The Shoppist Gift List, Day 16: A Custom Denim Jacket by Senpai + Kohai

The coolest way to give clothing this year.


Our discerning editors have culled the best-of-the-best gifts available in Philly. Each day until Christmas, we’ve reveal our 25 top gift picks to suit everyone on your list. Happy shopping!

Repurposing might not sound sexy, but in the hands of the duo behind Philly-based fashion line Senpai + Kohai, it’s totally covetable. While any of the pieces from the holiday collection are gift-worthy, I recommend the unconventional ‘Design Your Denim’ pick. In a nutshell: You send in a denim jacket that you’ve grown tired of, then go online and choose your embellishments (all vintage embroidery hand-picked in the outdoor markets of Delhi, plus a cozy fur collar option). They’ll do all the custom sewing —that’s included in the price—and shipping back to you is free.

Here’s a handy video of the process:

You in? Here’s how to gift it: Print out a pic of the awesome jacket shown on the site, show the video and then hop online to create the masterpiece together. If you’ve seen the work of these girls in our mag (they were PMFP designers this year!), you’ll know that what she’ll end up getting is truly a work of art.

The Details: Senpai + Kohai custom denim jacket, starting at $178 (you provide the jacket; cost is for labor and embellishments) at Senpai-kohai.com.

Give To: A fashion-forward friend.

See yesterday’s gift pick here.

To see all gift picks, click here.