Kevlar®-Reinforced Japanese Selvedge Denim Returns

Jul 17, 2026

By Geneviève Boucher

The Guardian Selvedge is back.

Originally released in 2017, Guardian Selvedge combines the character and fading potential of traditional raw denim with the added strength of Kevlar®. The returning 14.25oz Japanese selvedge denim is woven from 80% cotton and 20% Kevlar®, reinforcing the fabric against tearing, pulling, and repeated stress without giving it the appearance or feel of a technical performance textile.

Kevlar® is an aramid fiber developed in 1965 and best known for its exceptional tensile strength. It was discovered while researchers were attempting to create a lightweight reinforcement material for automotive tires. The resulting fiber proved remarkably strong and stable, eventually finding applications in body armor, aerospace components, protective equipment, and demanding industrial environments.

In Guardian 2 Selvedge, Kevlar® is woven directly into the denim alongside cotton. The indigo rope-dyed warp maintains the familiar look and aging characteristics of classic Japanese raw denim, developing contrast and variation with wear, while the reinforced construction provides greater tear resistance than a comparable 100% cotton fabric.

The durability of the original Guardian Selvedge became particularly clear after its release. A customer later contacted us after being thrown from his motorcycle at approximately 45 to 50 miles per hour and sliding along the interstate. His Guardian Selvedge jeans remained intact and helped reduce the severity of the road rash he experienced. Guardian 2 is not protective motorcycle equipment and is not bulletproof, but the story demonstrated how the reinforced fabric could perform under extreme stress.

Kevlar® has a naturally pale yellow color, visible across the weft when the denim is cuffed or turned inside out. That color becomes a subtle signature of the fabric’s reinforced construction and is echoed through the yellow selvedge edge and yellow gold stitching. A thick black buffalo leather patch completes the jeans.