by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Searching for ways to make your denim jeans last longer? If you are reading this, I’m assuming the answer is yes. A typical pair of high-quality denim jeans should last between 2-3 years, more so if you take care of them. But failure to properly care for your jeans will greatly shorten their life expectancy. Choose Quality Over Quantity Sure, the allure of scoring a pair of jeans for $9 bucks may sound enticing, but this is one instance in which the mantra “you get what you pay for” holds true. Cheap jeans are often made with cheap fabrics and poor craftsmanship, increasing the risk of damage and wear. If you’re looking for jeans that will last, choose quality over quantity. A pair of high-quality jeans may cost more, but they will last longer as well, making them worth the investment. Wash Your Jeans Inside Out When washing your denim jeans, try to get into the habit of pulling them inside out first. Doing so will protect the exterior of your jeans — the part that’s most visible — from fading, as well as wear and tear from the washing machine. It only takes a couple seconds to flip your jeans inside out, but it can make a world of difference in preserving their appearance. Spot Clean Minor Stains Clean minor stains by “spot cleaning” them with water and detergent. Rather than washing your jeans in the washing machine, which will further wear down the fabric, simply clean the stained area with warm water and detergent. The secret to spot cleaning jeans (or most garments for that matter) is...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
Still struggling to find the perfect holiday gift for a friend or a family member? Why not give the gift that keeps on giving: jeans! Check out the following five reasons why jeans make the perfect gift for the holidays. Everyone Wears Jeans While no two people have the exact same taste when it comes to fashion, everyone wears jeans. In fact, studies have shown jeans to be the most popular type of pants among both men and women. So by giving jeans this holiday season, you don’t have to worry about the recipient storing them in the attic or basement, because chances are they will be worn on a regular basis. Jeans are Long-Lasting Another reason why jeans make the perfect holiday gift is because they are long lasting. Store gift cards, gourmet food or other perishable items are often forgotten about. Jeans, however, can be worn for years, and each time the recipient wears them, he or she will think of you. They Encourage Physical Activity According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin, workers who wear jeans make roughly 600 more steps in a typical day than workers who wear some other type of pants. By giving jeans this holiday season, you’ll encourage the recipient to increase his or her physical activity, which in turn promotes better health — and that’s something we can all use after feasting on a home-cooked holiday meal. They are Easy to Wrap Other gifts, particularly those with an awkward shape, can be difficult and time-consuming to wrap, but thankfully this isn’t a problem with jeans. When it comes to wrap...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
It’s no secret that machine washing can take a toll on denim, wearing down the fabric while fading its color in the process. This typically doesn’t happen after a single wash, but rather months or years of machine washing your jeans will eventually affect its appearance. This has prompted many people to seek alternative methods for washing their jeans, including freezing them. So, does freezing really kill germs and make denim clean? The belief behind this idea is that extreme cold temperatures will destroy bacteria and other potentially harmful germs lingering on the surface of the jeans. But going back to the basics of high-school biology, freezing typically only disables germs for a short period of time. When they “thaw” and warm, the germs are active once again; thus, rendering this method virtually useless. As noted by CNN, jean freezing has become a craze in recent years, with many people publishing their own video tutorials on YouTube. “Jean freezing has become quite the craze in the past few years. It even comes with its own video tutorials and folding techniques posted online by bloggers around the country,” wrote CNN in an article about this new phenomenon. Rather than freezing your jeans, a more effective solution is to bake them in the oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Science has debunked the theory that freezing jeans will kill odor-causing germs. However, studies have shown that baking jeans at 250 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will kill these germs. With that said, you should use caution anytime you bake fabric, as setting the heat too high could spark a fire. Ultimately, the safest...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims, Fashion, jeans
Faded denim has become a popular style of jeans worn by both men and women. While some people prefer the classic look of dark indigo, others prefer the vintage look of faded denim. Rather than waiting several years for your jeans to naturally fade, you can purchase them with special fake marks. However, there are several different types of fade marks that you need to be aware of. Honeycombs Honeycomb fade marks (also known as “comb” marks) live up to their namesake by featuring honeycomb-shaped areas of fading, which are typically found behind the knees. It’s a small, subtle amount of fading that’s not overbearing. This makes it a popular choice for people who intend to wear the jeans for semi-formal purposes. Whiskers Another common type of fade mark used in denim jeans is the whisker. These marks are longer and usually spider off from one another. You’ll typically find whisker fade marks on the waist and crotch of denim jeans, although some brands use them in the thighs and knees as well. Whisker fade marks are prominent than honeycombs, so take this into account when shopping for faded denim jeans. Stacks Stack fade marks are usually created by hemming the inseam of denim jeans just a couple inches longer than the leg. This extra denim is then stacked over the shoe, forming an area that’s visibly lighter on the ankle as opposed to the rest of the pants. Train Tracks Last but not least, train tracks, which as you may have guessed looks like train tracks. The fading enhancing the selvage of denim by creating two sets of...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | custom fit jeans, Fashion, jeans
