Stretch denim has been hugging our booties since 1978 when Peter Golding designed the first stretch jean. Before the invention and inevitable popularization of stretch denim, denim lovers who wanted a tight fit were forced to squeeze into stiff, uncomfortable jeans. How did they ever survive?
Of course, stretch denim wouldn’t be stretch denim without our BFF, spandex. Spandex is a marvelous invention—each fiber is made from alternating stiff and soft segments. The soft segments allow the fiber to stretch and the stiff segments help the fiber snap back to its original length. This allows spandex to stretch up to four times its length and then retract. You go, girl!
Not all of spandex’s traits are desirable—spandex does not take dye easily and it’s not comfortable against the skin. But when combined with its soulmate, cotton, spandex is almost unstoppable. Spandex fibers are wrapped in cotton to create cotton/spandex yarns. When these yarns are woven into a twill, the resulting fabric is (you guessed it!) stretch denim.
Stretch denim, you’ve come a long way since 1978. Today’s fabric designers have created new breeds of stretch denim by adding additional fibers, such as polyester, and by inventing new yarn constructions. These new stretch denims have unmatched recovery and threaten to eradicate jeans that stretch and then stretch out. Bye-bye baggy butts!
Stretch denim means that denim lovers never have to choose between fashion and comfort again. As designers continue to enhance denim, jeans may become a regular at yoga class.
Hello! I’m Margaux, the newest indiDenim intern. This is my first blog post and I’m going to get real on why I love stretch denim.
Okay let me first say that although I’m not exactly plus size, my weight does fluctuate 5-10 pounds in either direction depending on the weather/emotions/time of year/stress/and whatever else happens to come up. The first line of defense is my stretch fabric jeans. Plus Size Jeans through indiDenim use stretch denim, but you can also make any other style with stretch denim too. I made a custom fit jean on indiDenim based on my good day measurements and then the stretch denim allows me to still wear them on my bad days.
My second line of smoke and mirrors is wearing a dress over my jeans. I know, I know, this look has a bad reputation but my dress is never below my knees. The point is to look the opposite of dumpy here. I find that it fancies the jeans up a bit (as well as hiding my real or imaginary unsightly areas). From my experience form-fitting or short A-line dresses work best. Any dress resembling a moo moo will make you look like just that. The great thing about stretch jeans is that the stretch denim hugs your body and gives the appearance of slim legs under your dress.
What do you think? Vote in the poll below to let us know what you think about dresses over jeans. Also make your own stretch denim jeans below!
Getting a pair of stretch denim to fit for their entire lifespan starts with finding stretch denim that fits to begin with. You should look for stretch denim that not only fits your body like a glove, but also has great memory (meaning they stretch and then shrink back to their original form) - something that you will find in all jeans from indi!
Once you've gotten this perfect stretch denim jean (hopefully from indi), the way you wash your jeans is key. Here are a few tricks to help maintain the color, structure and feel of your stretch denim (in order of importance):
1. You should wash your stretch denim as infrequently as possible. In fact, avoid washing your denim at all costs.
If you do have to wash...
2. Always turn the jeans inside out.
3. Follow the care label instructions.
4. Wash on the gentle cycle with like colors.
5. If absolutely necessary, tumble dry LOW, but never until the denim is completely dry. Take your stretch jeans out of the dryer when they're still a little damp and lay them flat to dry the rest of the way.
Following these simple steps will ensure that your stretch denim maintains its integrity to the best of its ability.
