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Browse all 3sixteen jeans →ST-120x ~ Slim Tapered - Shadow Selvedge
The verdict
Fit
Cut in a medium rise with a slim taper that narrows fairly aggressively from thigh to a small leg opening; the thighs run trim, so those with fuller legs should consider sizing up. Waist stretches roughly 1.5 inches over about 30 wears.
Quality
Built from 14.5 oz sanforized raw shadow selvedge denim woven in Japan, with owners reporting full-length train-track selvedge fades and heavy daily wear over 2-plus years. The high-contrast fade develops fast, though the denim also wears quickly under that use.
Is the price fair?
At USD 270 this sits at the premium end of raw denim, but the Japanese selvedge fabric, hardware, and multi-year owner wear reports place it fairly within that tier rather than above it.
Best for
The raw-denim enthusiast who wears one pair almost daily and wants dramatic fades over years rather than instant comfort.
Care
Wear raw and delay washing to build contrast, then cold wash inside out and hang dry to preserve the indigo and selvedge fades.
Grounded in reviewer & owner reports: Fade Friday - 3sixteen ST-120x (26 months, 0 washes, 0 soaks) · 3sixteen - ST-120x Slim Tapered Shadow Selvedge Denim - Withered Fig
What owners report about 3sixteen jeans
Reviewers consistently point to the fabric as the reason to buy: the mainline jeans use a 14.5 oz Japanese selvedge denim, sewn in the USA, that reviewers describe as having heft while staying soft on the inside because of its open-end weft yarns, with a 12 oz multi-season denim offered on some cuts. Owners who wear pairs hard report fast, high-contrast fading. The trade-off is wear rate: one owner's pair worn daily for 26 months without washing developed large blowouts, with the writer noting the denim wears down as quickly as it fades.
- Strengths
- The denim itself — heavy, soft-backed Japanese selvedge that fades fast with strong contrast — draws the most consistent praise.
- Watch out for
- The same fast-fading cloth wears through fast under hard use; long stretches without washing accelerated the damage, and one long-term wearer reported large blowouts.
- Sizing
- Reviewers describe the cuts as slim-but-not-skinny with a respectable rise; the straight-leg cut suits those who find a slim-tapered leg too narrow.
About 3sixteen's jeans line as a whole. Sources: My Recommendation for Jeans: 3sixteens – Put This On · The Friday Find: 3sixteen's Classic Straight Selvedge Jeans | The Style Guide · Fade Friday - 3sixteen ST-120x (26 months, 0 washes, 0 soaks) - Heddels
