Millions around the globe love wearing denim. North Americans buy almost half of the world's supply, and many citizens of the USA consider this tough cotton material a red, white, and blue trademark. It's true that a couple of clothing manufacturers became famous from supplying sturdy trousers for miners back in the Gold Rush days, but they didn't invent the material itself. American teenagers coming into their own after World War II adopted blue jeans as their uniform, and the popularity of the close-fitting trousers spread gradually to every country. Today, denim clothing and accessories are big business.
Denim wears exceptionally well, gets softer as it is worn and washed, and fades in areas of greatest wear, giving it a unique well-worn look that was part of the cowboy image of the West and now has become high fashion. In fact, sometimes modern pants are more holes than whole cloth.
Once all jeans were blue, since the original fabric invented in Italy was died with natural indigo. Now, of course, they come in every color and can be made with synthetic fibers or cotton combined with spandex for stretchy fit and comfort. Although the word itself still means the original faded blue, fashion has brought infinite variety to clothes and other fashion details.
This sturdy fabric developed in Genoa was used for military uniforms and factory wear. Two California suppliers made history when they fashioned overalls and later waist-high pants from the heavy cotton, adding rivets to zipper and pocket seams for longer wear. Known as 'levis' after Levi Strauss, one of the partners, the trousers were also popular with cowboys. The mystique of the Old West helped make levis an American icon.
North Americans may not be able to claim all the credit for blue jeans, but they did make them an icon and continue to buy more denim than anyone else. Once jeans were considered symbols of rebellion. They then were reserved for informal occasions, accepted for work or play. Now, of course, they can be worn with a blazer to a fine restaurant or with tweeds to any country-chic event. Denim jackets are also an enduring favorite.
Many garments and accessories are made of actual cloth, but others may have the look while actually being made of things like plastic. Watch bands, handkerchiefs, hats, purses, and even shoes and boots may look like they are made with faded jean scraps. Furniture and decorative items like picture frames follow the fashion.
Most people still think of faded blue when they hear the word, even with all the variety on the market. It's used as a color description, needing no elaboration. Even the rage for 'stone-washed' material - artificially faded and softened to get rid of the stiff new look - hasn't totally corrupted the term.
From Laurel, MD to Los Angeles, CA, and from New York City to Japan and Africa, people are wearing jean jackets, pants, skirts, scarves, and footwear and carrying jean purses and wallets. They sit on denim beanbags and tie faded-blue bandannas around the necks of their dogs. Although 50's and 60's music has declined in popularity and the original hippies are now grey-haired and bearded, the universal appeal of these pants patented by Levi Strauss almost 150 years ago is still going strong.
Denim wears exceptionally well, gets softer as it is worn and washed, and fades in areas of greatest wear, giving it a unique well-worn look that was part of the cowboy image of the West and now has become high fashion. In fact, sometimes modern pants are more holes than whole cloth.
Once all jeans were blue, since the original fabric invented in Italy was died with natural indigo. Now, of course, they come in every color and can be made with synthetic fibers or cotton combined with spandex for stretchy fit and comfort. Although the word itself still means the original faded blue, fashion has brought infinite variety to clothes and other fashion details.
This sturdy fabric developed in Genoa was used for military uniforms and factory wear. Two California suppliers made history when they fashioned overalls and later waist-high pants from the heavy cotton, adding rivets to zipper and pocket seams for longer wear. Known as 'levis' after Levi Strauss, one of the partners, the trousers were also popular with cowboys. The mystique of the Old West helped make levis an American icon.
North Americans may not be able to claim all the credit for blue jeans, but they did make them an icon and continue to buy more denim than anyone else. Once jeans were considered symbols of rebellion. They then were reserved for informal occasions, accepted for work or play. Now, of course, they can be worn with a blazer to a fine restaurant or with tweeds to any country-chic event. Denim jackets are also an enduring favorite.
Many garments and accessories are made of actual cloth, but others may have the look while actually being made of things like plastic. Watch bands, handkerchiefs, hats, purses, and even shoes and boots may look like they are made with faded jean scraps. Furniture and decorative items like picture frames follow the fashion.
Most people still think of faded blue when they hear the word, even with all the variety on the market. It's used as a color description, needing no elaboration. Even the rage for 'stone-washed' material - artificially faded and softened to get rid of the stiff new look - hasn't totally corrupted the term.
From Laurel, MD to Los Angeles, CA, and from New York City to Japan and Africa, people are wearing jean jackets, pants, skirts, scarves, and footwear and carrying jean purses and wallets. They sit on denim beanbags and tie faded-blue bandannas around the necks of their dogs. Although 50's and 60's music has declined in popularity and the original hippies are now grey-haired and bearded, the universal appeal of these pants patented by Levi Strauss almost 150 years ago is still going strong.
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