Hi this is Shohei.
As I talk with our customers in the store, I noticed that many people are interested in the ageing of KUON's natural dyeing products. Today, I would like to share the ageing of my Dorozome Hakama Trousers from the Spring Summer 2024 collection. It's about 2 months since I started wearing them.
If you are not familiar with the Dorozome (mud-dyeing), please refer this article to know about it.
Before wearing
Front
Back
Side
Even in thier new condition, they have uneven coloring characteristic of natural dyeing, a beauty that cannot be found in mass production. The depth of the black-like dark brown color produced by repeated dyeing over and over again reminds us of the beauty of manual crafts, which modern people tend to forget.
Now, let's see how they aged.
After 2 months of wear (washed once)
Front
The overall color has been faded and the texture has been further improved. The inner thighs are showing "Atari", which means a part where the color has faded more than the surrounding area, as seen in areas that are often rubbed.
You can find Atari on the waistband that can be rubbed by the Kumihimo drawstring.
Back
There are also Atari around the back of knee to hem. Hope it can be like honeycomb like my black jeans.
Of course there are Atari along the stitches especially on hem.
There also are Atari around the hip pockets.
Side
Look at the pocket opening. You can tell how often I put my hands in the pockets...
Side-by-side comparison
It's easy to see when you compare the two. The areas that rub well have faded hardly and the white part of the core yarn is starting to show, creating a denim-like contrast. In the case the color faded too much, you can re-dye them by Dorozome.
The fabric is tough Katsuragi twill, but the starch has been removed when dyed, so it's easy to wear. It's not as stiff as rigid denim. You can enjoy wearing them stress-free and aging for a long time. If you are interested in a more pronounced fading, it might be a good idea to starch them before wearing.
I will share the further ageing in a few months. Look forward to it!
"New things become old, but beautiful things remain beautiful."
[The product under obserbation]
You can check other Dorozome products from the following link.
