When shopping for jeans, you may come across raw denim jeans. They are made of the same cotton-based denim as most other jeans, and you can find them in many of the same colors. Raw denim jeans, however, feature different characteristics that distinguish them from their counterparts. What are raw denim jeans, and how do they differ from other types of jeans?
Overview of Raw Denim Jeans
Raw denim jeans are denim trousers that have not been washed during production. They are also known as unwashed denim jeans. You can still wash a pair of raw denim jeans after buying them. If they are made of raw denim, it simply means the manufacturer didn’t wash them during production.
Manufacturers create raw denim jeans using a loom and denim. Denim, of course, is cotton with a particular weaving pattern. Raw denim jeans are made of the same cotton-based denim as other types of jeans. They are simply known as “raw denim jeans” because they aren’t washed during production. Manufacturers produce them using a loom and denim, after which they sell the raw denim jeans without washing them.
Raw Denim vs Washed Denim Jeans
Nearly all jeans can be classified as raw denim or washed denim depending on how they are produced. Jeans that aren’t washed during production are classified as raw denim, whereas jeans that are washed during production are classified as washed denim.
Manufacturers submerge washed denim jeans in hot water during production. This washing process changes the jeans’ properties. They’ll typically fade to a lighter color, for instance, and they’ll shrink to a slightly smaller size. Raw denim jeans aren’t washed during production, so they don’t exhibit these same characteristics.
Benefits of Raw Denim Jeans
Why should you choose raw denim jeans exactly? For the darkest possible color, there’s no better choice than raw denim jeans. Whether raw or washed, all jeans are dyed to achieve their color. They are exposed to dye, which gives them their color. Some jeans are dyed light blue, whereas others are dyed indigo, black or even red. Regardless, raw denim jeans typically feature a darker, stronger color than washed denim jeans.
When denim is washed during production, it will lose some of its dye. Some of the dye may leak out of the denim. The end result is a lighter, more faded color. But raw denim jeans aren’t washed during production. They are made of plain, unwashed denim. The end result is a darker color than that of washed denim jeans.
You may discover that raw denim jeans fit better than washed denim jeans. They aren’t submerged in hot water during production — a process known as washing or prewashing. By soaking up the hot water, washed denim jeans may shrink. Exposure to hot water causes garments to shrink, and denim jeans are no exception. Raw denim jeans aren’t exposed to hot water during production, though, so they are better protected against shrinkage.
What to Look for in Raw Denim Jeans
You should look for rivets when shopping for raw denim jeans. Rivets are permanent fasteners made of metal or a metal alloy. They are designed to reinforce seams. Most jeans have several rivets. With rivets, they are less likely to succumb to damage.
All raw denim jeans are made of plain, unwashed denim. With that said, some of them are made of different types of denim than others. The Selvedge Raw Denim Jeans sold here at MakeYourOwnJeans, for instance, are made of selvedge denim. They are still classified as raw denim jeans that, like all raw denim jeans, aren’t washed during production. But the Selvedge Raw Denim Jeans are made of selvedge denim.
Selvedge denim is a type of premium denim that’s made on an old-style shuttle loom. It involves a weaving process in which the cross thread goes back and forth. In comparison, most other types of denim are made on a modern projectile loom in which each cross thread is projected through individually.
You should consider the fly type when choosing raw denim jeans. Like with washed denim jeans, some of them have a zipper fly, whereas others have a button fly. If you order your raw denim jeans here at MakeYourOwnJeans, you can choose your preferred fly type.
How to Preserve the Original Color of Raw Denim Jeans
If you’re going to buy a pair of raw denim jeans, you should take precautions to preserve their original color. Many people prefer raw denim jeans over washed denim jeans because of their darker, stronger color. But raw denim jeans can still fade. By taking some basic precautions, you can preserve their original color so that they are better protected against fading.
While they aren’t washed during production, you’ll probably want to wash your raw denim jeans. You don’t have to wash them each time you wear them, though. On the contrary, you can typically wear a given pair of raw denim jeans several times before washing them. And by washing them less frequently, they won’t fade as quickly.
In addition to washing them less frequently, you should turn your raw denim jeans inside out when wearing them. Doing so will better protect them from fading. The colored exterior of your raw denim jeans won’t be directly exposed to the washing machine. Turning them inside out will conceal the exterior while subsequently protecting them from the washing machine and, thus, fading.
Make sure you set the washing machine to cold water when washing your raw denim jeans. Cold water is gentler than hot water. It doesn’t promote shrinkage. With cold water, you can safely wash your raw denim jeans without shrinking them.
Of course, you can always redye jeans if they’ve become faded. Whether raw denim or washed denim, all jeans are dyed during production. Redyeing is the process of dyeing a pair of jeans again. You can redye jeans at home. You don’t need any special equipment. All you need is a couple bottles of fabric dye and a sink or tub. After allowing your jeans to soak up the dye, they’ll develop a new, darker color.
