denimbro Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home > Denimbro > Brands
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - LEVI'S Vintage Clothing Japan (LVCJ)
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

LEVI'S Vintage Clothing Japan (LVCJ)

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345>
Author
Message
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (3) Thanks(3)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Mar 2020 at 5:09pm


LVCJ s702XX
Back to Top
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Mar 2020 at 4:07pm
I've been able to confirm that the LVCJ 1960s jean was actually a Valencia street model, and have revised the timeline for several models.
 See the first two posts and also page 2 for a new 1996-1999 entry.
Back to Top
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (4) Thanks(4)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Mar 2020 at 5:25pm
LVCJ 2000-2009

The two s702XXs (33 & 37) disappear by 2000. The 50sXX jean continues for some time then also disappears, leaving the Japan original Vintage models as:

502XX
702XX
503BXX

These three models continue in production until Levi's pulled the plug on their Levi's Japan division in 2009.

After 1999 LVC US introduced many new models over the span of 2-3 years. LVCJ also produced most of these from 2000 or 2001 through 2009.  Not all models were in constant production during this time. Some were made every season or every other season (1947J, 1955J, 1966J) but others were produced more sparingly (the 1922J model I have only found from 2002 and 2007, but this is only from what I have found on yahoo.jp offerings, so may have missed some seasons of production).

LVJ models that aligned with their LVC US counterpart models were:

1873 (Lot 125)
1917
1922
1933
1937
1944
1947
1955
1966
1968 606
1967 505
506 jacket
507 jacket

Models added late in this period, 2007/08, are:

1927 501
1954 501z

Notable absences, so far as I have been able to find evidence of Japanese production of, are:

1890
1901
1915
1976 (debuted after 2009)
1978
1983

This is the most typical tag for this period- the only real variance was a longer version that appeared around 2007 on some models for a year or so, reverting back to the standard by 2009.

Front:


Back:
Manufacture date 10/09


Edited by mr randal - 19 Mar 2020 at 10:38pm
Back to Top
robroy View Drop Down
whiskered
whiskered
Avatar

Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Location: N. Cal
Status: Offline
Points: 2917
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robroy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2020 at 8:25am
Mark, I plead ignorance to LVCJ. What’s the nickel version? I too have been spending some time on yahoo.jp looking for deals and see plenty of good deals on LVCJ that makes me curious.

Back to Top
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2020 at 9:22am
rob- it all depends on your outlook.

 Are you dedicated to a particular LVC model and are curious about the difference? Try a 2000-2009 LVCJ of the same model in near new condition and see the differences (in japan LVC dead stock has soared in expected price, I wouldn’t pay asking for any of those, but if you are careful and patient you can find jeans in nearly new condition, sometimes unworn but detagged, for reasonable prices).

 If you want something different than LVC US, try one of LVCJs big three unique models- the 702, 503, or 502.

 If you want a piece of LVC history, the very early stuff would be the place to go, or you could look for a rarer model like their 50s Jean or one season numbers like their 551zxx or 1954 501z.


Hopefully we will talk eventually about the differences in manufacture for the various periods- the standard wisdom has always seemed to be that LVCJ has better construction and hardware, sometimes materials (patches can be of nicer leather), while US LVC often has more authentic detailing and, sometimes, more interesting denim, especially when something was specially woven for a particular model by Cone.
Back to Top
robroy View Drop Down
whiskered
whiskered
Avatar

Joined: 28 Aug 2012
Location: N. Cal
Status: Offline
Points: 2917
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote robroy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2020 at 10:00am
What purpose did Levis japan serve? Was it a subsidiary, was it a unique company that licensed the Levis name? Why were some (seasons? Models?) produced in the USA and some made in japan? Did they use cone?

I’m over dead stock, the prices are crazy. Right now I’m picking through the “washed once” (and hopefully not hemmed) for good deals.

I’ve pretty much given up on models that aren’t the 47s. Do you have any idea fit wise how LVC USA and LVCJ compare?
Back to Top
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Mar 2020 at 10:57am
I think Levi’s Japan was established in 1965- it was a regional branch of Levi’s and oversaw shipping throughout the Far East and later domestic production of some lines. That branch was the first part of Levi’s, so far as I can see, to recognize and respond to the vintage boom of the ‘80s. That branch started the idea and production of Levi’s Vintage reproductions seemingly independently from Levi’s headquarters (though presumably with approval).
I suspect Levi’s headquarters really only got involved when they saw the potential profit in the idea. So LVCJ led the way, and LVC US capitalized on their work and philosophy, expanded it, ran with it, then crushed it in 2009, iirc it was cost cutting to facilitate stock buybacks.


Edited by mr randal - 20 Mar 2020 at 12:23pm
Back to Top
Maynard Fried-San View Drop Down
whiskered
whiskered
Avatar
anonymous

Joined: 21 Jan 2012
Location: Londinium
Status: Offline
Points: 17210
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Maynard Fried-San Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2020 at 9:14am
Measurements (BiG style) for a size 33 503 BSXX after a couple of washes and very little wear.

Waist: 33.25"
FR: 12.5"
BR: 15.5"
Thigh: 12.75"
Hem: 8.5"
Inseam: 33.75"

Originally posted by mr randal mr randal wrote:

^You're right. Maynard. I measured the pair i have (a size 36, laundered multiple times) and found a taper of 1" from the knee to hem.

I have:

W 17.75
Th 13
Kn 10
hem 9.2
F rise 12
r rise 17

I think this is a straighter leg than a '55?
Helixing my inner beanie
Back to Top
Mr. Q View Drop Down
whiskered
whiskered


Joined: 29 Aug 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Status: Offline
Points: 10881
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mr. Q Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Mar 2020 at 4:12pm
Originally posted by mr randal mr randal wrote:

LVCJ 2000-2009

The two s702XXs (33 & 37) disappear by 2000. The 50sXX jean continues for some time then also disappears, leaving the Japan original Vintage models as:

502XX
702XX
503BXX


Thank you for this very informative post, Mr. R. I really like the looks of those 702s!
Back to Top
mr randal View Drop Down
ADMIN
ADMIN
Avatar
MDLD

Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Status: Offline
Points: 50863
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mr randal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2020 at 9:15am
Glad to do it, Q.

Thanks Maynard, let me have the knee measurement and I will plug that data in.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12345>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.10
Copyright ©2001-2017 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.109 seconds.