Jeans are available in different washes, one of the most popular being indigo. You can easily distinguish indigo wash jeans from other types of jeans by looking at their color. As their name suggests, they feature an indigo color. While other types of jeans may feature a light blue color, indigo wash jeans feature a dark blue or indigo color.
What Are Indigo Wash Jeans?
Indigo wash jeans are denim trousers that were washed in indigo dye during production. Jeans receive their color from the dye in which they are washed. Light blue jeans are washed in light blue dye, whereas indigo jeans are washed in indigo dye.
You can find indigo wash jeans in different cuts. Like other types of jeans, they are available in boot cut, skinny, straight leg, low rise, high rise, boyfriend and more. Each cut sits differently on the body when worn. Regardless, all indigo wash jeans have a similar appearance. They feature a dark blue or indigo color that’s achieved with dye. Manufacturers wash them in indigo dye, resulting in a dark blue or indigo color.
How Indigo Wash Jeans Are Made
Manufacturers make indigo wash jeans using a special type of dye. Known as indigo, it’s the defining characteristic of indigo wash jeans. All indigo wash jeans are made with indigo dye.
Jeans, of course, are constructed of denim. Denim is a warp-faced textile consisting of cotton with a particular weaving pattern. After being harvested, it’s woven into denim. The newly produced denim is then dyed. There are different ways to dye denim. Most dyeing processes, though, involve bathing the denim in a solution of water and dye. As the denim soaks up the dye, it will change color. The denim will take the color of the dye in which it’s bathed. When bathed in indigo dye, the denim will turn from a white color to a dark blue or indigo color.
Natural vs Synthetic Indigo Dye
There’s natural indigo dye, and there’s synthetic indigo dye. In the past, nearly all indigo wash jeans were bathed in natural indigo. Natural indigo is an organic dye. It’s derived from the leaves of certain plants, including the Indigofera.
Natural indigo dye has since been replaced with synthetic indigo dye. Synthetic indigo dye doesn’t come from any plants. Rather, it’s made of nontoxic chemicals. Synthetic indigo dye offers a darker, longer-lasting color when compared to natural indigo dye. It also costs less to produce than natural indigo dye, making it a popular choice among manufacturers.
Statistics show that over 20,000 tons of synthetic indigo dye are produced each year. With that said, most indigo wash jeans only require a few grams. A typical pair of indigo wash jeans may consume 2 to 4 grams of indigo dye during production. That’s more than enough dye to give them a dark blue or Indigo color.
Reasons to Choose Indigo Wash Jeans
Indigo isn’t the only color in which jeans are made. Because they are made of denim, which consists of cotton, jeans are available in many other colors. You can find jeans in light blue, white, black, beige, olive and more.
Indigo wash jeans, however, offer several benefits. With their dark tone, they look more formal than other, lighter colors. Light colors are considered more casual, whereas dark colors are considered more formal. Indigo wash jeans are characterized by a dark blue color, so they look more formal than their lighter counterparts.
When compared to other colors, indigo wash jeans are better at concealing stains. They can still develop stains. Maybe you spill a beverage on them, or perhaps you drop a pen or marker on them. Indigo wash jeans can develop stains like most other trousers. The good news is that stains are less noticeable on indigo wash jeans. The dark blue color of indigo wash jeans will naturally conceal stains.
Tips to Preserve the Color of Indigo Wash Jeans
If you’re going to buy a pair of indigo wash jeans, you may want to preserve their color. All jeans can fade — and indigo wash jeans are no exception. Fading typically won’t result in any damage, but it will change their appearance. Rather than a dark blue color, your indigo wash jeans will feature a light blue color. How to preserve the color of your indigo wash jeans exactly?
You can preserve the color of your indigo wash jeans by washing them less frequently. Washing is a common cause of fading. The more you wash a garment, the faster it will fade. This applies to most garments, including jeans. If you’re worried that your indigo wash jeans will fade, you should cut back on washing them. Rather than washing them each time you wear them, consider washing them every other day. You can typically wear indigo wash jeans for two or more days before washing them.
When it’s time to wash them, turn your indigo wash jeans inside out. Turning them inside out will help to preserve their original color. The exterior of your indigo wash jeans will be less likely to fade. Rather than exterior fading, only the interior will fade.
You should also use liquid detergent when washing your indigo wash jeans. Detergent is available in liquid and powder forms. While they can both clean jeans and other garments, liquid is gentler. Powder detergent is abrasive. When exposed to it, your indigo wash jeans may wear down while losing some of their indigo dye.
Some people also use vinegar to preserve the color of their indigo wash jeans. It may sound unusual, but vinegar is a natural color protectant. You can pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the washing machine with your indigo wash jeans. As your jeans soak up the vinegar, they’ll be better protected against fading. These are just a few tips to preserve the color of your indigo wash jeans.
