Sage Denim Ironlake 17oz Unsanforized Selvage Denim

Available on Drop before anywhere else, the Sage Denim Ironlake jeans feature 17-ounce, deep-indigo warp x light-indigo weft unsanforized selvedge denim: a fabric exclusively milled for Sage and made on a shuttle loom. The deep-indigo denim is rope-dyed, which means it’ll fade faster than it would with other methods of dyeing, and its ring slub gives it a rigid, hairy feel. The blue weft is a bit unusual, but it gives the jeans an interesting blue shadow fade. Each pair features a 2-millimeter buffalo hide patch and copper rivets embossed with the Sage name. Another unique design element: a hook for keys on the front right belt loop.

Indonesia has a rich history with indigo dyes (it's an important center for batik, after all), so it’s no surprise that the country is making waves in the denim world. Sage is among the major players. The company was founded in 2012 with the idea that travel and outdoor exploration are the two best routes to a life well-lived. And the jeans are designed with this in mind—as hard-wearing garments to accompany you on the bumpy, unpredictable road ahead.

Unsanforized denim is made from cloth that hasn’t been through sanforization: the process of stretching, fixing, and shrinking fabric at the mill. As a result, unsanforized denim will shrink considerably after the first wash. The size charts on this page show measurements pre-soak, since post-soak results will vary depending on the water temperature used and the duration of soaking. Generally speaking, you can expect an average of 1 inch of shrinkage in the waist and inseam, and 0.25 to 0.5 inch of shrinkage in other areas. The higher the water temperature, the more shrinkage you’ll see. After the initial soak, the fabric may feel quite snug at the waist and hips. After a few days, it’ll stretch back to the labeled size and fit comfortably.