To many denim aficionados, raw denim is considered an art form. Raw denim is essentially jeans in its natural state, protected from the intervention of mankind. As such, it is a reflection of the wearer’s body and possesses the unique ability to tell the story the denim has imprinted over the course of time.

Jing Liu has embarked on a journey with his Naked and Famous denim for the last 18 months, which coincidentally enough is roughly the same time Juzd was created. One could argue the very same pair of jeans he has worn every single day has chronicled the journey Juzd has taken.

To many denim aficionados, raw denim is considered an art form. Raw denim is essentially a pair of jeans in its natural state, protected from the intervention of human hands. It is a reflection of the wearer’s body and possesses the unique ability to tell the story the denim has imprinted through the test of time.

Jing Liu has embarked on a journey with his Naked and Famous denim for the last 18 months, which coincidentally is roughly the same time Juzd has been around. One could argue these jeans has chronicled the journey Juzd has taken.

Below you will find the video documentary to how to wash your jeans the proper way while minimizing the loss of indigo. Washing raw denim allows you to remove the dirt, grime, sweat, and stains that have accumulated which will preserve the life of the denim.

Part 1

Part 2

Washing Instructions:

1. Fill tub with lukewarm water.
2. Add a small amount of laundry detergent. I recommend Woolite Dark for minimizing indigo loss.
3. Place jeans into bath tub turned inside out if you prefer. Move around in water to loosen up any dirt and grime.
4. Rinse jeans with clean water until soap is gone.
5. Hang to air dry.

Before The Wash

After The Wash

Founded by Paul Budnitz in 2002, Kidrobot has quickly become the most sought after and well recognized designer of vinyl designer toys and apparel. Aside from having an easy to navigate online store, they have retail locations across New York, San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and even a bar/lounge at Circa nightclub in Toronto.

By time he reached high school Paul Budnitz was already coding safety analysis software for nuclear power plants. On the side, he was creating video games for the Commodore 64. He later enrolled in Yale for photography, film, and sculpture. While still in college, he started his first business venture creating clothing for museums which eventually evolved to modifying Levi’s vintage clothing and popular sneakers.

Fast forward to 1997, he caught on to the latest technology at the time which were the MiniDiscs by Sony. He would hack MD players and sell them through his website Minidisco.com which was coded by himself and would eventually sell for $7 million in 2001.

With his new found wealth and perhaps sheer coincidence, he stumbled upon the art of edgy vinyl toys that were originating from Japan and China. He was able to identify these toys as a form of popular art and included the passions he enjoyed in life: music, fine arts, fashion, cartoons, and graffiti. By integrating all the elements that he loved in life, this became the framework for Kidrobot.

The most appealing aspect of Kidrobot’s toys have to do with the plethora of unique artists that they collaborate with. Artists from all walks of life have collaborated with Kidrobot. Here are some that stands out:

Huck Gee – Meet Shiro Kidninja the 7″ assassin

David Flores x Disney: Probably my favourite piece its Thumper from Bambi

Burton – A collection of ski jacket, pants, and snowboard

Amanda Visell – One of the most detailed pieces the Wooden Donkey Dunny

eBoy

Colette

Krink

Frank Kozik

Tarina Tarantino – Jewelery collection

Takashi Murakami – Prolific contemporary Japanese artist

Tado – Famed UK duo

Lacoste – An exclusive set of 3 shoes that is paired with a Kidrobot toy

Playboy – Miss November 1978

When you read up on Paul Budnitz’s accomplishments and his philosphy in the way he conducts business, you will be inspired by his words of wisdom. One of my favourite quotes is:

“The other secret is not to be afraid of doing something stupid because, if it wasn’t stupid, everyone would be doing it. Kidrobot is without a doubt the stupidest, riskiest thing I’ve ever done, which means it’ll probably be the most successful and most exciting.”

Paul’s willingness to take risk has paid off as Kidrobot has quickly become one of the most internationally recognized brand. Coined as the father of designer toys, Paul Budnitz has been able to launch his own apparel line with Swizz Beatz along with being inducted in the Museum of Modern Arts. No easy feat considering Kidrobot has only been around for 8 years. Kidrobot continues to push the envelope, refusing to settle with the status quo. They are able to create edgy designs with this mantra:

“Limited edition, for me, has to do with how big a risk we can take with a design. The riskier the design, the smaller the edition because then we have to please fewer people to sell the toy. What an awesome concept!”

Let’s face it, keeping up with the latest fashion trends and newest releases can be a hassle. But if you want to stay one step ahead of the game, take a look at some of these sites. This is my list of the top 10 must read streetwear sites.

1. www.hypebeast.com

A conglomeration for all your everyday needs. While there is a strong focus on clothing and sneakers, you will find a nice mixture of arts, culture, music, and technology for all your other needs as well.

2. www.complex.com

Provides the latest news in clothing, sneakers, girls, movies, music, and practically everything else you can imagine for your daily dose of lifestyle news.

3. http://denimology.co.uk/

A blog dedicated to denim aficionados. Whether you’re into raw denim or a vintage distressed pair of jeans, I’m sure you’ll find something here that perks your curiosity. They tend to have photos of celebrities and they let you know where to cop the particular pair of jeans they’re rocking.

4. http://tokyofashion.com/

A very interesting site that separates itself from the rest of the pack. While it provides the latest feature in Japanese fashion, my favourite aspect of the site is the Street Snaps section. There you will find random people on the streets of Tokyo and a description of all the latest fashion items they are sporting.

5. http://www.superfuture.com/

Provides maps for various cities around the world. Extremely helpful if you’re planning a trip aboard and want to know where are the best places for dining and shopping. There is also a message board filled with a strong community of individuals who are fashion conscious.

6. http://www.osakanines.com

Provides apparel advice from top to bottom and all the accessories you’ll need. A different approach to your traditional blogs who tend to feed you the same needs. Instead you’ll find a wide array of articles written by the blogger which ranges from raw denim progression to interesting tidbits from across the globe. For more information on raw denim, you can check out Jing Liu’s encounter with Naked & Famous founder.

7. http://bbcicecream.com/blog/

Billionaire Boys Club’s Official Blog. A great escape from reality where you’ll find the latest in technological wonders, architectural marvels, art, music and of course all news related to Pharrell.

8. http://www.upscaleswagger.com/

Upscale Swagger, is a lifestyle of higher living. Upscale Swagger features items on Fashion, Music, Movies, Celebrities, Cars, Real Estate, and other Luxuries.

9. http://stylecrave.com/

Focused more on the luxury lifestyle and clothing, provides a refreshing outlook on the fashion world from a different perspective.

10. http://a-man-fashion.blogspot.com/

A fashion focused on the writing styles of articles for those seeking that polished and refined look. A great place to spot all the latest fashion trends.

Naked & Famous Denim are the best rated in quality and value by JUZD Lead Designer, Jing Liu. Offering premium denim and the latest innovation in fabric technology is the driving force behind the Naked & Famous labels’ success. As the exclusive producer of ‘Silk Denim’, a rare and unique blended fabric originating from Japan, than brought to Canada to be produced into jeans.