AW00 20471120 Paper ‘Recycled’ Big-John Blue Hybrid Denim

Founded in 1992 on the streets of Harajuku, Japan, 20471120 was birthed nearly 50 years before its time. Originally named ‘Bellissima’, the Eastern label would swiftly rebrand to the iconic 2047 namesake known today, speaking to a future date of November 20th, in the year 2047. Under direction of Lica and Masahiro Nakagawa, 20471120 would being pursuing futuristic, sci-fi tropes in all aspects of design, building a fictitious, dystopian world through wearable pieces. Shying from nothing, together the pair would craft mystically dauntless items, brining archaic silhouettes like dinosaur and lizard boots to the forefront of Japanese retail locations. However, despite having a signature (and beloved) mascot named Hyomac, as well as distinguished brand aesthetic, by 1999 co-founder Nakagawa felt overwhelmed with the speed of production and inaugurated the “Tokyo Recycling Project”. The initiative aimed to introduce upcycled textiles into avant-garde circles, but would ultimately retire the 47 label in 2003 as it took on a life of its own.

 

Debuting in one of the final 20471120 collections, these so called ‘recycled’ paper jeans blatantly demonstrate the label’s progressive reach for sustainable avant-garde. First seen in the Autumn of 2003, the bottoms feature three separate pairs of deconstructed Big-John denim, all of which are sewn into a singular silhouette. With back pockets on the thighs, jacron labels scattered throughout, and metallic hardware down either leg, symmetric distressed detailing is found on the underside, among reinforced seams and a blue wash. Fitting a size 28x31 they’re in pristine condition throughout.