by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Stonewashed jeans have become a popular choice among men and women alike. They typically feature a lighter, more aged appearance than traditional jeans. Even if you’re familiar with the general concept of stonewashed jeans, though, you might be surprised to learn how they are made. While stonewashed jeans are still made of the same denim fabric as traditional jeans, the way in which they are manufactured varies. Keep reading to learn more about stonewashed jeans and how they are made. What Are Stonewashed Jeans? The term “stonewashed jeans” refers to a unique style of denim jeans that are made using a technique known as stone washing. You can find them in all the same cuts as traditional jeans, including the boot cut, skinny, straight leg, low rise, high rise, boyfriend, and more. Some stonewashed jeans are even made of stretch denim, allowing for increased elasticity and, therefore, a more comfortable fit. The defining characteristic of stonewashed jeans, however, is that they are made using a technique known as stone washing. As a result, they feature a softer texture and a lighter tone than traditional jeans. Who Invented Stonewashed Jeans? This is a question that remains open to debate. Over time, several people and organizations have claimed to have invented stonewashed jeans. Donald Freeland of the Great Western Garment Company is one such person who’s believed to have invented this unique style of denim. However, others say that Claude Blankiet invented stonewashed jeans, as she developed this process of washing jeans. Perhaps the most plausible theory is that French stylists Marithé and François Girbaud came up with the idea of...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
When shopping for a new pair of jeans, you may come across the term “whiskers.” Jeans with whiskers, known as whisker jeans, have become increasingly popular among men and women alike in recent years. To the unsuspecting eye, however, they look like any other pair of jeans. While whisker jeans are made of the same denim material as other jeans, they aren’t necessarily the same. If you’re trying to grasp the concept of whisker jeans, keep reading to learn more about this modern denim style and why it’s become so popular. The Basics of Whisker Jeans: What You Know Whisker jeans are denim jeans that feature thin vertical lines of fading on the front. These lines of fading are called “whiskers” because, as you may have guessed, they look like whiskers. The lines are vertical, but they often expand outwards towards the bottom of the jeans. As a result, they look like whiskers — and jeans featuring these lines are known as “whisker jeans.” You can easily distinguish between whisker jeans and traditional non-whisker jeans by looking for lines of fading. Whisker jeans generally have small but noticeable lines of fading on the front, with most of the whiskers occurring around the crotch area. In comparison, non-whisker jeans lack these lines of fading. Some non-whisker jeans may still have areas of fading, but they don’t have these same whisker-like lines of fading. The Benefits of Whisker Jeans Why should you choose whisker jeans exactly? Well, you can find premium, high-quality jeans either with or without whiskers. With that said, the presence of whiskers offers a few noteworthy benefits. First,...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Nothing beats the superior level of comfort offered by a pair of high-quality stretch jeans. With their increased elasticity, they’ll allow you to freely move and bend your body. Whether you’re getting dressed for a night on the town or simply running your daily errands, you can’t go wrong with a pair of stretch jeans. Not all stretch jeans are made equal, however. To take advantage of their unique benefits, you need to choose the right type. Below are seven important things to consider when shopping for stretch jeans. #1) Type of Elastic Fabric Before purchasing a pair of stretch jeans, look to see what type of elastic fabric they are made of. All stretch jeans are made of both denim — a form of warp-faced cotton — as well an elastic fabric. With that said, there are several different types of elastic fabrics used in stretch jeans, some of which include spandex, polyester and Lycra, the latter of which is actually a form of spandex. To find out what elastic fabric was used in the construction of stretch jeans, check the care label. Here, you should find both instructions on how to clean and care for the stretch jeans, as well as the fabrics from which it’s made. Keep in mind that all stretch jeans are made mostly of denim, but they still contain at least a small amount of elastic fabric, which is responsible for their increased elasticity. #2) Composition of Elastic Fabric You should also check the composition of elastic fabric used in the stretch jeans’ construction. Some stretch jeans feature just 1% of elastic fabric,...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Do your jeans bunch at the knees when worn? Well, you aren’t alone. This is a common problem reported by men and women who wear jeans on a regular basis. Bunching occurs when excess fabric forms in a particular area, such as the knees. While it typically won’t affect the comfort or structural integrity of your jeans, it will affect their appearance. If you have a pair of jeans that consistently bunch at the knees, they’ll look awkward — and probably unattractive — when worn. You can prevent your jeans from bunching at the knees, however, by following a few simple steps. Choose a Baggier, More Relaxed Cut The cut in which your jeans are made will affect their susceptibility to bunching at the knees. Generally speaking, skinnier cuts are more likely to bunch at the knees than baggy cuts. A pair of skinny leg jeans, for example, will probably bunch at the knees if you wear them long enough. This is because skinny leg and similar denim cuts are tight, and when you wear them, you’ll stretch the denim fabric in certain areas like the knees. If you’re worried about your jeans bunching at the knees, choose a baggier and more relaxed cut instead. Go With Stretch Denim Another way to prevent the dreaded knee-bunching effect is to choose jeans made of stretch denim. What is stretch denim? Basically, stretch denim consists of both regular denim as well as an elastic fabric like polyester or spandex. Stretch denim jeans still consist mostly of regular denim — usually at least 90% — but they also contain an elastic fabric...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Have your favorite pair of denim jeans faded to a lighter tone? Most men and women prefer deep, dark-colored jeans. A pair of indigo jeans, for example, will offer a dark blue appearance that complements most other garments and fashion accessories. Over time, however, jeans may fade from their original color to a lighter color. Jeans typically fade for one of two reasons: sun bleaching or dye being released. Of course, sun bleaching occurs when jeans are exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, resulting in the gradual bleaching of its dye. But jeans can also fade to a lighter tone if their dye is released when being washed or dried. The good news is that you can protect your jeans from such fading using saltwater. It’s a simple yet highly effective way to set the dye in your jeans and, therefore, protect them from fading. How Saltwater Works You might be wondering how exactly saltwater can set the dye in your jeans and protect them from fading. Well, saltwater works by absorbing excess or loose dye, preventing that dye from being released by the jeans. If you simply wash your jeans in “regular” water, some of the loose dye may be released. It’s not a substantial amount of lost dye, but it’s still noticeable if you wash your jeans on a regular basis. Using saltwater, however, can minimize the effects of fading by setting the dye. The saltwater will absorb any loose dye while also setting the remaining dye. There are other ways to protect your jeans from fading, but using saltwater is arguably one of the...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Denim Skirts
