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Denim is a durable fabric, originally made of 100% cotton woven on the diagonal. It fades fastest in areas that are stretched or rubbed; the look of wear is part of the appeal. Hard-riding cowboys of the Old West helped romanticize the image, and the well-worn look is now high fashion. In fact, people now buy jeans pre-worn and pre-faded, with carefully-designed holes.
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.
The fabric is not an American innovation but originated in Italy in the 1700's. It was used for military uniforms and factory wear. However, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss made 'levis' famous in the California Gold Rush days, when they created overalls and pants made of this strong cloth and reinforced with rivets at stress points. Miners, farmers, and ranchers all loved the unsurpassed durability of levis.
North America is still the world's largest market, but jeans and other denim clothing are worn virtually everywhere. Once considered working clothes and then informal wear, jeans are now high fashion, with people paying astronomical prices for designer labels. They are worn with a sport coat in the evening or a tweed jacket for country chic.
The look has been reproduced in almost every material, even plastic. Picture frames and watch bands are designed to complement the clothing or upholstery people enjoy every day. Handkerchiefs, footwear, hats, and bedding reflect the enduring love affair with blue jeans.
Actually, the word is now a color, the faded blue of a well-worn and well-loved garment. Even the 'stone-washed' craze for pre-faded and pre-washed garments of a grayer tint did not erase the predominance of the original blue. The world has never tired of its blue jeans.
The multi-million dollar denim industry continues, as new generations from Laurel, MD to Los Angeles, CA continue to love their jeans. They carry purses and backpacks, tie bandannas on their pets, and have their favorite brands and designers in what once were work clothes for far from fashionable people. A pair of of designer pants can cost as much as an evening gown. The craze has lasted over 150 years and doesn't seen destined to end anytime soon.
Denim is a durable fabric, originally made of 100% cotton woven on the diagonal. It fades fastest in areas that are stretched or rubbed; the look of wear is part of the appeal. Hard-riding cowboys of the Old West helped romanticize the image, and the well-worn look is now high fashion. In fact, people now buy jeans pre-worn and pre-faded, with carefully-designed holes.
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.
The fabric is not an American innovation but originated in Italy in the 1700's. It was used for military uniforms and factory wear. However, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss made 'levis' famous in the California Gold Rush days, when they created overalls and pants made of this strong cloth and reinforced with rivets at stress points. Miners, farmers, and ranchers all loved the unsurpassed durability of levis.
North America is still the world's largest market, but jeans and other denim clothing are worn virtually everywhere. Once considered working clothes and then informal wear, jeans are now high fashion, with people paying astronomical prices for designer labels. They are worn with a sport coat in the evening or a tweed jacket for country chic.
The look has been reproduced in almost every material, even plastic. Picture frames and watch bands are designed to complement the clothing or upholstery people enjoy every day. Handkerchiefs, footwear, hats, and bedding reflect the enduring love affair with blue jeans.
Actually, the word is now a color, the faded blue of a well-worn and well-loved garment. Even the 'stone-washed' craze for pre-faded and pre-washed garments of a grayer tint did not erase the predominance of the original blue. The world has never tired of its blue jeans.
The multi-million dollar denim industry continues, as new generations from Laurel, MD to Los Angeles, CA continue to love their jeans. They carry purses and backpacks, tie bandannas on their pets, and have their favorite brands and designers in what once were work clothes for far from fashionable people. A pair of of designer pants can cost as much as an evening gown. The craze has lasted over 150 years and doesn't seen destined to end anytime soon.
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