So you’re trying to up your denim game and decided that selvedge denim is where it’s at. But how does a $50 pair of jeans differ from a $350 pair of jeans? Let’s take a look.

Uniqlo Selvedge (left) – Rogue Territory Selvedge (right)

Tale of the tape

Brand Uniqlo Rogue Territory Price $50AUD $350AUD Model Stretch Slim Fit Selvedge Jeans (Navy) SK Indigo 15oz Fabric 98% Cotton, 2% Spandex 100% Cotton Fabric from Kaihara in Japan Nihon Menpu Mills in Japan Made Bangladesh Los Angeles, USA Raw Not confirmed, but may fade Yes Size True to size (slightly small) True to size (slightly large) Selvedge Yes Yes Details – Branded buttons

– Coin pocket – Hidden pen pocket

– Lasso stitch back pocket

– Hand branded leather patch

– Selvedge on fly & coin pocket

– Branded buttons

– Coin pocket



Uniqlo Front (left) – Rogue Territory Front (right)

Uniqlo Stretch Slim Fit Selvedge Jeans

Pros

Heaps affordable

Comfortable from day one

Has slight stretch thanks to 2% elastane

No break-in required

Lightweight

Cons

Not 100% cotton

Sick fades aren’t guaranteed

No extra design details

Not as durable

Uniqlo Back (left) – Rogue Territory Back (right)

Rogue Territory SK Indigo 15oz

Pros

100% cotton

Sick fades are definitely possible

Loads of extra design details

Way more durable

Cons

Quite expensive

Heaps stiff from day one

No stretch

Break-in period required

Heavy weight compared to Uniqlo

Uniqlo Back Pocket (left) – Rogue Territory Back Pocket Detail & Pen Pocket (right)

Affordable Earl Recommendations:

They’re both going to last quite a while, but the pair from Rogue Territory will definitely outlast the Uniqlo pair. Everyones cost per wear will be different here and if you find one fits better than the other, you’ll definitely find more value in a pair that you wear more.

If you like the look for selvedge denim, but don’t want to go through the break-in period or just aren’t ready to jump into the world of raw selvedge denim, then I’d recommend picking up a pair of Uniqlo Selvedge Denim.

Uniqlo Belt Loop (left) – Rogue Territory Belt Loop (right)

If you want to take your jeans on a journey with you, and you want your jeans to rep some sick fades as memories of where you’ve been, I’d recommend the pair from Rogue Territory. They’re more expensive, but they’re likely to last a whole lot longer and be super versatile along the way.

Uniqlo Button (left) – Rogue Territory Button (right)

Uniqlo Jeans purchased by Affordable Earl, Rogue Territory Jeans provided by Urban Lupe.