Betty Smith
Betty Smith is a Japanese jeans maker based in Kojima, Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture. It mainly produces women's jeans and also makes men's denim under the BIG SMITH name.
| Location | Kojima, Kurashiki, Okayama |
|---|---|
| In jeans since | 1971 |
| Men's line | BIG SMITH |
| Visitor offer | Jeans museum and factory outlet |
| Website | betty.co.jp |
What is Betty Smith?
Betty Smith is a denim company from Kojima in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, the area widely regarded as the home of Japanese jeans. The company has been in the jeans business since 1971 and mainly manufactures women's jeans.
Products and positioning
The business combines factory production with a direct, visitor facing offer:
- Women's jeans, the main line
- Men's jeans under the BIG SMITH brand
- Custom jeans, where customers choose the fabric and design, at around 100 to 300 pieces a month
- Small goods such as book covers and pen cases made from surplus denim
Using offcuts for novelty products gives the company a way to make use of excess fabric from production.
Distribution
In Kojima the company runs a factory outlet together with a jeans museum where visitors can learn about the history of denim. The site is part of the denim tourism that draws visitors to the Kojima district.
Why it matters
Betty Smith illustrates how a regional manufacturer can use its production base as a retail and tourism asset, selling made to order jeans and heritage storytelling directly at the factory.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Betty Smith from?
Betty Smith is based in Kojima, Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture, Japan.
What does Betty Smith make?
It mainly makes women's jeans, along with men's jeans under the BIG SMITH name and custom made jeans.