nagano, Japan, in 1996 by Masayoshi Kobayashi. The brand is renowned for its "hardcore" approach to craftsmanship and materials, and it has a cult following among denim enthusiasts worldwide.

  • Address: 1-21-3 Minamihorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka, 550-0015, Japan

Big John
Big John is a pioneering Japanese denim brand with a significant place in the history of the industry. Founded in 1940 by Kotaro Ozaki in Okayama Prefecture as a sewing company, it is often called the "godfather of Japanese denim."

  • Address: 1-10-2 Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka 550-0013, Japan

HINOYA Namba Parks
HINOYA Namba Parks is the Osakabranch of the long-established denim shop "HINOYA," founded in 1949. The main store is located in Tokyo's Ueno Ameyoko district and has a history of dealing in surplus American military goods and imported clothing.

  • Address: 4F Namba Parks 2-10-70 Nambanaka Naniwa-ku. Osaka-shi Osaka,  556-0011, Japan

Village
The Village store in Osaka is a multi-brand Japanese denim and clothing shop that specializes in workwear and Americana-style products. It is known for carrying brands such as Pherrow's, Sugar Cane, Fullcount, and other quality Japanese leather goods and boots.

  • Address: 1-chōme-3-9 Kitahorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0014, Japan

Dry Bones
Dry Bones is a Japanese clothing brand founded in 1989 that specializes in a style known as "American Casual" (Amekaji), heavily inspired by 1950s American rockabilly, workwear, and vintage styles. The brand is known for its meticulous reproductions of vintage garments and its unique, playful reinterpretation of classic designs.

  • Address: 2-chōme-5-11 Kitahorie, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0014, Japan

Jelado West
Jelado West is the Osaka store for the Japanese clothing brand Jelado. Founded by Youhei Goto, Jelado specializes in recreating and reinterpreting vintage American workwear, military, and rockabilly styles from the mid-20th century. The brand is known for its meticulous attention to detail and high-quality Japanese-made garments.

  • Address: 1-chōme−11−7 Kyomachibori, Nishi Ward, Osaka, 550-0003, Japan

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