by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Like most garments, it’s not uncommon for jeans to become softer and more elastic over time. Maybe you purchased a pair of crisp denim jeans. After wearing them for a few months, however, they’ve turned to a softer texture. This isn’t necessarily bad, as some people prefer soft denim over crisp denim. If you’re hoping for the latter, though, you’ll need to follow some simple steps to keep your jeans crisp. Whether they are boot-cut, straight-leg, skinny, low-rise or high-rise, you can keep your jeans crisp in the following ways. Choose Raw Denim Jeans Raw denim jeans cost more than washed denim jeans. If you’re willing to make the investment, however, you’ll find that they are retain their crispness better than their washed counterparts. Raw denim, of course, refers to denim that hasn’t been washed during the production process. After creating the denim, manufacturers immediately use it to construct their jeans. This is in stark contrast to washed denim, which as the name suggests is washed before the jeans are sold. Both raw and washed denim can become soft, but it’s less likely to occur with raw denim, making it preferred. Wash Less Frequently Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to wash your jeans each time you wear them. As long as they aren’t dirty or visibly stained, you can continue to wear them. In fact, some people rarely wash their jeans so that they’ll get more use of out of them. Whenever you wash jeans — or any garment for that matter — it degrades the fabric just a little more. The top part of the fabric...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
The next time you put on a pair of your favorite jeans, look around the pockets and you’ll probably discover that they feature several small metal buttons. Known as rivets, they are common in both men’s and women’s jeans. They aren’t a new feature, however, as jeans have featured rivets for more than a century. This begs the question: Why do jeans have rivets? To better understand the purpose of rivets and why jeans have them, keep reading. Rivets: The Basics Rivets are small metal rings or buttons found in and around the buttons of denim jeans. Although there are different types, most consist of a circular-shaped piece of flat bronze metal with the middle poking out. They are generally smaller than the actual buttons on a pair of jeans. A rivet might be just one-third the size of a standard button. With that said, it’s not uncommon for a pair of jeans to have more than a dozen rivets but only three or four (or no) buttons. You can see if your jeans have rivets by inspecting the front and back pockets. If rivets are present, you’ll see these small metal rings around the pockets. Aesthetics Like many denim features, rivets improve the aesthetics of jeans. They introduce a new color and visual element to create a more refined appearance. Without rivets, a pair of jeans may look somewhat plain and boring. This problem easily solved by adding the small metal rings to the pockets. Rivets improve the aesthetic value of jeans, making them a highly sought-after feature among fashion-forward men and women. A standard pair of denim...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims
The global demand for denim is growing at a rate of about 5% per year. This means that every year, 5% more denim jeans, jackets, shirts and other denim garments are sold. This statistic shouldn’t come as a surprise given the versatility of denim. Among other things, it’s strong, comfortable, easy to maintain and looks great with a variety of other fabrics. But if you’re planning to incorporate denim into your wardrobe, you should avoid making the following mistakes. Wearing Jeans With Too Little Space in the Leg When choosing denim jeans, make sure there’s ample space in the legs so that they don’t restrict your movement. Different styles of jeans have different amounts of leg space. Wide and relaxed fit, for example, have more space than skinny or straight leg. You don’t have to necessarily avoid the latter styles, but you should choose a pair of jeans that aren’t too small in the leg. Otherwise, you may find it difficult to walk or even move while wearing them. Wearing Light-Colored Denim for Semi-Formal Occasions What’s wrong with light-colored denim, and why shouldn’t you wear it for semi-formal occasions? Well, there’s nothing wrong with light-colored denim itself. On the contrary, it’s a popular style that looks great and is easy to maintain. You should avoid wearing light-colored denim for formal or semi-formal occasions, however. Generally speaking, light denim is best suited for casual occasions, whereas dark denim works for both casual and semi-formal occasions. If you’re getting dressed for a job interview, for example, you might want to wear a button-up dress shirt with a black blazer and pair...