Jiberish has always been awesome about answering any questions that i have emailed them in a timely fashion, but this is above and beyond. Pete sent me a PM answering my post; a long, self-written explanation, making sure i understood. Can you ask for better customer service? (Dont worry, i sent him a very nice thank you note)
For the others out there who are new to the whole raw denim scene, here's his note:
"raw denim means that it is presented in its state after being dyed but without being washed or treated. Most jeans in the past 20-30 years were produced with specific fades or washes to make them look broken in or to give them personality. there has been a major trend back toward classic, vintage denim with indigo dyes that are left natural on the cotton without being treated. This way when you wear them, over time they will break in and mold to you with your own creases, your own fades, and your own personal look that is molded to your build.
The japanese being fascinated with american heritage and vintage products started to reproduce the way denim was made in the earlier part of the 1900s. they went backwards in the process of making clothing to the days of hand-dying the cotton milled on vintage looms, with vintage indigo dyes that are left for the wearer to break in. It is a skill and a craft that is very time consuming and expensive but produces a unique, quality product that has a history to it. For people like me, that matters.
the jeans will definitely fade over time and if they are machine washed they will bleed quite a bit. So you soak them in black wool-light and then rinse with a specific technique (our website will detail it for how to do all of this) then hang dry. But the jeans are extremely rigid and stiff when you first get them and over time they break in beautifully. You will never want to wear another pair of jeans again.
they hold their shape incredibly well, because they are so stiff they really don't absorb odors, and so you don't really need to wash them very often. My APCs I have had for 2 years and I've washed them 3-4 times I think.
Anyways, that is the uber basic, intro level info on selvedge denim. And not all selvedge denim is created equal. Lots of companies are jumping on this bandwagon but few are truly using Japanese denim that is actually sewn and constructed in Japan. Nobody does it better and the factory we are using is the best in the world in my opinion.
The marking you will notice that can help to identify selvedge denim is a red stitch line on the cuff when someone rolls them up. Since they typically come in 1 length for all waist sizes people often roll them at the bottom. You can also get them hemmed with the original stitch to the length you like.
Hope that helps.
Pete"
What a great company