IIY4: The 25 Best Fades of 2024 and the Ultimate Champion Revealed!

After a full 366 days of wear, tear, and repairs, the Indigo Invitational Year 4 winners have been revealed! This year’s competition saw over 1,500 faders start the journey, with more than 500 making it to the finish line.

The results? Some of the most breathtaking fades I’ve ever seen.

The competition was split into three conferences:

• Rest of the World (RoW) – Featuring faders from across the globe, taking on denim through all four seasons.

• Southeast Asia (SEA) – A proving ground where high heat and humidity accelerate some of the world's most intense fades.

• Re(Pair) – A new category for those returning for a second lap with jeans from previous years.

We published the full list with 25 winners on Denimhunters along with insights from the judges (including yours truly) and commentary on what made these pairs stand out.

One Champion to Rule Them All

At the end of it all, two faders stood above the rest:

🏆 Scott Stasiuk – Iron Heart 634S-UHR (23 oz.) (RoW Winner)
🏆 Al-Aqhsar Ali Baba – Oni Asphalt (20 oz.) (SEA Winner)

With both conference winners producing stunning, natural, well-worn fades, it all came down to a final decision. That task fell to Ruedi Karrer, aka The Swiss Jeans Freak—a man who has spent a lifetime chasing and documenting denim evolution.

After carefully reviewing both pairs, Ruedi made the call: Al-Aqhsar Ali Baba’s Oni Asphalt (20 oz.) is the Champion of Y4! 🎉

A Year of Incredible Fades

This year’s results proved a few key things:

✔️ Heavyweight denim (20-25 oz.) remains a favourite among serious faders.
✔️ Natural, authentic fades were celebrated over aggressively forced contrasts.
✔️ Southeast Asia continues to dominate, with intense, high-contrast wear.
✔️ Self-made and heavily repaired jeans earned significant recognition.

The Indigo Invitational Y4 is now in the books, but Y5 is just around the corner—starting on Sep 1, 2025. The count down is on …

What’s Next? Time for a Fresh Pair?

After a year of breaking in their denim, many of these faders are probably in the market for a new pair. If you’re looking to start your next fading journey on the right foot, Denimhunters has you covered.

Whether you’re new to raw denim or a seasoned fader, our raw denim guides will help you find the perfect pair. With the right pair and a year of wear, maybe you’ll be on the podium next time.

A Quick Note on the Survey …

Last week, I asked for your input on how we can make Denimhunters—and this newsletter—even better. The response has been fantastic, and I truly appreciate everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts.

If you haven’t had a chance yet, the survey is still open, and I’d love to hear from you. Every answer helps shape the content we create and ensures we’re covering the topics you care about most.