Remembering Roy Slaper, the craftsman who made denim a fashion obsession

An undated photo shows Roy Slaper in 2017. His jeans, which sold out within hours of hitting the shelves, were coveted by the sort of haute denim aficionados who are obsessed with obscure artisanal brands. Photo: The New York Times

Although Roy Slaper was eventually anointed a “selvedge denim legend” by GQ magazine, he had no real interest in the apparel business when he started making jeans in his Oakland, California, apartment in the mid-2000s.

A metal fabricator by trade, he had no interest in denim, either.