The Pen Slim - Indigo Black Raw 10.5oz Selvedge

These jeans are very tight and not consistent with size. Further I washed them and air dried and they shrunk so small they are un-wearable. So I spent a lot of money and never wore them. I’d have to lose 20lbs to fit into these. Unbelievable bad

I wanted a stretchy pair of selvedge jeans, so I decided on Kato. I bought these in person at an authorized retailer rather than online, so I was able to try on a few sizes and washes before settling on the indigo-black raw. As expected, it was tight at first, becoming looser over time. I washed them for the first time after a week of daily wear; the waistband was still a little tight at the time, but afterwards became less stiff and the waist fit was more or less exact. For size comparison, I usually wear a 31 in AG but find the waistband stretched out after a few days; here, I went with 31 and the waistband was still right after about a week.

Liked: color, material, stretch. I really liked the dark indigo color, and the selvedge ID is unique. The denim feels fairly soft, and seems like it'll get even softer after more washes and wears. The stretch is good, so the jeans don't rise up too much when sitting or moving.
Disliked: rise, pocket length, fit. Both the rise and pockets feel half an inch too short. Due to this, I have to adjust my jeans often when walking, and have to pull them lower on the hips when sitting with my phone in my pocket. The thighs aren't tight, but are a bit snug, enough that I want to change into a different pair of jeans after wearing these a whole day.

I realize all the issues I had are likely remedied by the Scissors fit. If I had known all this before, and had it been available at the store I was at, I definitely would've chosen it instead. As it stands though, these are my most expensive pair of jeans, but sadly far from the most comfortable - I only really wear them now due to sunk cost. I recommend making sure the fit is right for you when purchasing.

This is my first pair of Hiroshi Katos. They are super comfortable right out of the box. I love the Pen fit and the weight is great. The indigo/black color is also really unique compared to the usual color of jeans I see. Super happy with my purchase.

hands down the best jeans I've ever purchased. the fit is superb, the black indigo color is awesome, they hemmed it perfectly to the size I asked for. the denim is silky smooth, perfect amount of stretch, I'll be buying more pairs for sure

These are the best looking jeans I've ever owned. I am about to buy my 4th pair. They wear well and fade nicely. I don't follow the care/wash instructions and I have washed and tumbled them dry. They do shrink some - mine became an inch shorter and tighter after drying. They still fit but are more snug- an fyi in case you dry your jeans, it may be worth sizing up.