Hiroshi Kato's 4-Way Stretch Denim is a Versatile Winner

(We occasionally receive product that we're super stoked on. When it happens, we'll put it through the business and whip up a review for you. This is one of those cases.)

Your noble Style Heirophant (yes, me) is renowned for my celebration of clothing-as-talismans of heritage and innovation. And what have we here, denimseekers? Said ethos captured by Hiroshi Kato's hyper-versatile Barrel Classic cut denim. These jeans, a nod to the hard-working relaxed fits of yesteryear, are a rarity in today's market: accessible denim that ticks all the boxes: versatility, style, and incredible comfort.

Selvedge Without the Sacrifice

Let's address the elephant in the room first. Top denim has become prohibitively expensive. Heritage brands that built reputations on accessible quality have crept into the $300-$400 range. Meanwhile, niche Japanese labels often breach $500 with ease. At $288, The Barrel still ain't a discount proposition, but it offers legit selvedge that doesn't demand a remortgage and promises to be a staple of your closet for a while.

Face it, every guy needs a relaxed, straight-cut jean in their wardrobe right now. These are them, evoking the vintage silhouette of the 1950s–70s, without looking like costume denim. You get minimalist-friendly details that won't junk it up but will keep it fresh, like the white leather patch. The thing we all notice, the red-and-white selvedge, is there for your cuffing pleasure, with a nice bonus strip on the coin pocket so nobody forgets wussup.

Remember those perfect Levi's straight-cut jeans everyone wore in the 90s? These are like those, fit to pair with modern footwear and layering while retaining that effortless, straight-down beloved 90's drape. Rock them cuffed up or not, with your top sneakers, shiny loafers, or your most beat-up boots.

Where Kato differentiates itself from others, and where the Style Hierophant pays closest attention, is in the make. The "4-way stretch" selvedge is notable here. Unlike run-of-the-mill stretch denim (the kind that feels like athletic wear and looks shiny after three washes) Kato's yarn is "core spun." The fiber is completely wrapped in cotton. This locks in the epic comfort but sets the dye up to fade like old-school, non-stretch jeans. Artful aging. You won't be subjected to the shiny, synthetic look seen in cheaper stretch fabrics.

Hear it From Cortis

Let's talk about what happens when you actually wear these jeans. This is where our guy Cortis himself can chip in:

" I'm wicked happy with these jeans. The fading is nice. I haven't had a pair of "stretch" denim for a while, and these don't feel or act like those. Kato clearly put time and effort into making something flexible here that doesn't feel like stretch, and I'm optimistic it will help me avoid the inevitable crotch blowout I've gotten in the past from just working my denim too hard. I also love that they pair up nicely with my favorite blue denim ranch shirt."

A Super Solid Entry For the Style Initiate

If you are looking for USA-made denim workhorse and don't want to put months into getting decent fades or gritting out months of break-in, Kato's 4-way stretch selvedge denim is a great choice. You get top comfort, good aging potential (even though these are pre-faded they will take on your own fades in key spots) and immediate entry into a relaxed look without the overly baggy thang dragging down your steez. At a price that doesn't require justification or installment plans.

We've written about the best denim brands and we're happy to add the Hiroshi Kato Barrel fit to some of our favs. These are the jeans you'll reach for 3+ times a week, because they simply work with everything.

Highlights

The 14oz weight keeps them substantial and gives a great drape
They are comfy right from the first wear
The fit hits the sweet spot of relaxed without being baggy
The wider hem balances perfectly so you can wear them with boots, sneakers, or mules

We loved the "Rick" colorway, but Hiroshi Kato's Barrel Classic comes in a variety of washes and colors.