45RPM Fujimon Denim

Fujimon

Fujimon is the 10th anniversary special edition from SoHo store, in October 2010.

Fujimon

The 10th anniversary of SOHO store brought out a number of exceptional 45RPM collections; these collections were timeless to say the least, which embrace hand made texture, and acute attention to detail work. This includes 45RPM's ultimate denim, Fujimon. Fujimon is distinguishing in that 45RPM people have made it with the natural Japanese plant indigo Aizome dye followed by the addition of a natural Charcoal dye. It has an increased bumpy and handmade texture by setting the shuttle loom even slower than with the New Jomon.

In regards to the fujimon, SOHO store had 3 washes available, intially it was announced as a 4 models line though. The first is a Nora Natural indigo warp with a Natural thread weft. The finish looks like a very nice vintage blue denim pant which will fade in a very beautiful blue throughout. The second wash is a Nora natural indigo warp with a Charcoal weft. The result is a deeper blue finish which will slowly fade to have a slightly smokey finish. The final wash is a Ai Natural indigo warp with a Charcoal weft and top. The finish of these denim is a black finish. However, after many wears and washes, the charcoal top slowly fades leaving a deep and smokey blue. Fujimon was released in even sizes only and in very limited numbers, as one wash finish. There was a distressed pair as well in the store (given multiple washes). With the distressed the version, the blue had started to come through and described as very beautiful by Andrew.

Nora X Charcoal one wash

Charcoal Ai X Charcoal top one wash

Nora x Charcoal, 12 dips is a bit streaky denim in appearance. Ai x Charcoal (almost black), warp is Ai core dyed 24 times then overdyed x Charcoal top weft. Sumi x Natural Charcoal top, 24 dips is quite light in shade. There was an option to add 18-karat gold rivets in a cherry blossom shape (wow!!), celebrating 45RPM's Japanese roots and traditions. Ai dyed with black ink weft looks very similar to the earlier production run of Suminandos (and spot a leather patch similar to Sorahikos), which were able to retain their color remarkably. Given eough wear and time, hopefully this Fujimon version is not gonna perform any different. Fit is similar to Jomon, possibly a shade slimmer but the weave is different. More like a conventional twill but coarse and dense rather than heavy.

Fujimon all three (From left to Right) Nora x Charcoal, Ai x Charcoal, Nora x Natural. - courtesy Andrew of 45RPM

It's better not to know the price of Ai dyed, Charcoal overdyed Suvin cotton denim ;) They are damn EXPENSIVE! The special denims all looks interesting; though at $1072 - $1328, price of the Fujimon almost makes the Jomon buy seem reasonable to some extent. The limited run must have ensured the store with less amount of headache in terms of sales. After all, how many pairs of  jeans can they expect to sell at this price point?

End verdict is that whether one like it or not, 45RPM do some interesting stuffs and they do it best.