TRUE BLUE

LÉON DENIM stitches together stories of heritage and rebellion.

- By GABRIEL YAP. Photographs by ROJAN MAGUYON. Editor DANYL GENECIRAN

TUCKED AWAY IN AN ALLEY, THE LÉON DENIM WORKSHOP SECRETLY TEEMS WITH LIFE. From the outside, it appears to be an old machine shop, but, within its walls, it shows elements of the brand’s interests in heritage, craftsmanship, and all things vintage: Inside, sewing machines are lined along shelves awaiting restoration, their cogs and parts neatly arranged. A well-worn leather couch sits along its hallway, its cracks stitched with patches of denim while a pair of distressed jeans is framed on the wall. At its core, this workshop is dedicated to reviving the tradition of producing raw selvedge denim; garments that creative director Iver Aldas, along with partners Raul Lejano and brothers Jake and Albert Antig, have tried to perfect for over a decade.

Founded by four like-minded individuals, Léon Denim began as a personal project rooted in their shared love for the fabric, alongside bikes, whiskey, watches, photography, movies, and all the things that make up “Amekaji,” a subculture that reinterprets American casual through the lens of Japanese styling codes. Today, the label holds the distinction of being the first and only selvedge denim brand in the Philippines.