From cowboys, farmers, superstars, students, and homemakers to presidents, jeans are famous worldwide. Manufacturers use denim or dungaree materials to create jeans. This wear was initially designed for miners and farmworkers in the late 1800s due to their strength and durability.
Jeans became increasingly famous in the 1950s and 1960s as a symbol of rebellion among college students against the Vietnam War. Many nations around the world adopted the new wear after World War II.Today jeans are a favorite choice for all genders, ages, and sizes. Denim wear is ideal for social and formal wear as well.
The advantages of jeans mainly lie in their affordability, maintenance, and durability. Denim apparel comes in different designs, cuts, fittings, and styles. It is thus easy to mix and match with almost anything in your wardrobe.
Styles of Jeans
Jeans vary in style depending on how they are cut. While they aren’t gigantic differences (they are all pants after all), they are noticeable. Some of the most common types include:
- Slim Fit: The attire is designed for people with slender body frames. The jeans fit well from the waistline to the feet. They are comfortable and not too tight for men. The women's attire snuggles fit around the butt and thighs only.
- Skinny: You can easily confuse them with a slim fit. The difference here is this apparel closely fits from the waistline, hips, legs down to the ankles. Skinny jeans highlight the legs and give an illusion of the wearer being taller. Typically, the material is somewhat stretchable for easy removal.
- Flared Cut: Made for a snug fit around the butt and thighs with a pronounced flare from the knees down to the leg openings. People in the 1970s called it bell-bottom.
- Straight Leg: The pants have a narrow consistent width from the hip to the ankles. It is the most popular kind of jeans with leg openings ranging from 14-17 inches wide. The straight-leg is a good choice for mid-sized people.
Jean Washes
- There’s a variety of washes that can be applied to the denim to give it a different look. Some options include:
- Dark Wash: Also known as raw denim, the dark wash is untreated, thereby stiffer than other washes. After applying a softening agent, some of the starch and dye washes away, making the cloth softer. The fabric ceases to be raw denim and becomes a rinse wash.
- Medium Wash: In this wash, the fabric is washed and dried severally for more extended periods than in a dark wash. The result is a faded look with varying textures.
- Acid Wash: A blend of chlorine and water or potassium permanganate solution helps in the coloring effect on the fabric.
- Enzyme Wash: Natural enzymes such as cellulose give the denim a worn look during the wash. This method is better than the acid wash due to the negligible risk of damaging the fabric.
- Stone Wash: This technique uses pumice stones that effectively accelerate the aging of dyed denim cloth. The garments are loaded into a washing machine with pebbles to produce the desired look and texture.
Popular Brands
There’s a lot of companies that are producing great jeans. Some of them include:
- Levi's: The Levi's brand is the most iconic jeans brand in the world. The fashion label dates back to 1873. Levi's has been famous because of its unwavering durability since the beginning. The fashion line has maintained classic and timeless jeans, becoming a trading name in the denim industry.
- Gap: Gap fashion stores started selling popular brands like Levi's in the early 1970s. The label is famous for continuous innovation, attracting many young shoppers.
- Lee: The company is widely known for dungaree jackets and jumpsuits. However, Lee also produces quality, comfortable and fashionable jeans at attractive prices.
- Wrangler: This fashion label produces quality denim jeans and jackets that withstand rigorous manual jobs. It has a comfortable, long-lasting collection fit for both men and women.
- Calvin Klein: The Calvin Klein jeans come in different styles and a wide range of colors for a sensual urban look. The label brings out expressions of daring, energetic youthfulness.
- Polo Ralph Lauren: The brand cuts denim to exact fit with a perspective of durability and trend.
