Batch Seven, Getting It Over the Line

Batch Seven has taken longer than we expected.

Not because we weren’t working on it, but because a few things didn’t go to plan.

In our previous run of jeans, we sourced Japanese selvedge denim for the first time. Specifically from Kuroki Mill in Okayama. That was a big step for us, both practically and philosophically. It felt like opening a door we’d been aiming for from the start, and we were excited to continue down that path.

At the same time, the wider world shifted.

As global tariffs began to bite, supply chains tightened. Larger brands and manufacturers started buying denim further in advance, locking in stock ahead of potential price increases and disruption. The knock on effect of that, especially when you’re operating at our scale, is that availability disappears fast.

When we went back to Kuroki, the lead times were long. Really long. Longer than we were comfortable asking people to wait.

So we made some calls. Spoke to other suppliers. Looked at what was realistically available rather than what was ideal on paper. In the end, we were able to secure a short run of Japanese selvedge denim from Kuroki, but only a single roll.

That roll yields 45 pairs of jeans.

That’s it.

There’s no marketing angle in that number. It’s simply what we could get our hands on without pushing timelines out even further. That constraint is the reason Batch Seven exists in the form it does.

At the same time, we hit another challenge.

The factory that made our previous run closed.

That forced a pause. We didn’t rush to replace them. We spent time talking to different makers, weighing options, and being honest about what mattered most.

Eventually, we landed on a factory in Auckland that we’ve wanted to work with for a long time. They’re close to home, they care about the details, and they feel aligned with where Roskill is heading. I’m genuinely excited about this part.

The trade off is that moving manufacturers means starting sampling again. New hands, new machines, new interpretations of patterns. In some ways, it feels like going back to square one.

But we’ve chosen to treat that as an opportunity.

Across previous batches, we’ve learned a lot, especially about fit. Some things worked well. Some didn’t. Some were close but not quite right. Instead of carrying everything forward unchanged, Batch Seven is a chance to consolidate what we’ve learned and simplify.

So we’ve rationalised the range.

Four core cuts.

Two for men.

Two for women

One slim fit and one loose fit in each.

Clear, distinct fits designed to make choosing easier and the jeans themselves better.

It hasn’t been easy getting this batch across the line. There have been moments where progress felt sideways rather than forward. But nothing has been wasted. Every decision, every constraint, every reset has shaped what Batch Seven has become.

It’s not a reset. It’s a consolidation.

And that’s what makes it exciting.