Self Edge - Historic Jeans

My brother can quote the score of every Superbowl game ever played; NFL Football is just something that he is really, really into. Take that and times it by 100 and you have Kiya Babzani’s passion for denim.

Kiya runs Self Edge, an unassuming shop on Valencia at 18th St. that sells the world’s most sought after denim. Europeans fly to San Francisco just to shop at Self Edge. Why? Because it’s cheaper than flying to Japan which is the only other place in the world you can buy most of the stuff at Self Edge.Kiya is also is a master collaborator, constantly working with the world’s top denim producers like Iron Heart, Sugar Cane & Dry Bones to create exclusive pieces only available at Self Edge. People who think about jeans the way you and I think about water wait with dry mouths to hear what Kiya has coming out next.

All this love and attention might lead you believe that Kiya is a dick. He’s not. He’s sweet as honey. I suggest you check out the store and meet the humble and knowledgeable lord of indigo. If not the store then at least skim his brilliant interview with Selectism where he drops crazy textile knowledge like this:

“I wanted a heavier than ‘classic weight’ denim with a lot of character not only in the weft but something that was also visible in the warp. Something 16oz or so, dark pure indigo, and slightly resin pressed to give it a darker look. The resin comes right off if you choose to soak the jean before wearing it, which many are choosing to do. I also wanted something where in spots it almost looks like it’s broken twill denim due to the extreme variation in the weave pattern.”

Right.