@Luijim78 & @Oaktavia thank you guys so much for the insights.

Hey community.
Been a long time lurker.
After I got my IH-777s-21 today (the very first IH jeans ever) I decided to share some pics after I saw some ask for fit pics.
I am on a thinner side (legs and butt). So came out right.
Though I expect that down the road the butt area will stretch and get a bit baggy which is OK.
But the feeling is awesome

Some feedback after having worn my new 777S-21 for 2+ weeks.

1. Gave them a soak in lukewarm water for 40 mins with some agitation. The inseam lost around 3/4 inches. Waist and legs became a bit snug, but still comfortable. They stretched out back after a couple of wears + maybe 1/2 inch on top of it. Then I got them hemmed to 33 inches.
2. The fabric is pliable and no stiffness from the very first wear. The break-in period lasted for a day at most. Still there is a feel of the new pair of raw denim though I was surprised that I didn't have to struggle with buttons as if someone took care of the button holes for me.
3. The butt area is not getting any baggy which I expected right off the bat. But it's only been 2 weeks, so curious how it's going to go. Waste area stretched 1/2 inch, just my size and I still don't need a belt.
4. One thing which surprised me is the speed rate of fading. I've been reading and watching videos saying that the 21-oz ones are stubborn faders. But not with me. A couple of weeks in and I have some fades already going on:

• I wear them per 10 to 12 hours/day. Working my "office job" from home most of the time I sit still, though I do occasionally move around the house, go pick my kid from school and take my 2-hour evening walks. But no any demanding physical job or activities, like hiking.
• The fades are popping up on honeycombs, whiskers, front part of legs, crotch and stack creases (I am a stack guy and don't cuff them up). The area of hidden rivets is losing indigo too. It is pretty much same "fading rate" per a time unit as I've seen with my another pair of Japanese denim, which is an infamous and well renowned fast fader.
• My co-worker and friend (a denim head with a 30-pair collection) was surprised too. He assumed that the fast fading might have happened because my particular pair may have been sitting in the warehouse for years. In his opinion the indigo dye's grip may have loosened up. I am not an expert in this and not sure how much his assumption is true.

In anyway, I really like this pair which proved to be beyond my expectations. The construction and overall quality is 11 out of 10, really nice.

As for faster-than-expected fading, yes, I expected it to last longer in case I need to go to the office, but even if it fades faster, it's OK too.

Sorry for the quality of pics. The fades are way more visible in person. I regret I took the pics under direct sunlight, but will do my homework before taking next picture to update you guys.

Especially on the first pic you can see some strong fades in the whiskers and watch pocket areas.

I wear my pair for only my daily 2 to 3-hour evening walks and grocery shopping trips. Around 15-20 hours per week. My estimate is that the net wear time is around 3-4 months.
Gave it a tub wash. Tons of indigo dye went off. The color changed drastically. Fades are becoming 3D: whiskers, honeycombs... even the front pocket bags' fades started protruding from the inside.
The fabric became more dense and thicker. As overall I am happy with the result and going to wash it more frequently, probably once a month.
P.S. Decided also to have some fun. I don't have a leather conditioner. Just of curiosity I applied a thick 1-mm layer of unsalted butter onto the leather patch in the evening. In the morning the whole layer disappeared, not even oily residues. The leather patch ate it all

Wow! Thank you all a lot.
It seems 19 oz one is going to be my choice.
Greatly appreciate your insights and sharing tons of experience.

@Giles @Ikeaparty @chrisjohnnick
Thank you guys so much.
I'll probably take a risk - presoak them and wash them on a regular cycle

@Denimhead-0 awesome, nice look

What made you guys want to smell your patches?
Here is mine. 48 hours past applying butter.
No smell

Just got a new pair. The overlock on the inner part of button fly is kind of loose along with the selvedge line.

Is this a defect?
Has anyone else had this?

I am not concerned about esthetics.
Just don't want that part to go off after a couple of machine washes.

Wow! Thank you all a lot.
It seems 19 oz one is going to be my choice.
Greatly appreciate your insights and sharing tons of experience.

@Luijim78 & @Oaktavia thank you guys so much for the insights.

I need a new jacket and advice. At first I was going to buy 21 oz. Kind of default choice.
But the old wolves on this forum wrote that the 21 oz sleeves are too wide and slouch. Rather good for big framed guys (with somewhat present biceps) than slimmer ones like me.
They recommended 14 oz saying it has slimmer sleeve cut. So I decided to pass on 21 oz, but hasn't stop on 14 oz yet.
Can anyone, please, share their sleeve experience with this 19 oz super stiff beast? Watched videos, browsed pictures, but still couldn't figure out the sleeve thing.
Is it wide like with 21 oz? How would it be compared to 21 oz cut - wider, slimmer?
Thanks everybody in advance.
P.S. Stiffness is not scaring me out. Years ago started with 21 oz Unbranded which was rather breaking me in ))) So as a guy who knows the drill I am curious about 19 oz

@Evertonman I am not a vet, still raw & unwashed ))) So, it's going to be a rookie advice ))
I would assume that probably yes, a hot soak can potentially get it shrunk a bit. Not crazy like a couple of inches, but considerably.
Last time after I gave them a tub wash in a "very warm" water (not hot), they sat on me quite tighter, on butt and thighs.
Yes, they stretched out then a bit, but still quite tighter than used to do even after multiple wears. Though I am a skinny guy, so works for me.
You can try to give them a hot soak for an hour and see how far shrinkage can go

What made you guys want to smell your patches?
Here is mine. 48 hours past applying butter.
No smell

@goosehd thank you, will look into

@goosehd thank you. Then I will get a leather conditioner. Need it in anyway for my belts
Can you guys recommend some?
Thank you

I wear my pair for only my daily 2 to 3-hour evening walks and grocery shopping trips. Around 15-20 hours per week. My estimate is that the net wear time is around 3-4 months.
Gave it a tub wash. Tons of indigo dye went off. The color changed drastically. Fades are becoming 3D: whiskers, honeycombs... even the front pocket bags' fades started protruding from the inside.
The fabric became more dense and thicker. As overall I am happy with the result and going to wash it more frequently, probably once a month.
P.S. Decided also to have some fun. I don't have a leather conditioner. Just of curiosity I applied a thick 1-mm layer of unsalted butter onto the leather patch in the evening. In the morning the whole layer disappeared, not even oily residues. The leather patch ate it all

@Denimhead-0 awesome, nice look