Front Pocket Rivet Fade February Fact #12: You may have noticed small copper or silver colour metal stamps around the pocket corners of your jeans. At first glance they can look as though they are just there for decoration, or even customization, but they do actually have a function. They are used to reinforce parts of higher stress levels on our jeans. These bad boys keeps our jeans intact. Thanks, rivets!

Atari – Stacking Fade February Fact #11: Japanese denim is among the most sought after by many denim connoisseur’s, and for good reason. The Japanese word referring to the most prevalent fades on jeans is ”Atari”. It doesn’t refer to one specific spot on the jeans, rather just to the most visible. In this image we can see ”stacking” which comes from having a tapered jean’s extra length stack up around the ankle, as opposed to being hemmed or cuffed.

Shrink-to-Fit Levi’s Fade February Fact #10: Yesterday we talked about sanforization, and how it prevents your jeans from shrinking. Most jeans out there today have undergone that process, but you can still get jeans that are unsanforized. A common term for these jeans is ‘shrink to fit’. This is because they will shrink down about 10%. This equals out to about 1-2 inches throughout the waist, and up to 4 inches in the length. This is actually how all jeans were made up until about the 50’s. The hard core denim enthusiasts will sit in a tub with the unsanforized jeans on, and wear them as they dry in order to get the most customized fit possible.

Washing Instruction Symbols Fade February Fact #9: A myth with the care of jeans is that they will shrink when washed, but that isn’t usually the case. The majority of  jeans available in the marketplace today have undergone a process called sanforization. Sanforization is the process of stretching and manipulating the yarns of the fabric prior to any washing so that any shrinking during future washes will be minimized. If jeans are not sanforized they can shrink approximately 10% when they get wet, but after sanforization jeans will only shrink up 1-2%, and that’s typically only in the length.

Wrangler Jeans, Lee Jeans, Levi Strauss & Co. Fade February Fact #8: There are so many denim brands in the marketplace today that it’s hard to keep track of what’s even available to us, but that hasn’t always been the case. Before denim was fashion, and work-wear was just a style, there were 3 brands that helped start it all. The brands were Lee Jeans, Levi Strauss & Co. and Wrangler. Lee Jeans were first manufactured in 1889 in Kansas, Levi’s were first manufactured in 1873, and Wrangler came on to the scene in the year 1940. Hats of to ‘The Big Three’ for helping get us where we are today.

Broken Twill Fade February Fact #7: When Denim is woven into either a right hand twill or a left hand twill and sewn into jeans it has the tendency to twist in its respective direction.  A solution to this problem is the broken twill. As you can see in the picture, a broken twill is woven with 2 stitches to the right, and then 2 stitches to the left, resulting in a jean that will not have twisted seams.

Right Hand Twill Fade February Fact #5: When manufacturing denim, there are a few ways to go about making the fabric. All fabric is comprised of warp (up and down) and weft (side to side)  threads. Denim is typically woven in a 3X1 twill, meaning the weft thread goes under 3 warp threads and over one (to the right) creating a diagonal pattern going across and down to the right. It is also known as the ‘Z’ twill because the stitches make a ‘Z’ shape.

Unspun Silk Fade February Fact #4: Webster’s Dictionary defines denim as “a firm durable twilled usually cotton fabric woven with colored warp and white filling threads “, but this hasn’t always been the case. When denim was first manufactured it was thought to be made out of silk and wool. Now denim is made out of cotton and occasionally has stretch elements added to it. Denim evolution for a denim revolution!  

“February” starts with an ‘F’ and so does “Fade”. In light of that information we have now deemed February as ‘Fade February’. For the next 25 days we will be posting interesting denim facts, questions, and definitions. The info will range  from the most basic, to facts the most denimy of denim heads might not know. Fade February Fact #1: Raw denim, also known as ‘dry’ denim, is not washed or treated with chemicals when it is manufactured. With lots of wear and love, the result is a jean exclusive to your your body and your life. Something that can’t be replicated. Love Raw!