Because to us, there's no such thing as too much denim – that’s why we’re excited to welcome a new men’s brand that’s been generating some serious buzz: 3sixteen .
3sixteen was founded by Andrew Chen and Johan Lam in New York City in the early 2000s. It started off as a humble streetwear brand focused on graphic tees before evolving into the ever elusive menswear label it's known for today.
The brand gained recognition in 2008 with the release of their first style of denim, the SL-100x, made in collaboration with Japan's renowned Kuroki Mills. Since then, 3sixteen has become known for their premium denim and commitment to thoughtful, long-lasting designs.
What sets 3sixteen apart is its close attention to detail and deep commitment to custom fabric development. While many brands lean on stock Japanese denim, 3sixteen took a different path—collaborating directly with mills in Japan to design their fabrics from the ground up. It was a bold, uncommon move for a small American label at the time. The payoff? Denim that’s not only distinct, but intentionally engineered to age beautifully with every wear.
3sixteen is one of the fastest-growing denim brands in the world—and its name is a nod to the Bible verse John 3:16 because they wanted the brand to reflect their personal values and faith. Their intention was to create a brand that stood for integrity, excellence, and purpose within the fashion world.
In interviews, Chen has mentioned that they were inspired to offer a positive representation of faith in the arts, especially because they felt there were few good examples of that at the time. Rather than producing explicitly religious products, they embedded those values into the foundation of the brand: thoughtful design, lasting quality, and ethical production practices.
So while the name comes from a well-known verse, it serves more as a quiet statement of intent—about doing meaningful work, standing behind your values, and building something that lasts.
That dedication to quality doesn’t come cheaply—and for good reason. 3sixteen partners with a Japanese denim mill that prioritizes ethical practices, including fair wages and safe working conditions. It's a more responsible way of doing business, and it results in a product that feels as good to wear as it does to support.
All of 3sixteen’s jeans are made from raw, unwashed denim—meaning they haven’t been pre-faded or treated in any way. Instead, they’re designed to break in over time, developing unique fades and wear patterns that reflect how you actually live in them, because at 3sixteen, jeans don’t get old—they get better.
CT-100xk ~ Classic Tapered - Rinsed Indigo Kibata
Woven exclusively for 3sixteen by Kuroki Mills, this low-tension selvedge denim has a rugged texture that fades beautifully. Rinsed to bring out its character and remove shrinkage. This fit offers a high rise, relaxed top block and a sharp taper from the knee down.
CS-100x ~ Classic Straight - Indigo Selvedge
This fit is based on a vintage 1947 501 cut, featuring a high rise, straight back yoke, and a roomy top block with full thighs and a slight taper from the knee down. Crafted from 14.5oz raw indigo selvedge denim woven in Okayama, Japan by Kuroki Mills, the fabric has a soft hand on the inside, making it very easy to break in.
RS-100x ~ Relaxed Straight - Indigo Selvedge
3sixteen's widest fit, with extra room in the thigh, a higher rise, and a wide leg opening. Comfortable and easy to wear, whether cuffed or with a break. Made from their flagship 100x raw indigo selvedge, custom-woven by Kuroki Mills, with a soft interior that breaks in easily.
