The MIJ18 Mezuki Selvedge takes its name from Mezu, the horse-headed guardian of the underworld who, alongside his ox-headed counterpart Gozu, serves as one of the chief punishers of the wicked in Japanese Buddhist folklore.
Said to be among the first beings encountered upon entering hell, Mezu and Gozu stand watch at its gates and escort souls to their final judgement. Should a soul somehow escape, it is the pair who are sent to bring it back.
Ox-Head and Horse-Face in the Hell Scroll at Seattle Asian Art Museum
The MIJ18 Mezuki Selvedge is made from a 16oz slubby Japanese selvedge denim woven with black warp yarns over a beige weft. At first, the surface appears almost entirely black, leaving the lighter yarns hidden underneath.
Like the unseen presence of Gozu beside Mezu, that second side of the fabric only reveals itself with time.
As the black warp begins to fade, the beige weft gradually emerges, producing bold, high-contrast fades with exceptional depth. The heavily slubbed yarns add further irregularity to the surface, creating pronounced texture and additional variation as the denim ages.
The fabric receives a Tempi treatment, removing residual shrinkage while preserving the crisp hand and aging characteristics expected from raw denim.
Details
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16oz slubby black x beige Japanese selvedge denim
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Tempi treated
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White, red, and white selvedge edge
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Iron buttons
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Copper rivets
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Hidden back pocket rivets
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Peekaboo selvedge coin pocket
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Selvedge fly
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Raised belt loops
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Maple leaf embroidery
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Made in Japan
Available in Weird Guy, Easy Guy, True Guy and Strong Guy.
The MIJ18 Mezuki Selvedge releases Thursday, September 3 at 11AM ET at Naked & Famous Denim and Naked & Famous Denim NYC, online and in store.
