The ONI "Kiwami" is the successor of the popular Oni "Kase". This updated version is focused on vertical fading. This masterpiece is made with a 16oz ultra-low tension weave natural indigo dyed fabric with a unique texture and colour.
The ONI Kiwami fabric is inspired in the "Shoai Kase" traditional dying method. In Okayama prefecture, cotton yarn was traditionally dyed by hand; this process is called "Kase dyeing" and refers to the process of dyeing the cotton before weaving it. The technique is simple, but it is extremely time and effort intensives. But Kase fabrics usually don't fade spectacularly because of their dyeing process. So, Oishi-San from ONI has achieved the fantastic vibrant indigo colour with shades from the Kase using the rope dyeing (the best dyeing method to get contrasted fades).
The result is a unique natural indigo fabric with a vast amount of slub and a beautiful hue of indigo shadows that only ONI can create. It's one of the most beautiful textiles we have ever seen (take a look at our close-up pictures of the fabric). It is highly irregular denim, both in terms of texture and colour. Thinner and thicker threads run through each other, changing from deep indigo to vibrant electric blue.
The jeans are made with all the superior-quality ONI details such as copper buttons, high-quality pocket bags and custom vegetable-tanned deerskin leather patch.
The cut is the ONI's 679 strong tapered fit. The taper is pretty aggressive so that it gives a slim-fitting silhouette while allowing for a lot of space at the thighs with a high rise.
The legend of ONI is alive to this day. In recent years Oishi-San has devoted himself to experimenting with widely varying grammages, rough textures, different indigo dyeing techniques and novelty cuts while always maintaining a very limited production and wielding his experience in denim which now goes back more than 60 years.
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