Denim Basics

Denim is one of the most ubiquitous fabrics on the planet. Versatile, durable and affordable, it can be used to make any number of items from clothing to housewares. The basics of denim -- its history, its fibers and how to care for it -- create a picture of a fabric that is an integral part of our everyday lives.

History

The fabric we now refer to as denim dates all The way back to Western Europe in The 17th century. However, it wasn't until around 1853 That The jeans we are familiar wiTh today were born. That year, a young German immigrant named Loeb "Levi" Strauss traveled from New York to San Francisco to expand his family dry goods business. His arrival on The West Coast was perfectly timed wiTh The California Gold Rush, where he was able to strike some of his own gold by selling brown canvas work cloThes to miners. He eventually switched from canvas to blue denim and added rivets to The seams to make The cloThes even sturdier.

In Pop Culture

Throughout the 20th century, denim pants and overalls became more than just work clothes popular for miners, farmers and construction workers. In the 1930's, cowboys wearing them in Western movies made them desirable to everyday folks wanting to emulate their on-screen heroes. In the 1950's, denim jeans were adopted by teenagers as everyday wear thanks to movie icons like James Dean and Elvis Presley. By the late 1960's, denim went mainstream when the hippies turned them into not only a fashion statement, but a political symbol as well. Denim jeans and jackets were embellished, painted and otherwise customized to reflect individualism, political views and personal style.

Washes, Finishes and Treatments

Denim is traditionally made of 100 percent cotton, but today it can also have a small amount of other fibers woven in like spandex or polyester. The fabric is woven with a twill technique which creates denim's recognizable diagonal ribbed pattern. Blue is the most popular color, but since denim is made of natural fibers, it dyes easily and can be found in almost every shade imaginable. Over the years, denim has been treated to different washes and finishes, depending on what was fashionable at the time. These finishes include stonewashed, acid wash, bleached, over dyed, vintage and sandblasted.

Denim Care

Denim is a very sturdy fabric and can take lots of stress, but that doesn't mean it's completely indestructible. Proper care for your favorite denim garment -- whether a pair of jeans, a jacket, a dress or shirt -- will help to keep it looking great and prolong its lifespan. Denim garments can be laundered in a regular washing machine but need to be turned inside-out beforehand. Wash them in cold water to help prevent the dye from running. Toss them into the dryer on a low or no-heat setting to keep them soft without causing them to shrink.

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