Patched Jeans

Ripped jeans have been worn as a fashion statement since the 1970’s. Many chose to deform their jeans in an effort to separate themselves from mainstream culture. Ironically, the mainstream eventually embraced ripped jeans.Today ripped jeans and patched jeans have become part of the fabric of American culture. Both styles are now welcome in places that range from the dorm room to the board room, the art studio to the art opening, and the vegetable garden to the garden gala.

The truth is, we just love to abuse our jeans. Since their invention, jeans have been ripped, bleached, shrunk, permanent pressed, cut off, torn, shredded, distressed, sanded, stone washed, and acid washed. On the other hand, they’ve been lovingly embroidered, beaded, patched, painted and sequined. We definitely have an intriguing relationship with our favorite article of clothing. Through the good times, and the bad ones, our loyal jeans still love us. And we still love them.

Which reminds us, in the 1970’s, during the height of the free love movement, the US also saw an outpouring of denim love. Americans were using their jeans to visually express their hopes, political views, and religious beliefs. In 1974, Levi’s held a denim art contest and received thousands of entries.

The worst part (or best part!) is that people actually wore these jeans. That’s right, take a look at these bad boys below . . .

images from: Levi’s Denim Art Contest Catalogue of Winners by Richard M. Owens, Baron Wolman, John Burks

posted by: danielle on June 23, 2009 at 3:33 pm
filed under: Denim 101 | comments (3)
TAGS: history of jeans, ripped jeans, patched jeans

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Since the eighties, jeans off the rack have left some people wondering, “How much distress is too much distress?”  Many jeans for sale in the market today, go through numerous abusive treatments from jean manufacturers to get that highly coveted just-dragged-under-a-bus-for-a-mile look.  Washing, ripping, tearing, tacking, and sanding…  The process seems to stop just shy of riddling entire store racks with bullets - which begs the questions, “Are they charging $200 for the denim, or is it just priced $50 per hole?”

Even if you like to buy jeans that are already torn to shreds, you never want to buy jeans with fraying in the wrong places.  So, if your next jean purchase is going to involve ripping, tacking, sanding and the like, be prepared to treat this pair with even more TLC.

Here at indi, our denim distressing techniques leave the jeans still looking pretty clean.  When you do choose to buy distressed jeans, keep in mind that there are ways of avoiding rips and tears in all the wrong places and salvaging your favorite pair when time has taken its toll.

Here are a few tips keep your favorite pair distressed denim jeans looking distressed, but not critical condition:

Tip #1:  Ever heard the old adage, a stitch in time saves nine?  Maybe Thomas Jefferson never had to buy jeans, but if he did, the same saying would’ve applied.  If your jeans are wearing down in the wrong places, take steps to repair them before it gets worse.

Tip #2:  If you literally need to patch things up, buy fabric fuse from your local craft or fabric supply store.  This product allows you to fuse the fabric without sewing a stitch!  To apply a patch as reinforcement on the underside of the fabric, make sure that it covers the entire area affected by the wear and tear. 

Tip #3:  Don’t know how to sew? Wouldn’t be caught dead in a craft store?  To avoid the patch process altogether, try www.denimtherapy.com.

When your jeans are literally unraveling around you and you feel like your denim is in serious distress, just remember that saving your jeans is simple!  If your favorite jeans, even if they’re tattered to all hell to begin with, need a little TLC, just follow our tips to keep your jeans looking tip top.

posted by: Amy D on April 21, 2009 at 2:51 pm
filed under: Misc Musings | Add a comment
TAGS: distressed denim, patched jeans

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