Raw denim
Denim that has not been pre-washed or pre-faded. Starts stiff, dark, and uniform; develops fade patterns specific to the wearer over months of break-in.
Raw (or "dry") denim is sold straight off the loom with only the dye applied — no washing, no sanding, no chemical fading, no distressing. The result is a stiff, deep indigo fabric that softens slowly with wear and produces "honeycombs" behind the knees, "whiskers" at the lap, and "stacks" at the hem unique to your body and wearing pattern.
The purist version is unwashed for at least six months — sometimes a full year — to maximize contrast in the fade pattern. Modern brands often soak rather than full-wash, which sets the indigo and removes the worst of the initial dye bleed without erasing the fade potential.
If you live in a wet climate, raw denim is a commitment. The unset dye will transfer to anything pale (white shoes, a leather couch, your wallet). Most people who try raw denim either become very into it or quietly switch to one-wash within a year.
Selvedge denim
Denim woven on traditional shuttle looms, producing a clean self-finished edge that doesn't fray. Slower to make, more expensive, often higher quality.
Sanforized
A pre-shrinking treatment for cotton fabric. Sanforized denim shrinks ~1% on first wash; unsanforized shrinks 5–10%.
Japanese mills (denim, fabric)
Japan's textile industry produces some of the world's highest-quality denim, fabric, and dyeing — concentrated in Okayama and Hiroshima.