Sugar Cane 1947 Unwashed Raw Selvage-Denim Jeans
Manufactured from the finest double ring-spun Zimbabwe cotton, these are the premium, authentic, heavy-weight jeans worn by real cowboys and laborers in the first half of the 20th century. America seemingly lost the desire to manufacture jeans true to their original ancestry somewhere in the middle to late 1960's. Both the original fit and denim type of such classics as Levi’s 501 XX dungarees continue to be further diluted to this day, whereby only the style name remains unchanged.
Sugar Cane has masterfully recaptured the true color, look, fit, feel, quality and durability of the famous 501 XX dungarees of 1947. The 501 XX s of 1947 were basically just like the pre-war 501 XXs, as the critical materials and styling details banned by the War Production Board in 1942 were lifted for clothing manufacture in 1946. The dungarees of the “good old days” are slightly higher-wasted, fit looser in the seat and had a straight-leg design commonly called the “stovepipe.” Denim was really tough back then and, when new, rather rigid. The shuttle looms that fabricated the selvage denim were more narrow than projectile looms in use today to manufacture mainstream denim, producing a totally different weave and texture within the fabric, as well as a selvage edge absent from jeans made on high-speed projectile looms. It is partly this older selvage denim that gives the vintage jeans their interesting and totally unique character-rich look once they are worn and faded from use. Virtually every styling detail and nuance of 501 XXs has been duplicated, including the famous hidden pocket rivets; however, for obvious reasons, the “Levi” name on buttons and labels cannot be duplicated, nor can the arcuate pocket stitching, which is a Levi brand protected trademark. Sugar Cane jeans are like a resumption of the production of a long-lost classic rather than a reproduction or copy. Take note of these authentic features and details found only on a premium selvage jean of this pedigree:
•Button-fly, five-pocket construction
•Famous, hidden reinforcing rear pocket rivets to prevent scratching of saddles and furniture, which were deleted on newer 501 production
•Original-style paper flasher and labels employed on the outer packaging of the original jeans
•Genuine leather patch with Sugar Cane logo in a style and color reminiscent of that found on the original 501 XXs
•Custom manufactured from the finest double ring-spun Zimbabwe cotton of the correct, heavy 14.25-ounce selvage denim produced on the original shuttle looms employed back in the 1930s, including a color matching to the shade of blue employed in the manufacture of the original 501 XX jeans and pink selvage edge
•Custom manufacturing of copper rivets and buttons to precisely match design style, size and dimension of the vintage pieces
•Custom manufacturing of the heavy, all-cotton twill to fabricate pockets, not the thin weaves found on jeans made today
•Exact duplication of original stitch style throughout construction
•Color and grade matching of the all-cotton thread employed in original manufacture
•Exact duplication of 501 XX rear pocket shape and attachment stitching
•Riveted watch pocket, which had its rivets removed during the war years to meet War Production Board restrictions
Non-sanforized, unwashed, raw-denim jeans will experience significant shrinkage after the initial wash and drying. Please see our SIZING TIPS for advice on how to get the correct fit in these non-sanforized, unwashed, raw-denim jeans. Unwashed, raw-denim measures can be found under the tab PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS.
We will also be glad to measure the waist of jeans we have in stock to be sure what we send you has the measurement you require, so please ask before ordering.
Fit/sizing: Waist sizes available 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 & 38. Sizes up to and including 29 will have an approximate 32” inseam after washing; waist sizes 30-36 will have an approximate 34" inseam after washing, and size 38 will have an approximate 36" inseam after washing. All sizes marked on label reflect approximate after-wash, post-shrinkage measurements; this means that a pair of one-wash jeans size 34 x 34 will have an approximate 34"-35"” waist measure and a approximate 33" inseam measure. Measures are always listed in approximate terms due to the erratic nature of selvage denim. Waist measures are the most erratic and can be 2" larger than the size on the label after shrinkage; waist measures will also stretch out permanently by about 1"-1.5" after being worn approximately 20-25 times.
Sugar Cane products are imported from Japan
Sugar Cane 1947 Unwashed Raw Selvage-Denim Jeans
SIZING TIPS
About this Style: These are vintage-cut jeans with a higher rise and wider, straight, non-tapering leg vs. most contemporary lower-rise, narrow, skinny or pencil-leg jeans. The cut of this style is based on the classic Levi Strauss & Co. 501 XX model from 1947 and incorporates all of the fitting details of that style. Because these jeans are made of Unsanforized, unwashed raw denim, shrinkage will be significant after their initial exposure to water and subsequent drying, which typically yields a loss in inseam length of approximately 1" - 1.5"" and a reduction in the waist circumference of approximately 1". This is an easy-wearing, classic style; most customers and body types can be accommodated in this style if they follow our SIZING TIPS below:
Tip 1: Follow the instructions entitled “How to Use Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit” listed under the PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS tab for this product. After finding no substantive conflicts with your body measures obtained from the tab entitled BODY MEASURING, order this garment in a size that corresponds closely to the circumference of your waistline where you wear your trousers or jeans. For example: If you measure 34” in circumference at your waistline, most customers would order size 34. If you prefer a roomier or longer fit, then order the next available size after reviewing all relative measures that pertain to that size, and if you prefer a more snug fit, then go down one size.
