Note: At our request, Fortela agreed to offer us the jeans that you will discover in this article.

Fortela is an Italian brand founded by Alessandro Squarzi, undoubtedly one of the most photographed men in the world of menswear. The brand’s style is closely linked to that of its founder. What is less known is that Alessandro Squarzi is also a great collector. His extensive vintage archives are a constant source of inspiration to create Fortela clothing with an Italian and Japanese touch.

He recently released a book on this subject called The Squarzi Archive. A visual showcase of its collection made up of more than 6,000 pieces, mainly American clothing.

Fortela is a brand that we follow a lot, we have visited the Milanese store several times and we already own a few other clothes from the brand.

For this article we wanted to talk about the Johnny jeans which are part of the Made in Japan collection. They are made in Okayama from a 14 oz 100% organic cotton “medium” blue selvedge canvas. 

This fabric is manufactured on traditional Toyoda shuttle looms. This gives it small irregularities which become more pronounced over time.

If you are looking for jeans that take on the characteristics of Levi's jeans from the 60s, this Johnny model from Fortela might interest you.

The 60s and 70s are still very popular today because the volume, cut, assembly and fabric used by Levi's during these years are still very contemporary.

Unsurprisingly it is therefore sewn in “single stitch”, a characteristic assembly of the early 1970s.

These Johnny jeans feature a slim silhouette - but without being too slim. It has enough volume in the thighs to be comfortable without being too baggy. The leg line is not too tight at the bottom, it is quite straight. A good balance for our taste.

In terms of waist size, it is normal, neither too low nor too high. It is comfortable and fits well on the lower back.

We really like the hand and texture of this fabric, it gives the impression of being robust and at the same time comfortable to wear. Its natural elasticity is almost comparable to a canvas that contains elastane. It is therefore not cardboardy but nevertheless has a good drape. By the way « Fortela », derived from the slang “Tela Forte” which means “strong fabric” if translated literally.

The jeans came with a central pleat which looked great. As the fabric does not contain polyester, the effect fades after a few wears. It's up to you to revive it with an iron or not !

You will note that our jeans have not yet been altered at the bottom of the leg. It comes with a good amount of extra length for people over 6’9” (1m90)

In conclusion, these Fortela jeans are aimed at both the connoisseur and the novice: simple Japanese jeans with American influences.  We recommend.

By the way, Alessandro Squarzi and the Fortela Team will be in Paris at the Merci pop-up, at The Appartement Merci at 109 Boulevard Beaumarchais 75003, from Friday 11th of October to Saturday 12th, go meet them !