Samurai Jeans - "Ai-Plus" 18oz Selvedge Denim Jeans [S500AX]

The Samurai Jeans S500AX “Ai Plus” takes the rich colour traditionally associated with natural indigo and combines it with the texture, fading potential, and everyday wearability of Samurai’s heavyweight selvedge denim. Built from a specially developed 18oz fabric, the S500AX is one of the most distinctive core jeans in Samurai’s collection, offering an exceptionally deep indigo tone alongside the rugged texture for which the brand is known.

The proprietary 18oz Ai Plus denim uses yarn blended with Samurai Cotton and dyed through a special process combining natural indigo with indigo dye. Natural indigo is traditionally associated with hand dyeing, but Samurai developed a method that allows this blend to be rope dyed. The result is a remarkably rich blue denim with the depth and beauty of natural indigo while retaining the fading characteristics associated with rope-dyed jeans.

The fabric begins with a rough, highly textured surface that gradually softens and develops character through wear. As the indigo fades, the irregular yarn and deeply saturated colour create increasingly varied shades of blue, giving the denim a particularly distinctive aging potential.

The S500AX uses an easy-wearing straight silhouette that is slightly narrower than Samurai’s traditional regular straight fit, with a moderate taper through the leg. This gives the jeans a clean profile while maintaining enough room for everyday comfort.

Special details distinguish the Ai Plus series throughout, including silver-painted iron taiko drum buttons, copper coin-shaped rivets, Ai Plus printed pocket bags, and an exclusive leather patch depicting an indigo-dyeing craftsman finished with navy blue foil. Construction uses banana yellow and golden brown stitching, with Samurai varying thread weight, stitch count, and stitch width throughout different areas of the jeans.

Made in Japan, the S500AX combines Samurai’s heavyweight denim expertise with an unusual approach to indigo dyeing, creating a jean defined as much by its colour and aging potential as its substantial 18oz construction.

Key Features

• 18oz Ai Plus Japanese selvedge denim

• Samurai Cotton blended yarn

• Special combination of natural indigo and indigo dye

• Rope-dyed yarn construction

• Deep, rich indigo colour

• Rough and highly textured denim surface

• Straight fit with moderate taper

• Slightly narrower silhouette than Samurai’s regular straight

• Silver-painted iron taiko drum buttons

• Copper coin-shaped rivets

• Ai Plus printed pocket bags

• Exclusive leather patch depicting an indigo-dyeing craftsman

• Navy blue foil detailing on leather patch

• Exclusive Ai Plus flasher

• Banana yellow and golden brown stitching

• Varied thread weights and stitch specifications throughout

• RAW / Unsanforized finish

• Exceptional long-term fading potential

• Made in Japan

• Style number S500AX

• Shop more styles from Samurai Jeans

Samurai S500AX Ai Plus Jeans in 18oz Japanese selvedge denim, rope dyed with natural indigo and built for rich colour, texture, and exceptional fading. Shop now.

Unsanforized denim, one washed at the factory. Minimal further shrinkage with a cold wash and hang dry.

These figures are estimates. Fabric, fit, and care all affect how a garment settles, so treat them as a guide rather than a guarantee. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Garment measurements taken flat before wash. Compare against a piece you already own and love.

Canada: free Standard shipping over $300 CAD, otherwise $19.99 in BC and $24.99 to the rest of Canada. Express is $33 flat. Tracked courier, 1 to 4 business days.

United States: free Standard shipping over $350 USD, otherwise $25.99 USD. Express is $30 USD.

Returns: read our Return Policy for full details on returns and exchanges.

Wear for as long as you can before the first wash. Cold soak, hang dry in shade, never tumble dry. Full guide in our Journal.