Rios 14.50 Ounce Kaihara Denim

I recently got into the world of selvedge denim. I'm 5'6 , 154lbs, and 32 waist (vanity size) with an athletic build and have been told that I have sexy legs, but...... I dont have much of a butt.

One day I decided to go look at some denim jeans at a local shop in Salt Lake City called The Stockists. The brands they carried were Naked & Famous and Freenote. I tried on the N&F and they didn't look and fit right on me. The store clerk gave me some Freenotes to try on, the Rios, Trabuco, and Portola. The Portola were too tight around my calves, however; the Rios fit perfect, even the clerk commented on how good they looked on me. After checking myself out in the mirror several times, I agreed, the Rios fit and looked great, which I ended up purchasing. Pricey for my first pair of selvedge denim since I'm coming from Levi's, but the quality and fit was exceptional.

The Rios fit almost like Levi's 511's, but better. The Rios are a tad higher on the waist, more roomy in the seat and thigh, and have a roomier taper. I would say the silhouettes are the same, but the Rios have an extra 1/2in of room in those areas I mentioned. For my frame, they pair well with Red Wing Iron Rangers, Blacksmiths and Moc Toes. And even low profile sneakers.

I also liked how the Trabuco's fit and looked. However they didn't have my size in 32. They only had a 31 which I tried, but I knew, the Trabuco fit was going to be my next purchase since I liked the straight fit. A day later after leaving the store, I ordered two pairs of Trabuco's from the Freenote website.

First off the guys at Freenote are awesome. Super helpful. Everything is made incredibly well. When I received these Rios Kaihara jeans they were super stiff and very uncomfortable to wear. I was told not to wash them but they were unwearable. I washed them inside out twice then in the dryer with tennis balls. Better now, at least I can wear them. Didn’t realize how stiff raw denim is. Probably Last forever.

Excellent craftsmanship. Super details. Indigo is dark and fast. Looking forward to trying to bust these jeans. I have to say I’m most grateful for the accuracy between the size chart and the actual item. This is a big deal for me - and certainly will give me confidence in ordering new jeans in the future. Thanks!!

This is my fifth pair of Freenotes, and my third pair of Rios denim, which is probably a pretty good testimony on its own.

The Rios cut is perfect (if you’re like me and want something slim but not skinny), and this Kaihara denim is my favorite yet (the hand is substantial while comfortable, and the overall color is just right).

Like all the Freenote denim, the finishing touches are top notch, and they’ve managed to find the perfect size and shape for the back pockets — which is a surprisingly big deal.

I've always wanted to own a genuine pair of selvedge Kaihara denim jeans and have been watching Freenote Cloth for some time now. I've opted to go with a straight slim fit, not too tight nor overly tapered in the leg. I have to say that after 1 day of breaking these in I'm really pleased with the fit. It's solid craftwork and perfectly engineered denim designed to mould and shape to your body's fit. I can really appreciate the attention to detail. Love the hardware, the tan leather patch. A smart pair of denim built to last!