“The Cat’s Pajamas doesn’t really mean anything, but at the same time, it means everything.”
It comes from the early 1900s, when phrases like “the bee’s knees” were used to describe something exceptional, something that stood out. It’s playful, a bit odd, but very much of its time, which is exactly where this fabric comes from.
The Cat’s Pajamas Selvedge is based on early 20th-century denim, pulling from a time when fabrics were lighter, less uniform, and full of character. At 8.5oz, it sits in what we would now consider a lightweight category, but historically, that wasn’t the case. Old mail-order catalogs from the late 1800s were already describing 8 to 9oz denim as “ultra heavyweight,” which puts this fabric much closer to what would have been considered a serious workwear material at the time.
The Fabric
The denim is woven in Japan using a vintage-inspired indigo tone that sits somewhere between a natural indigo and a faded sky blue, giving it a color that feels distinctly old rather than artificially aged.
That blue is paired with a subtle beige weft, which softens the overall tone and introduces a bit of warmth to the fabric. Combined with the slightly hairy texture and slubby surface, it creates a denim that feels closer to early workwear fabrics, where irregularity and texture were part of the material itself.
At 8.5oz, it’s lightweight and easy to wear, especially in warmer seasons, but it has a density that makes it feel more substantial than the number suggests, closer to something heavier while still keeping that lighter, breathable character.
The Details
Staying true to the period, the fabric is finished with a reinforced paper patch instead of leather, reflecting the materials used before leather patches became standard on jeans.
The hardware is tin on copper, with stone-colored stitching that ties into the beige weft, keeping the overall palette consistent and grounded in that early workwear aesthetic.
A clean, classic selvedge edge completes the construction, reinforcing the traditional approach behind the fabric.
Specifications
- 8.5oz Japanese selvedge denim
- 100% cotton
- Vintage indigo tone
- Beige weft
- Classic selvedge edge
- Tin on copper hardware
- Reinforced paper patch
- Made in Canada
Release
Thursday, April 30 at 11am ET, in Super Guy, Weird Guy, Easy Guy, True Guy, Strong Guy, Denim Jacket, and True Girl.
Available online and in-store at nakedandfamousdenim.com and nakedandfamousdenimnyc.com, as well as through select retailers worldwide.
