How to Check the Quality of Denim Jeans

How to Check the Quality of Denim Jeans

Few types of pants offer the same level of versatility as jeans. First invented during the mid 1800s, jeans are traditionally made with denim materials, offering an unmatched level of durability. In facts, many people don’t realize that jeans were invented specifically for gold prospectors during the California Gold Rush. The use of denim materials, paired with the right craftsmanship, allowed for the creation of ultra-rugged yet still comfortable pants that were ideal for the otherwise harsh gold prospecting environments.

Jeans are rarely created for gold prospecting today, but they still retain all of their attractive characteristics that made them such a popular choice. However, something that has changed is the quality. Some denim jeans are made with the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, while others are made with low-quality materials and craftsmanship. Unfortunately, some companies out there attempt to cut corners by creating and selling low-quality jeans. To the unsuspecting consumers, it’s often difficult to distinguish between a low-quality and high-quality pair of jeans.

It’s frustrating when you spend your hard-earned money on a new pair of jeans, only for them to break down just weeks or even days later. Denim jeans are supposed to be strong and durable, so instances such as this shouldn’t occur. Thankfully, though, there are ways to distinguish between low-quality and high-quality jeans. Whether you’re a denim expert or someone who’s looking to buy their first pair of jeans, you can refer to the following tips to check the quality of denim jeans.

Materials

Of course, you should also check to see what materials the jeans are made of. As stated above, jeans have traditionally been made of 100% denim, which offers a high level of strength, durability and comfort. But some of the newer jeans may contain other fabrics, such as a combination of denim and polyester. The use of polyester doesn’t necessarily make the jeans low quality. Rather, it adds elastic properties, allowing the jeans to stretch without breaking. Rightfully known as “stretch denim,” it’s become a popular alternative to traditional all-denim jeans. Regardless, you should always check to see what materials the jeans are made of before buying them.

Stitching

As with most pants (and even shirts for the matter), you can gauge the quality of jeans by looking at the stitching. A well-made pair of jeans should feature stitching that’s not frayed or otherwise damaged in any way. If the stitching isn’t even, or if it’s broken/frayed in areas, it usually indicates poor-quality craftsmanship, in which case you should avoid buying the jeans. But if the stitching is symmetrical and even throughout, it’s a tell-tall sign of high-quality denim jeans. So when shopping for new jeans, take a few moments to closely inspect the stitching. Although subtle and seemingly insignificant, stitching tells a lot about jeans and whether or not they were made using high-quality materials and craftsmanship.

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Color

All jeans are susceptible to fading when washed, but low-quality jeans tend to experience this phenomenon more so than their high-quality counterpart. When you wash a pair of low-quality jeans, you may notice the color has faded. High-quality jeans, on the other hand, typically only fade after being washed many times — and it usually takes months if not years for this to occur. So, check the color of your jeans before and after wearing them to better gauge their overall quality. This isn’t a 100% accurate means for testing the quality of jeans, but when used in conjunction with the other methods listed here, it can certainly help by pointing you in the right direction.

Brand

It should come as little-to-no surprise to learn that the brand also influences the quality of jeans. While there are always exceptions to this rule, name-brand jeans are typically made with higher quality materials and craftsmanship. This is because name-brand jeans have strict standards that the respective manufacturer uses when creating them. Sure, you may find a “diamond in the rough” with a pair of high-quality jeans made by a no-name manufacturer, but they are generally few and far between. So for this reason, it’s recommended that you stick with name-brand jeans, especially if you want them to last.

Comfort

How do the jeans feel when worn? Conventional wisdom should lead you to believe that comfortable jeans are made with higher quality materials and craftsmanship. The only problem is that you typically can’t wear jeans without buying them first. Nonetheless, you can still use this technique to determine whether jeans are low quality or high quality. If you have a pair of jeans that are rough, hard and uncomfortable to wear, it’s best to avoid buying that same brand/type in the future. But if you have jeans that are soft and comfortable to wear, add them to your future wish list. Checking the comfort of jeans will give you a better idea of their overall quality, which can help you make smarter buying decisions. And that’s something from which everyone can benefit.

Care Label

It’s always a good idea to check the care label when shopping for new jeans. This reveals tons of information about how they were made, what they are made of, and who made them. All of this information will give you a better idea of their overall quality.

The Bottom Line

Not all jeans are made equal, and it’s important for consumers to acknowledge this fact. Buying low-quality jeans may save you a couple bucks up front, but it will ultimately cost you more in the long run. When they begin to break down and deteriorate, you’ll have to cough up more money to buy new jeans. This results in a vicious cycle where you are constantly buying new, albeit low-quality, jeans. You don’t have to fall victim to this trap, however. By following the tips listed in this blog post, you can find high-quality jeans that are actually worth the cost. And buying just one pair of high-quality jeans will prove far more valuable than buying half a dozen pairs of low-quality jeans.

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