It’s no secret that the majority of jeans produced today are made of denim. Whether they are straight-leg, slim-fit, low-rise, boot-cut, etc., chances are they are made of denim. This has become the defacto material of choice among companies that produce jeans. But what exactly is denim? And why do so many companies prefer it? These are just a few of the many questions that we’re going to answer today.
Denim is essentially a type of cotton twill textile that’s characterized by the passing of the wefts. In order for denim to be created, the weft of cotton twill must pass under two or more warp threats; thus, creating a woven fabric with two diagonal crossing patterns. So in other words, denim is nothing more than cotton that’s been wrapped and woven to in a specific manner. As long as the wefts are passed in a honeycomb pattern, it can essentially be called denim.
If you look closely at a pair of indigo (dark blue) colored jeans, you’ll notice the inside is actually white. This is somewhat confusing since the outside maintains its distinct indigo color. This color variation is due to the fact that the core of the warp threads remain white throughout the dyeing process. So even though the exterior of the twill threads are indigo, the insides are white.
It’s believed that most dry denim is sources from the USA, Zimbabwe and Japan, although there are several other countries known to grow cotton and produce denim. The USA, however, remains the world’s leading supplier of denim, thanks largely in part to its climate and landscape that’s ideal for growing cotton.
It’s important to note that the weight of dry denim affects its characteristics. Heavier denim, for instance, is stronger, more rugged, and able to withstand more washes without succumbing to the normal wear and tear. However, lighter denim is often preferred for jeans and other apparel items since it’s softer and more comfortable to wear.
Here are some of the benefits of denim when used in the production of jeans:
- Offers a classic, timeless look.
- Soft and comfortable to wear.
- High-quality denim will offer a countless number of years of wear.
- Denim can be tailored to fit the owner’s body size and shape.
- Denim is safe to use in the washing machine.
- Let’s face it, everyone loves denim jeans.
