Edwin vs DL1961: which jean wins?
Both land in the premium tier — the Edwin ED-55 Regular Tapered at $175, the DL1961 Mara Mid Rise Straight at $178, just $3 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Edwin | DL1961 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $175 | $178 |
| Material | Japanese-woven denim including rigid, selvedge and some comfort-stretch options; known for quality cotton and considered finishing. | Proprietary stretch denim blends with high elastane recovery; the brand emphasizes its in-house mill and reduced-water dyeing. |
| Fit | The ED-55 is a regular tapered fit with a comfortable thigh and a taper to the hem. Reviewers say it runs fairly true, with some rigid fabrics offering little stretch. | The Mara is a mid-rise straight that holds its shape. Reviewers say DL1961 fits run true to size with notably resilient stretch that does not sag. |
| Quality | Owners praise the fabric and construction; the raw and selvedge versions fade attractively and wear durably over time. | Owners praise shape retention and fabric performance; the comfort-stretch focus means it is not a rigid raw denim. |
| Best for | Shoppers wanting authentic Japanese denim with quality fabrics at an accessible premium price. | Shoppers wanting high-recovery stretch denim that keeps its shape, from a vertically integrated maker. |
| Care | Wash raw and selvedge pairs sparingly to develop fades; wash cold inside out and hang dry. | Wash cold inside out, wash less often, and hang dry to extend the life of the high-recovery fabric. |
Edwin's ED-55 is $175 of Japanese rigid and selvedge denim in a tapered fit, built to fade and break in. DL1961's Mara runs $178 and goes the opposite way: proprietary stretch denim with high elastane recovery, cut as a shape-holding mid-rise straight from the brand's own mill. Three dollars apart, these are different philosophies, not different price tiers.
Authentic Japanese denim, rigid and selvedge options, fades over time, tapered leg, breaks in durably
High-recovery stretch, holds its shape, mid-rise straight cut, vertically integrated mill, reduced-water dyeing
Which should you buy?
Get the Edwin if you want real Japanese denim that fades and patinas, and you don't mind little to no stretch in the rigid versions. Pay the same-ish $178 for the DL1961 if comfort-stretch that resists sagging matters more than break-in character. The price is a wash, so choose by feel: rigid cloth that ages versus resilient stretch that stays put. Anyone chasing raw-denim character should skip the Mara, since its comfort focus means it isn't rigid raw denim.
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