At the Betty Smith Jeans Museum & Village in Kojima , Kurashiki City , the birthplace of Japanese jeans, you can experience making your own original jeans while learning about the history of Japanese jeans. Here's a detailed report on the experience, including hammering in buttons and rivets, choosing leather patches, and more.
2024.03.21I was surprised! The station and the bus were all jeans!
At the entrance to JR Kojima Station, jeans motifs can be found everywhere, from the station sign to the vending machines, ticket gates, and stairs. This time we will be visiting the Betty Smith Jeans Museum & Village, where you can learn about the history of domestically made jeans and create your own original pair of jeans. We will board the Jeans Bus that travels around the Kojima area and set off!
Arrived at "Betty Smith Jeans Museum & Village"
Betty Smith was founded in 1970. It is one of three long-established brands that were established in Kojima one after another since the first domestically produced jeans were made in Kojima in 1965. This time, you will experience jeans making at the experience factory located in a corner of the village.
Choose jeans that fit your size
At the experience factory, you first choose the size that suits you from the jeans that will be used as the material. The trick to determining the right size is to see if the width fits snugly around your waist. When you try them on in the fitting room, you'll be amazed at how comfortable they are and how soft the fabric is! They have a good stretch and are extremely comfortable to wear.
Choose the front buttons, which are the face of the jeans, and the rivets, which are the key to the look of the jeans.
Next comes the "selection of parts" part, where you can finally get a taste of what it's like to be a designer. You choose the buttons that fasten the front, which can be said to be the face of the jeans, and the six rivets (metal fittings that reinforce the thick overlapping parts of the fabric). There are 24 types of buttons and rivets. The trick is to decide on the buttons first, and then decide on the rivets while looking at the color.
It takes a surprising amount of strength and skill! Experience the amazing skills of a professional button and riveter.
Next, you hammer the selected buttons and rivets into the jeans. Align the mark with the machine and press the lever in two steps. The first time you align the points, it's smooth, but the second time requires a lot of force. Once you press the lever with all your might, you'll hear a "click" and the button will be attached in one place.
Feel the excitement and feel like a designer! Choosing the leather patch that will define the back of your jeans
The process is coming to an end, and you will then choose the leather patch to attach to the back of your jeans. There are around 50 different leather patches available. They come in a variety of sizes and materials, and each time you try them on, the impression of your jeans will change. Popular ones include those with characters or simple ones with place names. Attaching leather patches requires skill, so we leave this to the professionals.
Finally, your one-of-a-kind original jeans are complete!
Your original jeans are finally complete! Crafted from a variety of parts, these jeans are sure to become a favorite from the moment you pick them up. They'll fit snugly against your skin, providing a comfortable fit that feels as if you've been wearing them forever. Put on your new best friend and head to the Jeans Museum!
Wearing freshly made jeans, head to the Jeans Museum
Upon entering the museum, your eyes will be captivated by the stylishly processed jeans and large machinery. Kojima was originally a thriving textile industry town, and was also known as the "town of school uniforms," fully equipped to become a pioneering fashion destination. The Kojima provides detailed explanations of the history of how this town became a mecca for jeans, attracting attention from around the world, chronologically.
After completing the creation of your original jeans
This is a great value experience where you can experience the handmade craftsmanship that Kojima is proud of, and you also get a pair of original jeans as a souvenir. Why not experience the history of Kojima and create a pair of adorable, one-of-a-kind original jeans?
Experience video
how to apply
You can make a reservation for the original jeans making experience below. ・Duration: 1 hour ・Price: From 8,800 yen (tax included)
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