Hedorah™ Selvedge marks the final release in the Naked & Famous Denim Godzilla® collection. It is also the smallest production run in the series. This edition concept is a straight-up materialization of Hedorah™, the Smog Monster, using an unsanforized Japanese selvedge denim selected for surface irregularity and depth.
Historical and Cultural Context
Meet Hedorah™, named after 'hedoro' which means sludge in Japanese, coming from the Dark Gaseous Nebula in Orion, drawn by Earth's chemical waste
Hedorah™ first appeared in Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971), directed by Yoshimitsu Banno. Unlike earlier kaiju rooted in nuclear allegory, Hedorah™ was conceived as a manifestation of industrial pollution, toxic runoff, and urban smog. The character’s amorphous body and evolving forms were intentionally designed to appear unstable and contaminated.
Left: Original theatrical poster for Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971). Right: Director Yoshimitsu Banno with the Godzilla suit and “Perfect Stage” Hedorah suit.
Its vertically tilted eyes, famously inspired by what director Yoshimitsu Banno jokingly described as “scary” vaginas, contribute to the strange and unforgettable design that sets Hedorah™ apart.
“Hedorah’s eyes were modeled on female genitalia. I drew the kind of crude picture you find on the walls of a public toilet and handed it to the modeling staff. I said, ‘This is what I want Hedorah’s eyes to look like.’ [Laughs] Well, come on, vaginas are scary!”
— Yoshimitsu Banno, quoted in Tokyoscope: The Japanese Cult Film Companion by Patrick Macias
For this release, we selected a 15oz slubby black on black unsanforized Japanese selvedge denim to echo the Smog Monster itself. Dense, irregular, and heavy with character, the fabric features pronounced slubs and a deep, polluted black tone that reveals deeper texture and contrast with wear.
The selvedge edge features a White, Pink, White color sequence, selected to contrast subtly against the otherwise monochromatic fabric.
Finishing Details
The natural vegetable-tanned leather patch is foil embossed in black with custom Hedorah™ artwork illustrated by Canadian artist Jacqui Oakley. A dual-branded woven label is utilized internally.
Pocket bags reproduce full-color Godzilla® movie poster artwork. Hardware is finished in black military specification metal to avoid reflective contrast against the fabric surface.
Cut, sewn, and finished in Canada.
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15oz unsanforized Japanese selvedge denim
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100% cotton
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Warp and weft: black on black
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Selvedge edge: White / Pink / White
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Hardware: black military finish
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Patch: vegetable-tanned leather with black foil emboss
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Pocket bags: full-color Godzilla® poster print
Unsanforized Denim and Shrinkage
Unsanforized raw denim will shrink after the first wash or soak.
Expected shrinkage after first soak or wash. Approximately 3 percent on the weft, affecting width and approximately 6 percent on the warp, affecting length.
Two size charts are provided to help you choose your size:
- Pre-wash measurements (before shrinkage)
- Post-wash measurements (after expected shrinkage)
The pattern has been intentionally cut larger to compensate some shrinkage.
To pick your perfect size, follow the 2 size charts carefully (located on the product page, just above, next to the size selector).
*Final fit depends on soak temperature. Hot water will increase shrinkage.
Release
Hedorah™ Selvedge is the final and most limited release in the Godzilla® denim series.
Releasing on February 26th at 11am ET. in the following fits: Weird Guy, True Guy and Strong Guy.
Godzilla® and Hedorah™ are trademarks of Toho Co., Ltd. Used under license.
