Our story
Our vision: No washes. No distressing. Just raw denim from Japan, cut and sewn in Canada, built to last, and fade on your terms.
We’re a bit obsessed with denim—okay, maybe a lot. This passion stems from our commitment to sourcing and crafting only the most unique and exceptional denim fabrics from prestigious Japanese mills. These mills aren’t just fancy; they’re legendary. They blend old-school heritage with modern methods and practices. So much culture and history is poured into the fabric so that it can be appreciated by the denim purist.
Our approach is straightforward: we keep denim raw, authentic, and free from unnecessary embellishments or treatments. That means no pre-distressing, no flashy embroidery, and no fancy washes. We skip the celebrity endorsements and expensive ad campaigns, investing instead in quality fabrics and precise construction to deliver the best denim at accessible prices.
And here’s something we’re super proud of: every single pair of our jeans is cut, sewn, and finished right here in Canada. Always have been, always will be.
That's the gist, but if you're curious to know more about our journey, our roots, and what makes us tick, keep reading.
2008: Launch
We launched to challenge the premium denim industry—no celebrities, no gimmicks, no washes. Just the world’s best Japanese selvedge, made in Canada, and priced honestly. Brandon Svarc, a third-generation garment maker from Montréal, set the tone: obsessive about fabric, allergic to nonsense, and ready to have fun.
2011: First Store
We launched our first store, Tate + Yoko, right here in Montreal—where the garment industry shaped the city and our roots run deep. Our head office stands in the heart of what was once the needle trade’s core. While most of the industry faded, we stayed. Every product is still made in Canada, and this space lets us share the full Naked & Famous Denim lineup alongside other brands we admire.
2012: World Record
We launched the 32 oz Super Heavyweight denim—the heaviest jeans ever produced at the time. Woven in Okayama, Japan, on vintage shuttle looms, it used yarns as thick as those found in carpets or sailboat sails. Production was so demanding that only two pairs could be made per day, each requiring three machine operators. Brandon Svarc joked, “Guaranteed uncomfortable or your money back.”
2015: Nippon Bloom
In 2015, Naked & Famous Denim launched the Made in Japan series and introduced a new logo. Dubbed the “Flower of Carnage,” it is a Japanese manga-inspired interpretation of the original Naked & Famous Denim “Tragic Blond” pop-art logo.
2018: Hello SoHo
We needed a U.S. home that could carry everything we make—every fit, fabric, and experiment—and SoHo was the obvious choice: high traffic, denim-literate customers, and global visibility. We built our New York City flagship store our way, with Japanese raw-denim floor tiles that fade underfoot, indigo-dyed counters, and boro-lined change rooms. There’s even a secret door behind antique Kokeshi dolls.
2025: Heaviest Ever
From the start, we’ve chased heavyweight denim—18 oz, 19 oz, 21 oz, 24 oz, and 26 oz—culminating in our 32 oz record-breaker. When others went heavier, we went all in: the 40 oz Super Heavyweight Selvedge. Woven in Okayama on modified shuttle looms, it was so dense that multiple operators needed days to sew one pair. It was finished with 30 oz cowhide patches, elk-sinew stitching, copper rivets, and WALDES zippers.
Why “Naked & Famous Denim”?
The backstory behind our name
We're a fun, tongue-in-cheek name, poking fun at 'Hollywood' and 'Glamour' celeb brands!
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