Takayuki Echigoya, Founder of Bowery Blue MakersPhoto Matt Hind

Takayuki Echigoya, Founder of Bowery Blue Makers

Photo Matt Hind


A Craftsman’s Passion: American Jeans

NEW YORK TIMES Neighborhood Joint  By LISA M. COLLINS Photo DEVIN YALKIN

In the 80s, I WORKed a vintage clothing company in Tokyo and Sapporo and started my own fashion brand in the 90s in New York City. Denim has always been a big part of my life. Throughout the years, like everyone, I began to wear out all of my vintage jeans and I noticed how more and more difficult it was to find the types of vintage jeans I loved to wear. So I set out on a mission to recreate the details of my perfect jeans. I took everything with me and moved to Okayama, the denim capital of Japan, in order to study the craftsmanship and knowledge of how jeans are made from start to finish. For SEVERAL years, I learned not only the process but also how vintage sewing machines brings the authenticity to every jeans produced. In 2014, I moved back to New York City along with all the vintage Singer sewing machines that I collected over the years to create a space where I could make the jeans of my dreams, which are made with the harmonious balance between Japanese and America craftsmanship.