3sixteen

The brand began as a graphic T-shirt line with positive messaging before transitioning to a comprehensive clothing collection in 2008. In 2011, the founders narrowed their focus exclusively to denim and accessories after recognizing denim as their strongest category. The company operates from a foundation emphasizing faith, humility, and integrity.

3sixteen produces garments designed to be "well aged, never old," emphasizing long-term wear and natural patina development rather than factory distressing. The brand's design philosophy centers on non-seasonal, year-round products constructed from premium materials intended to endure years of use while developing unique fading patterns that reflect each wearer's experience.

Andrew Chen founded 3sixteen in 2003, initially focusing on graphic T-shirts with positive messaging. Johan Lam later joined as co-founder. The brand's modern denim history began in fall 2008 when the company transitioned to a comprehensive clothing line and introduced its first pair of jeans, the SL-100x.

Around 2010, 3sixteen partnered with Kuroki Mills to develop custom fabrics specifically for the brand. In 2011, the founders made the strategic decision to scale back their offerings and focus exclusively on denim and accessories. This pivot allowed them to refine their signature fits, the SL-100x and ST-100x.

The company celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2018. The 2013 partnership with Viberg marked 3sixteen's 10-year anniversary.

3sixteen's San Francisco factory produces the majority of the brand's products, including jeans, chinos, shirts, T-shirts, and jackets. All jeans are cut and sewn in San Francisco using Japanese denim from Kuroki Mills.

All jeans feature continuous tucked chainstitch on waistbands to prevent unraveling. Pocketbags are constructed from 100% cotton eight-ounce twill, almost twice the weight of traditional pocketbags. Hardware includes custom gunmetal shanks, rivets, and YKK components. Leather patches are made by Tanner Goods in Portland, Oregon from heavyweight English bridle leather. Hidden selvedge details appear on coin pockets and fly construction.

3sixteen works directly with Kuroki Mills in Okayama, Japan to develop custom denim. The brand's flagship denim is a 14.5-ounce raw indigo selvedge fabric developed in collaboration between Andrew Chen, Johan Lam, and Kuroki Mills. Cotton threads are woven on vintage Toyoda shuttle looms, and every finished yard of denim undergoes visual inspection using a lightbox system. The resulting fabric features an extremely soft hand on the inside, uncharacteristic of most raw denim.

3sixteen's partnership with Viberg began in 2013, marking the brand's 10-year anniversary. For the 15-year anniversary in 2019, 3sixteen partnered with Viberg to produce a capsule collection featuring Horween's Petro Chamois roughout, a heavily oiled nubuck with deep navy and grey undertones.

The Side Zip Service Boot from this collaboration features the 2040 last, Vibram 2060 sand wedge sole, stitchdown construction, T5 Superlampo zipper, antique nickel eyelets, and natural midsole. The boots were completed on February 1, 2019. All Viberg boots are made in-house at their third-generation workboot factory in Victoria, British Columbia.

The 15-year collection also included accessories: a tote bag measuring 14 inches by 13.5 inches by 6.75 inches, unlined with a sole zip pocket, and three utility pouch sizes.

3sixteen operates two flagship retail locations. The Los Angeles flagship is located at 1320 E 7th Street #114, CA 90021 in the Arts District. The New York flagship is located at 190 Elizabeth Street, NY 10012 in Nolita.

The company maintains stockists across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Products are designed as non-seasonal items for year-round wear.