Denim jackets - a look at the evolution of style

Denim jackets have been around since the late 19th century. The most iconic denim brands have put out several types of denim jackets over the past decades. And just like a classic pair of jeans, like the Levi's 501 or the Lee 101, those jackets have evolved over time. Let's have a look at the archetypes of jean jackets.

Type I
The jacket where it all started. Pleated fronts, one pocket on the left side, and a very typical boxy fit. The earliest models came without a pocket flap, and Levi's iconic red tab wasn't added until 1936. At the back you'll find a cinch to give the jacket a bit of a taper. The model number of these jackets at Levi's is 506XX.

Type II
The successor is called, surprisingly, the 507XX. A pocket was added on the other side and the cinch was replaced with two flaps to adjust the waist. This classic makes up for our personal favourite.

Type III
Now for the most well-known denim jacket style we'll take a look at the Type III, or 557XX. The boxy fit is replaced by a more flattering cut, with two pointed flaps. The Type III is also known as the 'trucker jacket'. It came out in the 1950's for the first time, and it's still made today.

Naturally, DC4 Berlin carries some jackets as well. The Japanese have taken these all-time classics and made their own versions of it. Expect wear and tear like you get on your Japanese jeans - high contrasts, crazy fades and that feeling that every single detail has really been thought through. For instance, check out this Type II jacket by Dry Bones or super-heavy Type III by, who else, Iron Heart. They'll accompany your life for many years to come.

In the coming weeks we're expecting more denim jackets to arrive from Japan by The Flat Head and Samurai Jeans.

A close look at Pure Blue Japan's 'Cobalt Blue' denim

Pure Blue Japan is always innovating and working on new fabrics. They create denim with amazing texture and colour: the cobalt blue denim is no exception. The warp is dyed in a dark indigo, the weft has a breath-taking bright blue colour. The exact hue is hard to capture on camera, but we tried our best.

The 14 oz cobalt blue denim is available in two cuts: the XX-017, which is tapered, and the XX-018, which is a classic slim straight fit. The denim is unsanforized (shrink-to-fit), so keep this in mind when choosing your size.

Toys McCoy: available exclusively at DC4 Berlin

We are very proud to carry Toys McCoy exclusively for Europe at DC4 Berlin. The first batch has arrived at the store and is now available in our online store!

Toys McCoy is well known in Japan for reproducing vintage items with an immaculate amount of detail. The brand has been founded by Okamoto Hiroshi in 1987, and Okamoto-san has been responsible for the vintage flight jacket craze that hit Japan in 1996. They also like to create modern takes on vintage clothing, by doing rather unconventional collaborations with brands like A Bathing Ape. Hell, Toys McCoy even makes Steve McQueen action figures, motor cycle helmets by Buco and they have the license for The Greatful Dead, Mopar, Shelby Cobra, Felix the Cat, Bugs Bunny and Warner Brothers!

The clothing made by Toys McCoy that we carry at DC4 lives up to the highest standards you'll ever find. For instance, take a close look at the Toys McCoy Engineer Denim. The 13,5 oz jeans are reproductions of jeans that were made during World War II for American engineers working on airplanes and are absolutely stunning. The denim of these jeans is amongst the best we ever laid our hands on. We know we're not subtle with superlatives, but Toys McCoy deserves that kind of recognition.

Please note that not everything is available from our online shop. Due to copyright issues we're not able to sell everything online. If you would like to enquire about other Toys McCoy products (t-shirts, sweaters, jackets, other boxer shorts) at DC4, please send an e-mail to contact@dc4.de or leave us a message on Facebook.

Exclusive at DC4: personalize your Japanese denim with a custom leather patch

If wearing in your own pair of raw denim isn't personal enough, you can now order a special leather patch to make your pair stand out. Choose from one of the templates or contact us if you'd like your own design featured on your pair of Japanese denim!

The leather patch can replace the one already on your new jeans, or you can add it elsewhere. You can also just order a patch in case you'd want to place it on a pair you already own.

We're using heavy grade, high-quality leather that'll age beautifully with your favourite denim. Of course we'll stitch the patch firmly onto your pair in-store. You'll only find this service at DC4 Berlin. Please contact us at contact@dc4.de for more details. Check out some examples: