Resolute is a Japanese selvedge denim brand founded in 2010 by Yoshiyuki Hayashi — the legendary co-founder and original designer of Denime, widely referred to in the Japanese denim world as the “King of Denim.” Having spent over two decades at the helm of one of the Osaka 5 brands and established a generation of denim enthusiasts’ taste worldwide, Hayashi founded Resolute to pursue his one remaining obsession without compromise: creating the perfect pair of jeans — defined by fit, comfort, and longevity — made entirely in Japan.
Key Facts
- Founded: 2010
- Founder/Designer: Yoshiyuki Hayashi (born Osaka, 1956)
- Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
- Production: 100% Japan (Shinya Mills denim, Niimi sewing factory)
- Industry: Premium Selvedge Denim
History
Hayashi co-founded Denime in Kobe in 1988, establishing what many consider the “cleanest” and most faithful reproduction of the Levi’s 66501 in the Osaka 5 canon. Under his leadership, Denime became one of the most beloved Japanese denim brands of the 1990s boom. After Denime was acquired by The Real McCoy’s founder Hitoshi Tsujimoto through the retail chain Nylon, Hayashi felt creatively constrained under new ownership, eventually departing the company he had built. He sold Denime and spent time reflecting on what he truly wanted to do before launching Resolute in 2010 — essentially a continuation of his life’s work, but now entirely on his own terms.
Resolute’s fabric is woven at Shinya Mills in Okayama on power looms that are reserved exclusively for the brand. The jeans are sewn at a factory in Niimi, Okayama — the same factory designated by Levi’s Japan for its top-line products. Hayashi also conceived the Onomichi Denim Project in 2013: a community project in which around 270 workers in the Onomichi region pre-wear Resolute jeans for one year, creating unique, deeply personalised fades that are then sold as artefacts of that working community’s daily life.
Product and Philosophy
Resolute offers four core models — the 710 (based on the Levi’s 66501, slim-straight), 711 (slightly wider straight), 712 (slim tapered), and 714 (relaxed, high-rise, WWII-era silhouette). A defining feature is the extraordinary range of sizes: the 710 alone is available in 86 distinct size combinations (waist 26–40, with 5–8 different inseam lengths per waist), allowing every customer to find a perfect fit without alteration. Hayashi personally travels to stores for fitting events, having buyers try worn, broken-in sample jeans first so they can assess the true silhouette before selecting their size. All jeans are one-washed.
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