Timeless, jeans are still the basic trousers of choice. With an extremely resistant and sturdy texture, they have lasted through the ages without ever going out of fashion. In fact, their history goes back more than 150 years when a young man by the name of Levi Strauss decided to change the codes of a whole generation. Better known today under the brand name Levis, find out all about the history of jeans, from their creation to their success !
The history of jeans goes back to the Middle Ages. At the time, it was called a "futaine" and was a fabric made from cotton, linen or wool fibres. In the 16th century, it was mainly produced in Italy and massively exported to England, which gave it the name "jean" in reference to its city of origin, Genoa. It should be noted that at the time, Genoa cloth was highly sought after for its high level of resistance, which was used to make sails for ships or sailors' trousers. Moreover, it was also used for slaves' working clothes in the 18th century.
Contrary to what one might think, jeans are different from denim, since the latter is mainly made from cotton thread. Moreover, it is a material that is not at all dyed throughout, unlike Genoa cloth. But in the mid-1850s, these two materials both found their way to America under the watchful eye of Levi Strauss, who gave birth to the Levis brand and jeans as we know them today.
In 1853, Levi Strauss decided to create work trousers that were much more comfortable than denim overalls. He naturally turned to denim and added copper rivets to make them more resistant and solid. And it was so successful that he quickly filed a patent to improve his fastening system. The legendary 501 was born for the first time in 1890 and broke all codes! As it was a straight, unisex jean, it became synonymous with freedom for a whole generation. But it wasn't until 1930 that denim jeans were no longer considered workwear and gradually became the clothing of children, women, artists and students.
In the 1930s, jeans were a huge success in America! It was the time of cowboy movies in Hollywood and all the stars wore these fitted trousers in a country-chic way. And that was all it took, because by the 1950s, jeans were being worn by Marlon Brando and James Dean. Having become emblematic for a whole generation, they were a sign of rebellion and were worn with a leather jacket. In fact, at the time, some schools and public places decided to ban them in the face of the rise of the counter-culture.
In the 1970s, jeans became increasingly popular as other brands and styles took off. And even though indigo blue remained a staple colour, the range of colours diversified to satisfy as many people as possible. As for the technique, it remains unchanged as it is still a tightly woven twill which gives it that high level of resistance and robustness. But nowadays, most denim jeans are already pre-washed to soften the texture. This makes the fabric much less dry than it was originally and helps prevent the indigo from fading. However, some designers are still having fun creating raw denim garments for a vintage look that perfectly embraces the retro trend !
What is the difference between jean and denim ?
What different types of trousers are there ?
What are the environmentally friendly techniques for washing jeans ?
© 2024 Volcom United Kingdom. All Rights Reserved.
