When shopping for a new pair of jeans, it’s important to pay attention to the quality. There are dozens if not hundreds of types of jeans on the market, some of which are better than others. If you simply choose the cheapest pair you come across at a retail apparel store, you’ll probably end up with low-quality jeans. As a result, you can expect them to degrade more quickly. You can avoid this headache, however, by emphasizing quality in your purchasing decision. But how exactly can you spot a pair of high-quality jeans?
Inspect the Pockets
High-quality jeans are typically made with many durable and well-crafted pockets. It’s not uncommon for low-quality jeans to feature just four pockets — two in the front and two in the back. High-quality jeans, on the other hand, often have five pockets. In addition to the standard four pockets, they have an extra fifth pocket.
You can typically find the fifth pocket inside one of the front two pockets. It’s a smaller pocket that’s been used in denim jeans for decades. Although this fifth small pocket was originally used for pocket watches, it’s now used primarily an aesthetic feature. It offers a uniquely attractive appearance that’s not found in other, lower-quality jeans with fewer pockets. Therefore, you should inspect the pockets when shopping for a new pair of jeans. If they have five or more pockets, they are probably made of higher-quality materials, as well as craftsmanship, than those with four or fewer pockets.
Check the Tag
Of course, you should also check the tag to see what material or materials the jeans are made of. Some people assume that all jeans are made entirely of denim, but this isn’t necessarily true. Granted, most jeans are, in fact, made of denim. After all, denim is the defining characteristic of this classic garment. With that said, you can find jeans made of other materials as well. If you’re looking to purchase a pair of high-quality jeans, you need to check the tag to determine what material or materials they are made of.
Consider Sizing
How are the jeans sized? You can tell a lot about the quality of a pair of jeans by checking the sizes in which it’s offered. Low-quality jeans are typically offered in traditional sizes, meaning they may or may not fit. High-quality jeans, on the other hand, are often offered in custom sizing to ensure a perfect fit.
When you purchase jeans here at MakeYourOwnJeans, for example, you can specify your own measurements. You aren’t limited to choosing jeans in a traditional size. Rather, you can provide us with your exact body measurements, which we’ll use to customize your jeans so that they fit perfectly.
Consider Selvedge Denim Jeans
Selvedge denim jeans offer a superior level of quality when compared to traditional non-selvedge denim jeans. What is selvedge denim exactly? Selvedge denim is the same as regular denim except the bottom is folded up and sewn into the pant legs. If you look at the bottom of each pant legs on selvedge denim jeans, you’ll see about 2 or 3 inches of the denim fabric has been folded up. Jeans featuring this unique style are known as selvedge denim jeans.
When compared to traditional non-selvedge denim jeans, selvedge denim jeans are usually stronger, more durable and longer-lasting. With a few inches of denim folded up at the bottom, they are less likely to unravel and degrade. As a result, you’ll get more use out of a pair of selvedge denim jeans, making them a smart financial investment.
Look for Whiskers
No, that’s not a type. You should look for whiskers when shopping for a pair of high-quality jeans. Whiskers are patterns or marks of intentional fading. You might be wondering why some manufacturers intentionally add whiskers to their jeans. Well, whiskers offer a unique and classic style that’s not found elsewhere.
Keep in mind, you can find high-quality jeans with whiskers and without whiskers. Some people prefer the unique appearance of whisker jeans, whereas others prefer the more modern appearance of non-whisker jeans. Regardless, it’s a good idea to look for whiskers when shopping for a pair of high-quality jeans.
Check the Wash
In addition to whiskers, you should also check the wash when shopping for a pair of high-quality jeans. What is the wash? The term “wash” refers to the way in which jeans are washed during production. Some jeans are made using a hard wash technique, for example, to achieve greater protection against shrinkage.
It’s not uncommon for a new pair of jeans to shrink after being washed and dried. Even if you purchase a pair of jeans at the store that fit perfectly, they may fit too tight after being washed and dried several times. If you choose the right wash, however, this shouldn’t be a problem.
The Wicker Blue Hard Wash Jeans, for example, are processed using a hard wash technique. During production, they are submerged in hot water, thereby causing them to shrink. And because they are preshrunk during production, hard wash jeans such as these typically don’t shrink when washed and dried later.
In addition to not shrinking, hard wash jeans are also less likely to fade. The high temperatures to which they are exposed during production naturally protects them from fading. If you’re looking for a pair of high-quality jeans, you should consider choosing hard wash jeans.
Lightweight vs Heavy Denim
Finally, look to see whether the jeans are made of lightweight or heavy denim. Nearly all jeans are made of denim. Some, however, are made with more denim material than others. You can see how much denim a pair of jeans is made of by checking its weight. A pair of jeans made of 13 ounces of denim, for example, is considered heavy denim jeans. In comparison, jeans made of just 7 ounces of denim are considered lightweight denim.