Don’t you hate it when you try on a pair of jeans in your normal waist size, only to discover that they are too big? Sure you do! I think everyone has found themselves in this position at some point in time. Not all apparel companies use the same sizing for their garments, resulting in confusing sizes that vary from one company to the next. So, why aren’t apparel companies using the same sizes for their products? Vanity Sizing Defined Vanity sizing (also referred to as size inflation) occurs when an apparel company gradually increases the physical size of its clothes over time while keeping the actual tag size the same. For instance, an apparel company may sell jeans with a 32″ waist, but several years later those jeans may actually have a 34″ waist while keeping the same 32″ size tag. Sound confusing? Think of it like this: apparel companies want customers to feel slimmer and more confident in their clothes, so they use vanity sizing to achieve this goal. The actual size tag remains the same, yet the physical size of the garment is larger. According to Wikipedia, vanity sizing is most common in the U.S. and U.K., where thousands of different retailers use this tactic. A study conducted in 2003 involving more than 1,000 pairs of women’s pants found vanity sizing to also be more commonplace among premium brands as opposed to cheaper brands. How to Find the Perfect Fit for Denim Jeans Brands that use vanity sizing can make it difficult for shoppers to find the perfect fit. After all, this means the garment’s true...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | Fashion, jeans
Tired of wearing the same generic-looking denim jeans day after day? Sure you are! While there’s nothing wrong with standard, indigo-colored jeans, they don’t offer any real sense of style or fashion. If you are a fashion-forward individual who cares about his or her look, you should consider some of these alternative denim trends. Go Light Many men and women are making the switch to lighter colored jeans, and for good reason: it’s a fun and stylish alternative to indigo. Light blue jeans, such as the Wallace Blue Jeans offered here at MakeYourOwnJeans, feature a light, almost white color that really stands out from the rest. You can easily pair it with other garments, as the light blue/white color goes well with just about any color, pattern or design. So if you are looking for a new style of denim to add to your wardrobe, consider a light color like the Wallace Blue Jeans. Stretch Jeans It’s hard to describe the comfort of stretch jeans without putting on and wearing a pair for yourself. Stretch jeans are made of a special blend that consists of standard denim along with an elastic fabric like spandex. The combination of these fabrics results in a stretchier, more forgiving material that’s perfect for use in jeans. If you plan on staying active, try wearing stretch jeans instead of regular jeans. The ability for the fabric to stretch will make them more comfortable for this purpose. Just remember to read (and follow) the care label, as washing and drying stretch jeans may differ. Custom Jeans Who says you should be forced to buy and...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims, jeans
Stretch denim has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and for good reason: it lives up to its namesake by featuring a stretchier, more elastic material. Whether it’s used in the construction of jeans, dresses, skirts, or any other garment, you really can’t go wrong with stretch denim. But what exactly makes it different from regular denim? This is a question that we’re going to answer in today’s blog post. Material As you may already know, regular denim is durable material that’s made of cotton twill. The unique construction in which twill fabric is interwoven together creates a superior level of strength that’s unmatched by other fabrics and materials. Subsequently, denim jeans have become the de-facto standard style of pants for millions of men and women. Stretch denim differs in terms of construction by including a small amount of elastic material. In addition to the cotton twill, spandex or a similar elastic fabric is included in stretch denim. According to Wikipedia, stretch denim with just 3% spandex can increase its stretching capacity by as much as 15%. That’s a pretty substantial amount to say the least. Origins of Stretch Denim It’s believed that American textile chemist Joseph Shivers created the world’s first stretch denim material. Shivers was responsible for pioneering Spandex back in the late 1950s. Soon after, Spandex made its way into the fashion industry, with manufacturers including this highly elastic material into their garments and accessories. Cost In terms of cost, you can usually expect to pay more for stretch denim than standard denim. This is due to the fact that stretch denim is more...
by MakeYourOwnJeans | jeans
It’s frustrating when you buy a new pair of jeans at your local apparel store, only to realize that they are either too big or too small once you get home. Sure, you can always try them on at the store’s dressing room, but this doesn’t give you full effect. Thankfully, there’s a better solution: order custom jeans, such as the ones sold here at MakeYourOwnJeans. To learn more about custom fit jeans and why you should buy them, keep reading. Choose Your Measurements With custom jeans, you can specify your exact measurements. It’s no secret that different jeans use different sizing formats. A men’s 32×32 in one brand of jeans may have a different size than a 32×32 from a different brand of jeans. To ensure your jeans fit properly, you should specify your waist and length measurements when placing an order. Assuming you purchase them here at MakeYourOwnJeans, you can have them resized for free in the unlikely event that they don’t fit. Higher Quality Need another reason to buy custom jeans? Here’s one: they are made with higher quality materials and a greater level of craftsmanship when compared to standard jeans. Denim is already a strong, durable fabric — more so than traditional cotton. But not all jeans are made the same, as some feature higher grade denim than others. By ordering custom jeans, you can rest assured knowing that only finest materials were used in its craftsmanship. Less Color Fading Denim jeans will naturally fade over time. After being washed and dried dozens of times, the once bright color may fade into a duller tone....
by MakeYourOwnJeans | denims
Michael Allen Harris isn’t your typical businessman. This adventure-seeking entrepreneur has come up with a bold new way to earn money: he “mines” vintage denim and sells them to collectors for a profit. As first reported by TheGuardian, Harris began his venture by collecting scraps of old denim that were scattered across the blistering-hot deserts of the Southwest. Harris would travel to California, Nevada and Arizona alongside his father-in-law, whom was a geologist. While his father would collect samples of rocks and survey landscapes, Harris was busy collecting worn and battered pieces of denim. You might be wondering why Harris — or anyone for that matter — would actively seek out pieces of worn and damaged denim. After all, can’t you just buy new denim at your local apparel store? Harris didn’t just uncover any type of denim. The denim he found was some of the oldest specimens in the world, often dating back well over a century. You have to remember that the Southwest was an area characterized by the Gold Rush back then. During this time, Levi Strauss would sell his jeans and other equipment to the miners here. Just how much money are these early-model Levi jeans worth? In his interview, Harris said he recently sold a pair for $30,000. He also claimed to have received an offer of $100,000. Now those are some expensive jeans! Digging up the old vintage denim is easy the part. It’s finding a buyer that’s difficult. After placing several pieces up for sale on eBay, Harris eventually came into contact with a Japanese collector. Harris sold the collector a vintage...
