Vaqueros bordados EVISU Donna Yamane con mariposas, adorno de chōchō y wagara, índigo oscuro de mujer, 26 x 32

Butterflies, scattered flowers and ribbon-like ornament travel across the front and continue onto the back of these EVISU Donna jeans, ivory, crimson, pale blue and soft yellow thread rising from faded dark indigo. Distinctly feminine without becoming delicate, it is statement denim with Y2K romance.

The Piece

A richly decorated pair of vintage EVISU Donna jeans that turns dark indigo denim into wearable textile art. The principal subject is chōchō, the butterfly, one of the most enduring decorative motifs in Japanese visual culture, traditionally associated with transformation, renewal, beauty and the fleeting nature of life, and so with personal evolution and rebirth. Multiple butterflies appear in ivory and crimson, their wings articulated through dots, curved veins and contrasting outlines. Rather than isolated logos, they gather around circular crests, small radiating flowers and long ornamental streams, like butterflies moving through a stylized garden.

The embroidery crosses conventional garment boundaries, appearing across both front thighs and continuing over the right rear pocket and upper leg, so the artwork remains visible from front, side and back. The most dramatic element is a serpentine composition across the wearer's left leg: crimson, ivory and muted blue forms curl downward in rhythmic sequence, punctuated by small circular crests and surrounded by blossoms and butterflies, a fusion of flowing ribbons, decorative water currents and the enlarged graphics of Japanese wagara fashion. One leg carries the long sweeping movement while the opposite thigh holds a compact butterfly medallion, balanced rather than mechanically mirrored.

The rear continues the artwork. One back pocket shows a broad dark Yamane-style painted arc, subtly visible against the indigo, while the opposite side carries the ribbon and butterfly composition across the pocket and upper leg. Golden-brown stitching outlines the pockets, yoke and seams. The substantial 100% cotton denim has a dark indigo wash with soft whiskering, crease patterns and gently mottled fading through the lap, thighs and knees; in bright light the twill shows blue highlights and worn-in texture, in shadow it returns to near-midnight indigo. The waistband keeps its woven Yamane label, the rear a brown Yamane patch, and the copper-toned buttons and rivets carry crest-like branding.

EVISU was founded in Osaka in 1991 and became internationally known for vintage-inspired construction, bold pocket graphics and Japanese design identity. The women-focused EVISU Donna line emerged at the end of the 1990s, extending that language into more fitted, decorative, fashion-forward womenswear. The elaborate embroidery, fitted cut and low-to-mid-rise proportions here fit the expressive denim culture of the 2000s, when heavily decorated jeans were central to Japanese streetwear, club fashion and the worldwide Y2K aesthetic. With butterflies across both sides and the painted pocket glimpsed beneath, the pair shifts as it is worn; the smaller tagged size and unmistakable 2000s silhouette make this configuration increasingly difficult to find.

Details

• Maker: EVISU Donna / Yamane
• Era: Likely 2000s
• Origin: China (marked on the waistband label)
• Material: 100% cotton denim; cotton embroidery thread
• Color: Dark indigo; embroidery in ivory, crimson, pale blue and soft yellow
• Size: 26 x 32 (tagged); women's
• Measurements: Waist laid flat approx. 39 to 40 cm / 15.4 to 15.7 in · Waist circumference approx. 78 to 80 cm / 30.7 to 31.5 in · Front rise approx. 24 to 25 cm / 9.4 to 9.8 in · Inseam approx. 70 cm / 27.6 in · Leg opening laid flat approx. 20 to 21 cm / 7.9 to 8.3 in
• Cut: Slim straight with a gently widened, bootcut-style hem; low-to-mid rise
• Closure: Branded metal waist button with concealed front fly
• Construction: Five-pocket; reinforced copper-tone rivets; tobacco contrast stitching; finished hems with a contrasting chain-style appearance
• Labels: Woven Yamane waistband label; brown rear Yamane patch; original woven size and composition label

Condition

• Good vintage pre-owned condition with visible character from previous wear.
• Natural fading, whiskering, creasing and tonal variation throughout; light surface and edge wear may be present.
• The embroidery remains bright, dimensional and prominent, with no major loss apparent.
• No major holes or significant structural damage noted; hems, pockets, waistband, hardware and principal seams remain present and wearable.
• Small irregularities, softened areas, loose threads or marks may be present; the photographs form an important part of the condition description.

Fit Guidance

The measured inseam of approximately 70 cm is shorter than the 32-inch length printed on the original label, so rely on the physical measurements rather than the tag. As a fitted women's design, compare with jeans that fit comfortably; waist placement, hip measurement and preferred rise all affect fit.

Authenticity & Care

The waistband keeps its woven Yamane label and original size and composition label (26 x 32, 100% cotton, made in China), with a brown Yamane patch at the rear and crest-branded copper-toned hardware. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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