About
I AND ME is a denim and lifestyle brand based in London, UK.
Founded on the primary aim of delivering contemporary solutions for both men and women, I AND ME surpasses seasonal trends by developing garments to withstand the test of time.
With the key focus on fabrication and function, we allow our collections to move at their own pace – reflecting the moment rather than the season.
I AND ME collaborates with mills from all over the world, most commonly from Japan, on limited runs of unique denim casts and colours. The heritage of denim defines every garment we produce and this process always starts with sourcing the very highest quality denim the industry has to offer.
‘One Thing Well’ Selvedge Baseball Tunic
Our Denim
Toyota founder Sakichi Toyoda was born in 1867 in Kosai city, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As a teen he became interested in the hand loom used by local farm families and out of curiosity thought that he could find a way to improve it’s efficiency; something he hoped would be benefit craftsmen across his homeland.
Sakichi’s first patented invention was the Toyoda manually operated wooden hand loom in 1891. He was 24 years old.
In 1896, after explorations into automation, Japan’s first steel and wood power loom was perfected. However, this loom still used the bobbin to hold the weft meaning the loom had to be stopped to replenish.
‘One Thing Well’ Miki Hat
‘One Thing Well’ Selvedge Sleeveless Jacket
Sakichi’s aspirations for even better efficiency led to the invention of the first shuttle-changing mechanism to automatically replenished the weft yarn without stopping the machine, producing the world’s first fully automatic loom; the Type T.
After World War I, Sakichi benefitted greatly from the economic climate and in 1918 with investments from friends and family, Toyoda Spining and Weaving Co Ltd was founded.
New inventions and commercial trials allowed big change and the Type G was soon born. This loom delivered the finest performance for both productivity and quality in the world and is still lauded today for its pivotal role in the history of Japan’s technological advancements.
Encouraged by the Japanese government (who needed domestic vehicles at the time helped develop the new business venture for the company), Sakichi instructed his son to investigate automobile production and gasoline-powered engines. The rest (as they say) is history…
The authentic selvedge denim produced by the Toyoda machines is the best Japanese denim production in the industry and we are proud to manufacture on the same original looms across our indigo denim styles.
‘To Die For’ Slim Leg Selvedge Jeans. L - Vintage. R - Bleach
We spend a lot of time sourcing the right specialised fabrics, with unique I AND ME attributes and incredible background stories.
The 13oz, 3 x 1 denim twill produced for the ‘Off Season’ Rusted Blue and Vintage Selvedge Slim Leg Jeans and the new ‘To Die For’ Raw Black Ridged Skinny and Drill Pant pieces are both specialised and unique.
The denim warp yarn is made by one of the most famous spinners in Japan, Taishobo. The cotton yarn is made in Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico and is blended with waste cottons to make that beautiful natural slub of the vintage look we love.
The fabric is then dyed by the oldest dyeing mill in history, Sakamoto Denim. Sakamoto championed the old Indigo Hank Dyeing method for over 120 years. After the economic growth following WWII they adopted Rope Dyeing Machines and have a variety of dyeing colours, from Indigo to older, Japanese colours.
The unique Rusted Blue and Vintage green cast colour is called ‘Aisabi’ which originates from the Edo Period, Japan (1603 – 1868).
The jet black colour of the warp on the Black denim is sometimes called ‘Sakamoto Black’ which deep intense colour is hard to find at other mills.
Shinya, established in 1951, then weaves these fabrics on old denim shuttle looms to produce the high quality, genuine Selvedge fabric.
