RIVET JAPAN DENIM MANUFACTURING AGENCY

100% MADE IN JAPAN PREMIUM DENIM

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Japan so special for jeans production?

Japanese textiles, sewing techniques and finishing know-how are unparalleled. No-one can ever come close to what these guys can do with denim. Their finishing detail is immaculate and their special stitching techniques are second to none. Add that to the highest quality textile on the planet, and you'll always have a killer product.

Japanese made denim has long held a reputation for remaining true to the Japanese artisan ideal. "Wabi-sabi", loosely translated as, "elegant simplicity and subdued taste", describes the foundation on which all of the manufacturers we represent base their techniques of design, finish and manufacture. "It's the soul of the samurai."

2. Sounds great. How do we get started?

The first thing to do is contact us and tell us about your situation, your brand, and your vision of what you hope to get from it. The majority of our clients have patterns or preliminary samples that they provide for us as a first step. Some have concepts and inspiration taken from a variety of sources and ask the manufacturer to help deliver them. Every situation is unique so don't hesitate to toss out your wildest ideas.

Samples typically take 2-3 weeks to create. (plus transport time to your country) We can usually provide you with relevant pricing and lead time information within 3 to 5 days of receipt of your sample.

3. What brands do your manufacturers create for?

It's a secret...No, not really. We are very discrete about this, however if you contact us we will provide you with a current list of OEM clients. We are willing to wager a box of the local octopus delicacy that you have heard of a number of the people we are working with.

The manufacturers we represent have a client list of over 250 premium labels.

4. We tried doing business in Japan before, but we ran into a whole mess of problems with really important stuff getting lost in translation. How do we know this won't happen again?

Rivet Japan is owned and operated by native English speakers. (naturally, we speak Japanese too...) All correspondence involving sample development, product design, lead time scheduling and export logistics are handled by our office so you never have to worry about being misunderstood. We have seen many labels struggle with this problem and it's part of the reason we started Rivet. We want the world to know how rad Japanese denim is.

5. We want to come to Japan and see all the denim goodness in person before we decide. Is that OK?

Absolutely. Drop us a line and we'll set up all the appointments for you... including the mind-boggling, yet crucial, "getting from the airport to where I need to go" parts as well.

This is one of the first steps we always recommend . We'll show you all the special details of everything we can do for your brand.

Bring your samples along as well. That will speed things up if you like what you see.

6. We would like to see some examples of your work. Can you show us some stuff?

Sure. If you would like some eye candy right away, let us know what you are looking for in as much detail as possible and we can shoot off some photos of recent work that represent the design goals for your brand.

7. Minimum quantities?

1 style / 300 pcs. - 4 styles / 1000 pcs.

8. Lead times for samples?

Typically 2 - 3 weeks. (plus transport time to your country)

9. How much do samples cost?

Roughly 250 USD per sample. This includes pattern making, sewing, wash, etc. Prices can vary based on the complexity of your designs.

10. What do you charge for your services?

Rivet Japan's fee is 7% of the total invoice at the time of order.

11. I want selvedge denim. Can you source that?

You betchum. Japanese selvedge is the best in the world and we can get any flavor you can dream of!

12. We want to have denim specially made for one of our lines. Can you do that?

Yes. There are minimums and they vary from case to case. Typically for selvedge the minimums are around 2750m, and for wide denim around 5500m.

13. We have heard horror stories of designs being leaked and copied in other Asian markets....

We and all of our partners understand that your brand creation is a labor of love. Due the discrete nature of our operations, all of our clients samples and patterns remain confidential at all times. Protecting your brand image is extremely important to us.

Bonus Question: We like sushi. Can you hook us up?

That's a big fat YES.