Jeans are one of the most recognizable garments in the world. Featuring a denim construction, they offer a superior level of comfort, style and durability — three qualities you won’t find in many other types of pants or trousers. Even if you’re familiar with the general construction of jeans, though, there are probably some things you don’t know about them. In this post, we’re going to reveal nine surprising facts about jeans.
#1) The Average Women Owns 7 Pairs of Jeans
To say jeans are popular would be an understatement. Research shows the average woman owns seven pairs of jeans. Of course, many women, as well as men, own more than seven pairs of jeans. Some own over a dozen pairs of jeans. Based on these figures, jeans are the single most popular type of pants in the world.
#2) Jeans Were Originally Created for Cowboys and Miners
You might be surprised to learn that jeans were originally created for cowboys and miners. During the 1800s, a man named Levi Strauss designed the rugged denim-based pants specifically for cowboys and miners. As sales for Strauss’s new pants increased, other people took notice. It wasn’t long until the general public was scooping up jeans. Throughout the 1900s and even the 2000s, jeans have only become more popular. While cowboys and miners still wear them, workers in countless other professions — as well as everyday consumers — now wear jeans on a regular basis.
#3) The Small Pockets Were Created for Watches
If you look inside the pockets of your jeans, you may discover an extra small pocket. Each of the front two pockets on a typical pair of jeans have a small pocket inside them. So, what’s the purpose of these small pockets? It’s believed that Strauss designed his jeans with small pockets so that cowboys and miners can carry their watch in them. Back then, watches hadn’t been invented yet. As a result, people carried a handheld pocket watch to keep track of the time. Realizing this, Strauss added two small watch pockets to the front pockets of his jeans.
#4) Rivets Make Jeans Stronger and More Durable
There’s a good reason why nearly all jeans are designed with rivets. Consisting of metal button-like fasteners — typically made of copper — rivets are designed to increase the strength and durability of jeans. If you closely inspect the rivets on your jeans, you’ll discover that they are placed in areas where two or more different sections of denim fabric meet. Because these areas are naturally prone to damage, manufacturers add rivets. The presence of a rivet holds the denim fabric together, thereby lowering the risk of damage. If you’re shopping for a new pair of jeans, make sure they have rivets. Otherwise, you may have to repair or replace them shortly down the road.
#5) Some Jeans Are Made of an Elastic Fabric
Granted, all jeans are made of denim. After all, denim is the defining characteristic of jeans. With that said, however, some jeans also feature an elastic material like spandex or polyester. Known as stretch jeans, they live up to their namesake by featuring a more elastic texture than traditional all-denim jeans. Stretch jeans are still made mostly of denim, but they also contain about 2% to 5% of an elastic fabric. Even in such a small concentration, the elastic fabric changes the texture and physical properties of jeans by making them more elastic.
#6) The Jeans Market Is Valued at Over $68 Billion
There’s a huge market for jeans. According to Statista, the jeans market is currently valued at over $68 billion. Of course, this number is expected to grow in the years to come. By 2021, researchers predict the jeans market will reach $73 billion. By 2025, the market is expected to reach $85 billion. What’s fueling the market’s growth exactly? Well, several factors are encouraging more people to buy jeans, one of which is a wide variety of styles in which they are made. Additionally, jeans are incredibly versatile. You can wear them for just about any casual occasion — something that can’t be said for other types of pants or trousers.
#7) Jeans Were Known as a ‘Worker’s Uniform’ in Russia
Jeans aren’t just popular in the United States. They are worn by millions of men and women throughout the world. In Russia, jeans are so popular that they were once known as a “worker’s uniform.” Most people in Russia wore jeans while working. Over time, this led to people calling jeans a “worker’s uniform.”
#8) Low-Rise Jeans Were Popular During the Late 1990s and Early 2000s
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, low-rise jeans were popular. What are low-rise jeans exactly? The term “low-rise jeans” refers to a unique style of jeans featuring a lower-than-average rise. In other words, they sit lower on your waist — typically about 2 to 3 inches below the belly button — than other styles of jeans. According to Wikipedia, several famous celebrities began wearing low-rise jeans during this period. Soon thereafter, millions of people follow suit by purchasing and wearing low-rise jeans as well. While low-rise jeans are no longer as popular as they once were during the late 1990s and early 2000s, you can still find them sold by many stores.
#9) Jeans Offer Unique Qualities
Jeans have certain unique qualities and characteristics that aren’t found elsewhere. For starters, they are incredibly strong and durable, thanks in part to their denim construction. Denim itself is actually cotton, but it’s weaved together in a manner that minimizes the risk of tearing, ripping and other forms of damage. In addition to being strong and durable, jeans are also comfortable. You can wear them for eight or more hours a day without fear of them causing pain or discomfort.
Finally, you can find jeans available in just about any color. Some people assume that all jeans are blue. While light blue and dark blue (indigo) are popular colors for jeans, jeans are available in dozens if not hundreds of other colors as well.
