Versatile, timeless and unique at the same time, jeans are iconic in the closet and are present in different pieces, with numerous fits and allowing for different combinations! However, did you know that jeans, due to the high resistance of the classic denim fabric, are of European origin (they were born there in 1500, in France)? Initially created to compose the resistant uniform of field workers and sailors for long trips, jeans migrated later around 1873 to the United States, where they were patented by the tailor Jacob Davis and the owner of a fabric factory, Levi Straus, who are the owners of the jeans we know today, made with a dyed fabric as well as sturdy pockets and rivets. In 1928, they registered the Levi’s name as a trademark.
Check out some more curiosities about jeans below: It wasn’t until 1934 that the first women’s jeans appeared, the Lady Levi’s (which still exists today), made from pre-shrunk denim and produced with many characteristics of men’s 501® jeans. Their feminine glow is owed to an elegantly high, fitted waist.
Ever wondered why there is a smaller pocket inside your front pocket on your jeans? It was created to hold nails and coins, as well as to protect pocket watches, which were often used in the past. Classic jeans have an indigo hue, which lies between violet and blue. With just one drop, it is possible to dye a pair of pants. This color never goes out of style, so timeless that it can be combined with countless styles of shoes, garments, and accessories in the final look. Oh, and the dye comes from the “Indigus” flower.
If in the past, jeans were only used to make pants, today we can find them on jackets, shirts, tops, shorts, skirts, and other pieces, and even accessories such as ecobags! Which one is your favorite?
Despite being a classic to this day, jeans were once controversial. Until the 50s, they couldn’t be worn in environments such as theaters, churches, and balls, seen as a symbol of rebellion. Later, famous people like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Marlon Brando, and Audrey Hepburn were the first to wear them, making jeans a fashion trend. The first brand to take jeans to the runway was Calvin Klein, which made a show exclusively with denim pieces in 1970.
Don’t get it confused: Denim – it is the raw fabric that gives origin to the pieces. Jeans – the finished pieces, with their own pigment and washing.
At how old were you when you wore your first jeans, and what do you love most about denim?