Jeans aren’t the garment made of denim. You can also find skirts made of this durable yet comfortable textile. Known as denim skirts, they offer a classic style that looks great on everyone, regardless of how it’s worn. Denim skirts are soft, easy to clean, attractive and long lasting. But not all denim skirts are made equal. To take advantage of these benefits, you must choose the right denim skirt. Below are several tips on how to choose the perfect denim skirt. Consider the Length Like most other skirts — as well as dresses for that matter — denim skirts are available in a variety of lengths. You can find them in mini, midi and maxi lengths. Mini-length denim skirts are characterized by a short length, which usually stops around your thighs. Midi-length denim skirts, on the other hand, are characterized by a medium length, which usually stops around your knees. Finally, maxi-length denim skirts are the longest, with most stopping several inches past your knees. Check for Buttons or Zippers In addition to length, something else to consider when choosing a denim skirt is whether it features buttons or zippers (or both). Normally, denim skirts will feature at least one of these two fasteners. On the front, for example, you may find a row of buttons or a zipper. The purpose of these fasteners is to simplify the process of putting on and taking off the denim skirt. You can choose either a denim skirt with either type of fastener. Just remember to make sure the fastener is durable and high quality. If the buttons or zipper are...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Have you noticed your jeans fraying at the bottom? After owning and wearing the same pair of jeans for long enough, you may discover the bottom of the pant legs unraveling. Also known as “fraying,” it can happen to any pants, though it’s more common in jeans because of their unique construction. The good news is that you can often prevent it from happening. First, however, you may find out what your jeans are fraying at the bottom. Boot Cut Jeans With the Wrong Footwear Boot cut jeans are more likely to fray at the bottom than other styles of jeans, especially if you wear them with the wrong footwear. As you may know, boot cut jeans have a larger and wider around the bottom than other styles. They are called “boot cut” because the larger opening allows the bottom of the jeans to fit over the top of your boots. Other styles of jeans have a smaller and narrower opening around the bottom of the pant legs, so you can’t easily fit them over the top of boots. Boot cut jeans solve this problem by featuring a wider opening. But if you wear boot cut jeans with the wrong footwear — specifically shoes, sandals, flip-flops or other non-boots — you won’t be able to take advantage of their unique design. On the contrary, wearing boot cut jeans with a different type of footwear than boots will likely result in the bottom of the pant legs dragging on the ground. Boot cut jeans have a wider opening around the bottom of the pant legs than other styles of jeans,...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Jackets
Also known as jean jackets, denim jackets are a classic form of outerwear that’s characterized by a denim construction. In other words, they are made of the same material as jeans. Denim is technically a type of cotton featuring a warp-faced weaving pattern. When compared to traditional cotton, though, denim is significantly stronger and more durable — characteristics that you’ll find in all denim garments, including jeans as well as jackets. Unfortunately, though, denim jackets are often misunderstood, with many people believing the seven following myths about them. #1) You Shouldn’t Wear a Denim Jacket in the Rain Some people believe that denim jackets shouldn’t be worn because water will damage them. While neither jeans nor denim jackets are waterproof, you don’t have to worry about rain damaging them. If your denim jacket gets wet, simply hang it on a line to dry. After hanging for a few hours, it should be dry. For faster drying, you can toss your denim jacket in a clothes dryer unless otherwise stated on the jacket’s care label. Regardless, water won’t damage or harm your denim jacket. #2) Denim Jackets Are a Modern Form of Outerwear Another common myth is that denim jackets are relatively new. While they didn’t become popular until the 1960s and 70s, denim jackets were actually around for many decades prior to this period. According to Wikipedia, the world’s first denim jacket was invented by Levi Strauss in the late 1800s. About 10 years after Strauss invented denim jeans, he invented a jacket made of the same material, thus leading to the development of the denim jacket. Therefore, it’s...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Jeans are available in dozens of different styles, some of which include boot cut, straight leg, skinny, low rise, high rise, boyfriend, loose and relaxed. While each style has its own unique characteristics, they all feature a denim construction. As a result, a typical pair of jeans can last for years or even decades — assuming you clean and maintain them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. When choosing a pair of jeans, though, you should pay attention to the fly. Even with the large variety of different styles, jeans typically use either a button or zipper fly. While the fly type may sound like an insignificant or even meaningless feature, it can affect the performance of your jeans in more ways than one. So, should you choose jeans with a button fly or a zipper fly? Overview of the Button Fly The button fly is the most common type of fly used in denim jeans. It’s been around for over a century, with some of the world’s first jeans featuring this type of fly. Jeans with a button fly don’t just have a single button. Rather, they usually feature a single column of multiple buttons. Some jeans have three buttons for the fly, whereas others have five or six buttons. Regardless, the button fly is characterized by a single vertical column of buttons, which can be fastened or unfastened to put on or take off the jeans. Overview of the Zipper Fly A more modern fly type, the zipper fly features a zipper. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the different fly types, you’ve probably used a zipper before. It’s...
