A name synonymous with hard-wearing and long-lasting denim and the culture surrounding it, Iron Heart made their name (and continue to make it year after year) by producing garments that go the distance and then some.

Their hard-wearing pairs are perfect companions for the long and winding road, and they boast an unmatched winning track record in this competition, both in terms of competitor preference and performance.

The world’s best faders choose Iron Heart for the same reason fans of rugged apparel do: Iron Heart pairs are nail-tough and razor-sharp, and they just get better with every roll of the odometer.

With their ongoing support of the Invitational, Iron Heart has more than lived up to their reputation as strong supporters of denim culture. No brand has done more for this competition and our fade-loving community than Iron Heart.

We’re proud to welcome Iron Heart back for Year Five as a competition partner, and we welcome all our returning soldiers of the Iron Heart Army.

Founded in 1998 in Osaka, Samurai Jeans wasted no time, pushing the world of selvedge denim in new directions from the very moment of their inception. Every design decision Samurai makes has fades front of mind, and this has made them the brand of choice for those who puts fades first.

Samurai’s fade-forward focus means that nobody in the denim world can lay as much claim to fade supremacy as they can. Put simply, nothing fades like Samurai denim because nothing can fade like Samurai pairs.

Samurai were one of the first brands to experiment with heavyweight denim with the aim of producing a fabric that would produce stunning contrast fades, and in 2006, they initiated the world’s first denim fading competition. For these innovations (and for countless others), we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude.

We’re proud to welcome Samurai Jeans back as one of our Year Five competition partners. If you’re looking for stunning high-contrast fades, put Samurai Jeans at the very top of your list.

Since 1996, The Flat Head have been on the leading edge of the selvedge scene. Founder Kobayashi-san gained extensive experience repairing vintage American workwear during his time running one of Japan’s best vintage boutiques, and, when he started producing his own clothes under the Flat Head label, the result was a vanguard selvedge label that fused innovation and tradition.

Best known for their Pioneer Denim, with its trademark vertical texture, The Flat Head have secured their position as one of the firmest fade foundations you can find. Considering their reputation, we don’t see nearly as many pairs of Flat Heads registered in the competition as we should. Their 14.5oz Pioneer Denim and their brand new 18oz selvedge are some of our absolute top picks for faders this year.

We are intensely proud to welcome The Flat Head into this community as one of our Year Five competition partners. If you want to leave your mark in this competition, a well-worn pair from Flat Head is guaranteed to turn heads when you streak across the line.

One of Thailand’s best-known makers of heavy-duty denim for fade enthusiasts, Piger Works has been making hardcore garments for hardcore faders since 2010. Each year, the Thai faders show us why Piger Works is so adored in Southeast Asia, and, in Year Four, we saw more faders in the West putting Piger’s pairs to the test.

For the first time, Indigo Invitational will be collaborating with a brand to produce a very special OFFICIAL pair that we’re endorsing for Y5 faders. The pair promises to be something very special, and we hope that we’ll see an army of Piger Works x II faders standing on the starting line when Y5 starts.

We’re very pleased to welcome Piger Works as a returning partner for Year Five. If you haven’t done so already, we encourage you to add either our collaboration pair or one of their incredible other pairs to your collection.

The only American-made brand to make it to the top of the Invitational podium, Brave Star are returning as competition partners in Year Five. A magnet for faders who see selvedge denim as a lifestyle, they boast an impressive stable of world-class faders who regularly challenge for podium spots.

With a nearly unmatched combination of value and performance, their heavy pairs remain one of the best choices for those who want to push their pairs to the absolute limit without maxing their credit.

Based on early registrations, their Mojave cut is going to be an extremely popular choice this year. Available in a wide range of weights, this cowboy cut will be an excellent choice for faders who want to look great all year and finish strong.

We’re proud to welcome Brave Star back into this community, and we give a hearty welcome to the Brave Star fans who’ve come here to test their mettle against the world’s best.

Founded by Christian McCann way back in 1998, Left Field emerged out of a passionate belief that American manufacturing could still produce jeans that could compete for the title of the world’s best. They were one of the first labels to prove definitely that American brands could still make ’em like they used to.

If you’re looking for a pair that will help you stand out from the other competitors right from day one without sacrificing anything in terms of fit or quality, Left Field will be an excellent choice. You’ll quickly see why they’re so often ranked among the brands at the very top of the selvedge scene.

This goes double if where and how something is made is important to you. Left Field is not just trying to be another American selvedge brand. They’re trying to be the American-made selvedge brand, and they’ve got the goods to back it up.

We’re proud to welcome Left Field as a competition partner for Year Five, and we hope you’ll consider them when looking at your options. You’ll quickly see that their jeans are a base-clearing home run.

Since their foundation in 2001, Nudie Jeans have been about far more than just making jeans. They encourage their customers to make their Nudies a part of their lives, and they make them with this kind of long-haul use in mind.

Their wear–and–tear philosophy depends on the deep bond between the customer and their Nudies. Each pair is made to last, and their customers fade them like there’s no tomorrow. The result is a nearly unmatched track record of beautiful workaday fades that speak volumes about the quality of the product and the passion with which they’re worn.

This is part of Nudie’s unmatched commitment to sustainability and responsibility. They understand that sustainable manufacturing can only go so far. A truly sustainable product is not just made sustainably; it’s also consumed and used sustainably.

Worn lovingly and without limits or reservations, Nudie Jeans are meant to be with you for life. You don’t replace them; you repair them, with each stitch being one more step on a road that goes on and on forever. These aren’t just clothes. They’re future classics—jeans that become vintage, not garbage.

Long-time supporters of the competition, Naked & Famous have re-joined us this year as competition partners, adding to the incredible support that they’re continuing to offer in the form of huge prizes for some of our winners.

As pioneers in the selvedge space, Naked & Famous quickly established themselves as a brand that pushes the envelope, exploring new territory where others dare not tread. From the world’s heaviest selvedge (40oz!) to their eye-popping Made in Japan line, they continually push to be the best at what they do. They go further, break boundaries, and do the impossible. The only thing Naked & Famous don’t do is ordinary.

The brand’s wide range of fits and denims has made them one of the most popular choice for Indigo Invitational competitors. Dependable and budget-friendly, their pairs won’t disappoint even the most discerning denimheads.

We’re proud to welcome Naked & Famous and their sister brand Unbranded to the competition as Year Five competition partners. Help us show our gratitude for their years of support by wearing their name on your hip this year.