When researching the different types of jeans, you may come across selvedge denim jeans. They’ve become a popular alternative to traditional denim jeans. You can find selvedge denim jeans in different cuts, colors and sizes. Some of them even contain a small amount of an elastic material in their construction. But selvedge denim jeans aren’t ordinary, traditional denim jeans. They stand out from their traditional counterparts while offering a premium look and feel.
Selvedge Denim Jeans Defined
Selvedge denim jeans are characterized by their use of an old-style shuttle loom. All jeans are made on a loom. Selvedge denim jeans are simply made on an old-style shuttle loom.
They are known as “selvedge denim jeans” because they feature a “self-finished” edge. When inspecting the bottom of the pant legs, for instance, you’ll notice a band around the bottom. Selvedge denim feature bands consisting of a self-finished edge at the bottom of the pant legs. You won’t find these bands on other types of jeans. Regardless, selvedge denim jeans are defined as denim trousers that are made on an old-style shuttle loom and feature a self-finished edge.
Traditional vs Selvedge Denim Jeans: What’s the Difference?
Most jeans can be classified as either traditional denim jeans or selvedge denim jeans depending on how they are made. Traditional denim jeans are made on a modern loom. Selvedge denim jeans, on the other hand, are made on an old-style shuttle loom.
Modern looms are shuttleless. Many manufacturers prefer these modern, shuttleless looms because of their ability to quickly produce material. While old-style shuttle looms are slower, though, they are capable of producing selvedge denim — which is necessary for selvedge denim jeans.
Old-style shuttle looms can produce denim and other materials up to 30 inches. In comparison, modern shuttleless looms can produce denim and other materials up to 60 inches wide. It takes roughly 3 yards of denim to produce a single pair of selvedge denim jeans using an old-style shuttle loom.
Manufacturers can use old-style shuttle looms to produce selvedge denim. Selvedge denim consists of a cross-year that changes direction along the edge of the shuttle loom. All selvedge denim jeans are made of selvedge denim, so they require the use of an old-style shuttle loom. Traditional denim jeans are made of plain denim. Manufacturers can use a modern shuttleless loom to produce plain denim.
You can distinguish between traditional and selvedge denim jeans by inspecting the bottom of the pant legs. As previously mentioned, selvedge denim jeans feature a band around the bottom of the pant legs. These bands are about 1 to 2 inches tall, and they reveal the underside or interior of the selvedge denim jeans rather than the exterior. Most selvedge denim jeans feature a white interior and a blue exterior. Therefore, the bottom of the pant legs have a white band measuring about 1 to 2 inches tall.
Here are some common features of selvedge denim jeans:
- Made using an old-style shuttle loom
- Features a band around the bottom of the pant legs
- Greater attention to detail than that of traditional denim jeans
- Premium style that stands out
Do Selvedge Denim Jeans Shrink?
Like most jeans, selvedge denim jeans may shrink when washed and dried. Exposure to heat — whether it’s hot water from a washing machine or hot air from a dryer — can force denim to contract and shrink. But there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening.
Washing and drying your selvedge denim jeans less frequently will protect them from shrinking. There’s no rule stating that you must wash your jeans each time you wear them. As long as they don’t look dirty, you can probably wear them multiple times before washing them. And by washing and drying them less frequently, your selvedge denim jeans will be better protected against shrinkage.
You can also order a pair of selvedge denim jeans in a slightly larger size to compensate for shrinkage. Even if they shrink, you should still be able to wear them as long as you order them in a larger size.
Why Are Selvedge Denim Jeans So Popular?
Selvedge denim jeans are popular because of their unique, premium style. They are made with greater attention to detail than most traditional jeans. The end result is a high-end style that’s not found elsewhere.
Only selvedge denim jeans, for instance, feature a band at the bottom of the pant legs. Traditional denim jeans are made on a modern shuttleless loom, so they don’t support these self-finished bands at the bottom.
Because they feature bands at the bottom of the pant legs, selvedge denim jeans stand out from traditional denim jeans. The bands reveal the interior of the jeans, which is typically white or light-colored. In comparison, the rest of the selvedge denim jeans reveal a light blue or indigo color.
What Are Stretch Selvedge Denim Jeans?
Stretch selvedge denim jeans are exactly what they sound like: selvedge denim jeans that feature an elastic material in their construction. They are made of a hybrid material consisting of cotton and an elastic material. Elastic materials may include lycra or polyester. Even when just 1% or 2% of their construction consists of an elastic material, selvedge denim jeans become stretchier and more elastic.
Some selvedge denim jeans are made entirely of cotton-based denim. other selvedge denim jeans are made of cotton-based denim and an elastic material. The latter are known as stretch selvedge denim jeans. They look like most other selvedge denim jeans, but they are stretchier and more elastic. You can pull and stretch them without causing damage to them. Only stretch selvedge denim jeans offer these elastic properties. Selvedge denim jeans made entirely of cotton-based denim aren’t elastic.
In Conclusion
If you’re tired of wearing the same traditional denim jeans in your daily outfits, perhaps you should invest in selvedge denim jeans. They are still made of denim. Selvedge denim jeans, however, are made of a special type of denim known as selvedge denim. Manufacturers use old-style shuttle looms to produce selvedge denim.