Tip 2: Please note that your waist circumference measure is not necessarily the labeled size you wear in another pair of jeans you may own from a different maker or even the same maker, so please take the time to obtain your true waist circumference measure so as to compare to our chart of measures; this will enable us to perform a better job getting you the right size and minimize your chances in having to deal with the hassle and cost of exchanges.
Please ask us for fitting advice if in doubt.
Tip 3: Individuals who prefer looser fits can go up a size if they so choose and those who prefer a more snug fit can go down a size.
Tip 4: This denim fabric has been of Unsanforized, unwashed raw denim, shrinkage will be significant after their initial exposure to water and subsequent drying, which typically yields a loss in inseam length of approximately 1" - 1.5"" and a reduction in the waist circumference of approximately 1". Please take this into account when ordering and be mindful that these jeans will fit large if you order your actual waist measure and you try them on before the initial washing. Those customers who represent the true hardcore of denim wearers and who plan to wear these jeans in their unwashed raw state and never wash these jeans will need to select a size that is marked smaller on the size label than their actual waist measure if they want a snug fit in the waist, which is due to the overmeasure incorporated in the jeans to allow for shrinkage after the initial washing. Please review the listed measures for the Sugar Cane One-Wash 1947 Jeans found on this web site if you want to better understand what to expect in size reduction once these Sugar Cane Unwashed 1947 Jeans have been washed one time.
Tip 5: Please keep in mind that this product will permanently stretch in the waist over time from wearing. The amount of stretch will vary based on the individual pair of jeans, how often they are worn, and how snugly they fit to the body (the more snugly they fit the waist, the more resistance pressing outwardly against the waistband there will be to create stretching). We have seen this style stretch in the waist as much as 2” within the course of a few weeks to months of regular use, but only you can determine how snug you are willing to wear your jeans when they are still new. Those with a waist measure that is more than 1” in excess of our largest size available would be best advised to not order this product.
If you are unsure of the size to order we will assist you; please contact us with the following information: Waist circumference measure at your waistline where you wear your jeans, inseam measure, as well as the type of fit you prefer: Trim or roomy.
We will also be glad to measure the waist of jeans we have in stock to be sure what we send you has the measurement you require, so please ask before ordering.
Sugar Cane 1947 Unwashed Raw Selvage-Denim Jeans
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
The following table provides actual product measures. These measures are provided as an aid because, in conjunction with the information found under the SIZING TIPS tab for each product, they can sometimes be very useful when comparing the measurements from this garment to the measures of your body and/or other jeans/trousers you may own.
Our measures were derived from averaging many garments of the same size from each specific size in the range of any given product, thus the measures provided are representative for each size but they may not be exactly what you will receive. Some fluctuation in size is normal and to be expected, especially in these garments that have been manufactured on vintage machinery using natural fibers; the vintage machinery and techniques that create sought-after looks and fabrics are also less precise than machines contemporary to the current era. Please note that we measure the true waist circumference and we do NOT measure the waist by simply doubling the width of the waist area.
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 38 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waist | 31" | 32.5" | 33.5" | 34.5" | 35.5" | 36.5" | 38" | 40.5" |
| Inseam | 33.5" | 35" | 35" | 35" | 35" | 35" | 35" | 37.5" |
| Front rise | 11" | 11.25" | 11.5" | 11.75" | 12" | 12.25" | 12.75" | 13.5" |
| Leg opening | 8.5" | 8.75" | 9" | 9.25" | 9.5" | 9.5" | 10" | 10.25" |
| Thigh width | 11.5" | 12" | 12.5" | 12.5" | 13" | 13.25" | 13.75" | 14.5" |
| Knee width | 9" | 9.3" | 9.5" | 9.75" | 10" | 10.25" | 10.6" | 11.25" |
How to Use the Product Measures to Obtain a Good Fit:
1) Use the measurements listed for this product and information found under the tab entitled MEASURING GARMENTS to understand our measuring technique.
2) Measure your waist circumference as per the tab on this web site specifically addressing BODY MEASURING (either at the widest point of your waist or, if you have a hefty mid-section and wear your trousers below your belly, measure the circumference where you wear trousers). Compare your waist measure to the waist measure of this product.
3) Again, using the measurements listed for this product and information under the MEASURING GARMENTS tab to understand our measuring technique, measure the various other areas of your body, such as inseam length and front rise, etc., then compare to our product.
4) You can also compare the measures of our product to measures on trousers you may currently own to see how our product compares.
5) Using your body measures and the listed garment measures for our product and/or any comparisons to trousers you own, follow the advice found under the SIZING TIPS tab to obtain a good fit.
A Good Fit:
This is highly subjective - what one person may think is too big, another may think fits perfectly. Some garments are cut quite generously and others are cut quite trimly. If comparing measurements of one of our products to another you may own, some individuals will surely find that none or maybe only one area of measure is commonly shared or remotely close to being the same. Ultimately, waist measure is the most important area to properly fit, then all other areas of measure will have to fall into place.
It is best to compare your actual body measures to the listed measures of this product AND follow our advice listed under the SIZING TIPS tab specific to this product to obtain a good fit in this style.
