Denimology

To Wash Or Not To Wash

Yesterday I wrote about the detrimental effect that regularly washing your jeans is having on the environment. Now I am one of those unusual people that washes their jeans as infrequently as possible. That's not because I am a smelly old tramp but because I love my jeans to look as dark as possible. This article on denim care tips from the experts shows that I am not alone in my obsession. Christine Rucci, co-founder/designer of 5EP Jeans recommends that you "do not wash your jeans...wear them ‘til they’re stanky. Then, you can either rub a dryer sheet on them or spray Febreze" whilst Donwan Harrell, owner/designer of PRPS Jeans says "I don't wash my own jeans. I always start with a pair of raw denim and wear them down to what looks ‘washed’ naturally." I couldn't agree more.

Dirty Jeans Save The Planet

According to a study by France's environment agency your favourite jeans may are not doing the environment any good. Over the period of a year washing and tumble drying a pair of jeans uses up 240kWh of energy a year, equal to using 4,000 lightbulbs, each of 60 watts, for an hour. So why not wash your jeans a little less often, they may smell a bit but you can comfort yourself with the fact that your are doing your bit for the planet.

Nudie Video - How Jeans Get Made

Have you ever wondered what is involved in the production of a pair of jeans? Super cool Swedish brand Nudie have made a video which shows the whole process from the spinning and dyeing of the yarn, to the weaving of the material and the cutting, stitching, sewing, scraping, sand blasting, washing and finishing of the jeans. I found it fascinating so see the care and attention that goes into the making of an item which most of us take for granted. Whilst on the subject of videos, MSNBC also has an interesting video report on the premium denim market.

Barneys Women's Denim Sale

Chip and Pepper Stretch Pamela Jean $129.00 $99.00 SALE	True Religion Joey Stretch Jean $172.00 $109.00 SALE
7 for All Mankind Exclusive Roxy Skinny Jean $168.00 $109.00 SALE	Habitual Stretch Skinny Glory Jean $188.00 $119.00 SALE

Barneys' is having an sale on women's denim and they have some pretty tasty looking skinny jeans from True Religion, 7 For All Mankind and Habitual going for a song.

Barneys Men's Denim Sale

7 for All Mankind Dark Seville - Bootcut $165.00 $99.00 SALE	True Religion Bobby - Raw $155.00 $89.00 SALE
Earnest Sewn Fulton - Line Dry $202.00 $119.00 SALE	Rogan Slash Jean - Fender $240.00 $139.00 SALE

Barneys' have not just reduced the prices of women's denim, they are also having a men's denim sale and as you can see from the details above they have a pretty good selection of premium denim going cheap.

PRPS Classic Selvage Jeans

A few weeks ago I mentioned PRPS Jeans (which are worn by Brad Pitt and David Beckham) in one of my entries, well this weekend I succumbed and bought myself a pair. Most of the PRPS Jeans come highly aged and distressed, but I chose the darkest pair of Classic Selvage One Wash Jeans. The beauty of these jeans is all in the details, they are made of cotton from Zimbabwe which is woven on Japanese looms, the selvage is purple (rather than the usual red), the rivets are black (rather than copper) and the buttons on the fly are each a different colour. However, none of that would matter unless the jeans fitted well, and these do, like a slightly looser 501 at the top with a wide straight leg below the knee. These jeans do not come cheap but to a denim snob like myself that just means that you are less likely to see anyone else wearing the them.

Continued (with more photos)...