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Are you’re looking to buy a new pair of jeans, you should pay attention to quality. As with most garments, not all jeans are high quality. Some, unfortunately, feature a low-quality construction that makes them susceptible to wear and degradation. The low price tag of these cheap jeans may sound alluring, but you’ll end up paying more in the long run when you’re forced to repair or replace them. To determine if a pair of jeans features a high-quality construction, look for the following eight signs. #1) Secure Buttons The buttons on a pair of jeans should be secure and solid. If they are loose, there’s a good chance that they were poorly designed, in which case the button or buttons may fall off. You can always sew missing buttons back onto your jeans, but it’s better to avoid this headache by choosing a pair of high-quality jeans. Whether the jeans have a single button on the fly or entire row of buttons, all the buttons should be secure. If you’re shopping for jeans in person, try wiggling the buttons to see if they move. #2) Uniform Stitching You should also look at the stitching when shopping for a pair of jeans. High-quality jeans feature uniform, even stitching in which the thread follows a specific pattern. Some manufacturers create rows with the thread, while others use a zig-zag pattern. Regardless, the stitching on jeans should follow a consistent and uniform pattern. If there’s no sense of uniformity to the stitching, you should consider purchasing a different, higher quality pair of jeans. #3) No Exposed, Loose Thread Jeans, like most...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Although they can be worn all 12 months of the year, jeans are particularly popular during winter. This shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that jeans are warm, durable, comfortable and stylish. When the fall season is over and you’re ready to switch to your warmer garments, you can’t go wrong with a pair of high-quality denim jeans. To create the best possible look, however, you should follow these dos and don’ts when wearing jeans during the winter. Do Choose a Dark Color Stick with a pair of dark-colored jeans to wear during the winter. Light colors, such as faded blue or even white, are better suited for the warmer months. In comparison, dark colors, such as indigo and black, are better suited for the cooler months. Most men and women will agree that dark-colored denim looks cleaner and more formal than light-colored denim as well, which is another reason to wear dark-colored jeans during the winter. Don’t Wear Distressed Jeans Why shouldn’t you wear distressed jeans during the winter? In some cases, it’s perfectly fine to wear them. When the weather gets cold, though, the frayed, worn design of distressed jeans means some of your skin will be exposed to the elements. As a result, wearing them may leave you cold and uncomfortable. You can still experiment with distressed jeans during the winter, but you’ll probably find that traditional, non-distressed styles work better for this time of year. Do Wear Them With the Right Shoes Your shoes will affect the appearance of your jeans and vise-versa. During the winter, you should wear shoes that flow cohesively with the...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Do you experience chafing when wearing denim jeans? Well, you aren’t alone. Countless men and women suffer from this problem when wearing certain types of clothes and garments. This phenomenon occurs when something — either your skin or a garment — rubs against your body, thereby causing a painful injury known as chafing. While chafing typically doesn’t require medical attention, it’s still something that most people want to avoid. So, if you’re battling this problem, consider the following tips to prevent chafing when wearing denim jeans. Choose Skinny or Slim-Fit Jeans The first step to preventing chafing is to choose the right type of jeans. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that there are more a dozen different types of jeans, ranging from relaxed and loose fit to skinny and slim fit. Some people assume that relaxed and loose-fit jeans are less likely to cause chafing because they offer extra space in the thighs and legs. They do in fact offer extra space, but this actually makes them more likely to cause chafing. The extra space in relaxed and loose-fit jeans means there’s a greater risk of your thighs and legs rubbing together, thereby causing chafing. To lower the risk of chafing, choose a slimmer type of denim, such as skinny or slim fit. Both of these popular types of denim are form fitting, so your skin generally won’t rub together while wearing them. Consider Stretch Denim Another tip to prevent your denim jeans from chafing is to choose stretch denim. For the average person, stretch denim jeans may look the same...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims
Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that the only way to clean a pair of denim jeans is to place them in the washing machine. While this is always an option, there are other ways to clean your jeans. If you’re worried about the washing machine damaging or fading your jeans, consider the following alternative ways to clean them. Why Washing Machines Are Overrated Before we begin, you might be wondering what’s wrong with cleaning your jeans in the washing machine. For decades, people have cleaned garments, including jeans, in the washing machine. Even today, it remains the most common and popular method for cleaning garments. There are a few problems with machine machines, one of which is the fact that they stress fabrics. Each time you wash your jeans, it will degrade the fabric just a little more. Eventually, your jeans may no longer look, feel or fit like they used to. Placing your jeans in the washing machine also increases the risk of fading. Maybe your jeans are currently a dark, deep indigo color. If you wash them enough times, however, they may turn to a lighter faded blue color. Finally, cleaning your jeans in the washing machine can be expensive. You must pay for water, electricity, laundry detergent and any other products that you use. Over time, these expenses can quickly add up. The good news is that there are other ways to clean your jeans besides washing them. Hang Them Outside Nothing deodorizes garments better than the combination of sunlight and fresh air. If your jeans aren’t visibly stained, try hanging them outside on...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Jackets
If you’re looking to update your wardrobe with a stylish, comfortable new jacket, you should consider denim. Denim jackets offer a superior level of aesthetics and comfort, making them perfect for men and women alike. With so many different types, though, you may struggle to choose one. In this post, we’re going to break down 10 important things you need to know when shopping for a denim jacket. Using this information, you’ll have an easier time choosing the perfect denim jacket. #1) You Can Wear It Year-Round Unlike other, heavier coats and jackets, you can wear a denim jacket year-round. Whether it’s the fall, winter, spring or summer, denim jackets are thick enough to protect you from the cold weather while still being thin enough to keep you comfortable when it’s warm outside. #2) There’s No Such Thing As Too Much Denim Some people assume that they can’t wear jeans with a denim jacket because it’s “too much denim.” In reality, though, wearing jeans with a denim jacket is an attractive, casual outfit. There’s even a term used to describe this outfit: the Canadian tuxedo. The term appeared in the mid-1950s and has remained ever since. If you’re going to wear a Canadian tuxedo, though, you should choose a denim jacket that matches — or flows cohesively, at least — with your preferred pair of jeans. #3) Check the Shoulders to See If It Fits If you’re shopping for a denim jacket at a local store, try it on to see how it fits in the shoulders. If it’s too big, you’ll see (and feel) excess fabric in the...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims
Worn by millions of men and women on a daily basis, jeans are the world’s most popular type of pants. They feature a durable but comfortable denim construction, offering an unmatched level of versatility. There are dozens of different styles of denim jeans, though, each of which has unique characteristics. In recent years, for example, there’s been a growing demand for selvedge denim jeans. Although they typically cost more than traditional denim jeans, selvedge jeans are well worth the financial investment for the following reasons. What Is Selvedge Denim? Selvedge denim jeans are designed with the same denim as traditional jeans, with the only difference being that selvedge jeans feature a few inches of the bottom fabric — around the ankles — that’s pulled up and sewn into the legs of the jeans. It’s a subtle nuance that affects both the appearance and comfort of the jeans. To see if a pair of jeans contains selvedge denim, look at the bottom around the ankles. In a traditional pair of jeans, the ankle area will look like the rest of the jeans. In a pair of selvedge denim jeans, however, the ankle area will feature a lighter color, as it reveals the inside of the fabric. This is the defining characteristic that distinguishes selvedge denim jeans from traditional denim jeans. And while it may seem simple enough, opting for selvedge jeans offers several noteworthy benefits that shouldn’t be ignored. Higher Quality Although there are exceptions, most selvedge denim jeans have a higher quality construction than traditional denim jeans. Manufacturers of selvedge denim jeans use premium materials and equally high craftsmanship...
