Freenote Cloth Raw Fleck 14 Oz. Riders Jacket Re-Release

As is the case with other niche categories of clothing, there are seemingly more options than ever these days for denim jackets. Many take design queues from Levi’s famed lineup of the Type I, Type II, and Type III trucker jackets (more recently including Left Field NYC and 3sixteen), and if denim jackets aren’t quite up your alley, there are of course so many other classic outerwear options to look to.

For denim brands and makers delving into the world of jackets, however, the challenge is produce something that is genuinely unique with enduring value. Many elements of Freenote Cloth’s Raw Fleck 14 Oz. Riders Jacket draw inspiration from vintage garments–such as the front pleats of the Type I and double breast pockets of the Type III–but the California brand was sure to bring the piece up to date by incorporating their own modern twists.

Starting from the base up, the jacket is constructed from an deep indigo rope-dyed 14 oz. selvedge denim sourced from Yoshiwa Mill in Okayama, Japan. As the fabric was woven at a low tension speed, the denim possesses an irregular texture and rougher hand that will soften with wear. While from a distance it may appear like a regular dark raw denim jacket, from a few feet one can’t help but notice the colorful nep popping through warp side, which is of course much more apparent on the weft side.

Beyond the custom, branded hardware from Kentucky, the piece is finished with exposed rivets on the front pleat and selvedge lining along the interior front placket. To create a little more comfort and convenience for the wearer, Freenote opted for longer sleeves, elastic bands in the interior arm gussets (thus allowing for more movement but still maintaining the arm’s fit and structure), and hidden side pockets at the front and in the interior.

Although the jacket quickly sold out upon initial debut in November 2014, they’ve re-released a small batch amongst select retailers (see below). Due to the novel nature of the fabric, Freenote has said they will be unable to create another run anytime soon, if ever.

Details

  • Name: Freenote Cloth Raw Fleck 14 Oz. Riders Jacket
  • Weight: 14 oz.
  • Denim: Neppy, Indigo rope-dyed 14 oz. selvedge denim from Yoshiwa Mill
  • Other details
    • Front pleat with exposed rivets
    • Selvedge lining along interior front placket
    • Elastic bands in arm gusset
    • Front and interior pockets
    • Metal trims
  • Available for $330 USD at: