If it can be made to order, isn't that already the goal?
-When did you first become aware of LOT No. 1?
Kaneko: I think it was last December? I had a chance to meet Mr. Den and another person from "Levi's ®︎︎︎". When I heard what he had to say, he said, "This Mr. Deng is actually a craftsman, and he is doing a service called 'lot number one. I was surprised that such a service existed. I was so impressed.
-Did you have a quick reaction from the time you knew about it to the time you decided you wanted to try it?
Kaneko: Yes, that's right. I have been buying vintage Levi's (®︎︎︎) for a long time, but if they can be made to order, I think that's already the goal. If you can make them to order, I think that's the goal. If I can get Levi's in my size and with the look I like, I'm fine with that. I decided to order them as an end to my pursuit of "Levi's ®︎︎︎". I really wanted to come earlier, but I came a little late.
-So, about the actual order, how did you finalize the image?
Kaneko: I wanted to work on a theme like "TPO. I wanted to make a set-up of a trucker jacket and jeans that could be used in a variety of TPOs. I was shown a variety of materials and found that there were some good ones for summer. Vintage jeans are hard to wear in summer, and I thought it would be nice to have something that could be worn casually. I thought it would be nice to have a fabric that could be worn casually.
Levi's ®︎︎︎" first women's 5-pocket jeans "701". The photo shows the current Levi's ®︎︎︎ Vintage Clothing.
-The women's model that Marilyn Monroe wore, right?
Kaneko: Yes, yes. I really like "701" from a long time ago. I used to give up on them because I couldn't wear them in my size, although they came in good faded colors and shapes. I always bought "701" for my wife. I think I get more excited when I find a good "701" than when I find a good "501®︎︎".
-I think it's my nature as a buyer. This fabric you chose this time is a little thinner than the usual "501®︎︎", right?
Kaneko: Yes, the color looks like light ons. I thought they looked good after being washed and worn for a while after being rigid. I used to buy a lot of reprints of "Levi's ®︎︎︎" before "Levi's ®︎︎︎ Vintage Clothing" started, and I still have a lot of them. I still have a lot of them, though they are unbelievably worn out.
There are 15 denim fabrics to choose from. After much deliberation, we chose a thin 11.7 oz. denim fabric, inspired by the 701.
-Was it a very aged one from the beginning?
Kaneko: No, I only bought rigid reissues. I liked the ones with cinch backs and the old "Levi's ®︎︎︎" light-ounce ones a lot. I feel that these various points from the past led to today's fabric. I didn't intend to make a vintage reprint at all.
The buttons, tabs, and stitches can be selected from several different types of parts. The color of the stitches can also be changed depending on the sewing area.
The position and size of the hip pockets are based on the World War II model.
-that it is not from the point of view of recreating historical facts.
Kaneko: Yes, I have. The stitching and light-ounce denim were like the "701," but with details of the World War II model. That's how it ended up, but I was hoping to make a set-up that could be worn in the summer. I didn't do a lot of rehearsal beforehand, so it was a spur-of-the-moment project (laughs). (Laughs) But as soon as I saw the fabric, all kinds of ideas came to me.
