Episode Details

Oakland lost a denim legend this week with the passing of Roy Slaper at fifty-four — a self-taught artisan who handcrafted some of the world’s most coveted jeans from his tiny Bay Area apartment. Starting in 2007, he defied industry norms by making premium denim without a factory, using vintage machines he believed produced superior stitches and soulful details. Within a year, his limited runs sold out in minutes, drawing global acclaim and lines stretching for hours. Though he retired in 2021, his legacy lives on, inspiring a new generation of independent makers. Beyond denim, he chased skateboarding, swimming, and even part-time restaurant work — always curious, always kind, always making the world a little more handmade.

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