How many things can you encounter in life that you can become passionate about?
It is difficult to find your calling just by advancing to higher education or getting a job, and some people may feel uncertain while working at their current jobs.
The unique DANJO DENIM apparel brand, which specializes in denim jackets, may have hints for you to encounter what you love.
The birth of DANJO DENIM, which specializes in denim jackets, commonly known as "jijaan," is influenced by the various life experiences of its representative Fukukawa Taro.
We will delve into how Fukukawa-san came to create these unique jackets through an interview.
What is DANJO DENIM?
Overview of DANJO DENIM
DANJO DENIM is an apparel brand that specializes in denim jackets, commonly known as jijaan.
The brand was established by representative Fukukawa Taro to deliver jackets with unique designs not found in ready-made products.
On October 26, 2021, they opened a store in Shimotsui, Kojima, Kurashiki City, a town that retains the streetscape that flourished as a port of call for the Kitamae ships during the Edo period.
These uniquely designed jackets are sure to delight users who were not satisfied with ready-made products.
Background of DANJO DENIM Representative Fukukawa Taro
After graduating from university, Fukukawa-san worked for a major electronics manufacturer.
He then decided to quit the company and start music activities with local friends, thinking that if he didn't achieve results by the age of 30, he would give up.
After sending a demo tape of the song "Danjo" to a major record company to participate in an audition, he gained attention for its innovative melody and lyrics, leading to his major debut.
Since Fukukawa-san had loved wearing jijaan since high school, he planned a music video project to investigate "how much a jijaan fades when walking from Tokyo to Kojima."
During his journey, he learned about the "Jeans Sewing Practical Course" held in Kurashiki City and took the course after completing his walk.
By gaining knowledge about sewing denim products, Fukukawa-san felt he could create jijaan on his own.
Dissatisfied with the designs of ready-made jijaan, he decided to establish an apparel brand to deliver new jijaan to the world.
DANJO DENIM's Jijaan
Product Introduction
Here is a brief introduction to the products offered by DANJO DENIM.
▼ The flagship product of DANJO DENIM, the DANJO DENIM JACKET.
The rounded collar is striking.
Attention to detail is evident, and the cuffs are made differently from ready-made products.
▼ The cuffs of the "DANJO DENIM JACKET."
The cuffs are wider to make the arms appear longer.
Additionally, it seems that ready-made products often have inconsistent fabric patterns between the cuffs and the sleeves.
The DANJO DENIM JACKET has the fabric patterns aligned in the same direction to give a slim impression.
For more detailed product introductions, please check the DANJO DENIM website.
Sewing Process
We were specially taught about part of the sewing process.
Multiple sewing machines are used in the sewing process of the jijaan.
There are parts that cannot be sewn with a typical household sewing machine, and he mentioned that he has acquired several specialized sewing machines that cost hundreds of thousands of yen.
For example, the flatlock sewing machine can hide the raw edges by folding the fabric edges and sewing them together.
▼ Flatlock sewing machine.
Fukukawa-san learned the basic knowledge and techniques of sewing, including the sewing machines, from the "Jeans Sewing Practical Course."
During his journey to investigate the fading of the jijaan, he studied sewing independently by borrowing books from the library, but at that time, he had no knowledge or skills in sewing and struggled quite a bit to create them.
Fukukawa-san is responsible for the planning, design, and sewing of all products sold at DANJO DENIM.
Through the interview, we learned about the journey Fukukawa-san took to create original design jijaan, drawing on his various experiences.
This interview offers a glimpse into Fukukawa-san's sensitivity as he has faced each event in life with care.
Data on DANJO DENIM
| Name | DANJO DENIM |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-9-31 Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Parking | Available |
| Business Hours | 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM *Please make a reservation in advance through the website |
| Regular Holidays | Irregular holidays |
| Payment Methods |
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| Website | DANJO DENIM |
