Tuff Tony Dry Ace Selvage - Nudie Jeans

We’re happy to introduce the Tuff Tony in Dry Ace Selvage—a wide-leg, loose-fit jean made from one of the most distinctive selvage denims we've come across. At 14.2 oz, this fabric boasts a rugged texture and deep redcast indigo hue, woven by the legendary Shinya Mills in Okayama, Japan. It exemplifies the beauty of imperfection and masterful Japanese craftsmanship.

Details

• Organic cotton
• 14.2 oz. Rigid Japanese selvage denim
• Redcast denim
• Tobacco thread at seams
• Antique silver trims
• Button fly
• Jacron patch
• Loose fit
• High waist
• Wide leg
• Wide leg opening

100% Cotton
Made in IT

The story of Dry Ace began with a mysterious, heavily worn pair of 1950s jeans found in a U.S. thrift store. Their unique texture inspired a meticulous reverse-engineering process in Japan—a hallmark of the country’s artisanal denim culture.

Crafted through a rare collaboration, the denim starts with exaggerated slub yarns spun by Yamachu Mengyo Co. Ltd. in Osaka. The warp yarns are dipped 20 times in pure indigo by Kaihara Co. Ltd. in Hiroshima, creating rich surface saturation with a bold undyed core. Shinya Mills then weaves the fabric slowly on vintage shuttle looms under low tension, bringing it all together with signature precision.

Ace’s thick, irregular yarns and intense indigo content give it a striking personality and exceptional aging properties. With wear, the indigo quickly abrades, enhancing the vertical slub. Washing transforms the texture to a rustic crosshatch with a coarse salt-and-pepper look. The dye initially bleeds into the weft, deepening the color, then gradually fades into vibrant blues while darker tones remain in the folds.

With its rich texture, deep color, and beautiful fade evolution, Dry Ace Selvage stands among the finest Japanese selvage denims we’ve encountered—and we’re honored to offer it in the Tuff Tony.