WHAT IS SELVEDGE DENIM?
Currently there is a trend of purchasing only one pair of denim and wearing them daily without washing. The jeans that are being purchased are raw unwashed denim. This denim is characteristically a very dark navy blue color, has no visual wear or usage, stiff, which makes them hard to put on at first, and somewhat heavy. These jeans are untouched and in a virgin state after being naturally dyed. Meaning that you will be the first to break them in. They are not going to be pre washed and pre shrunk. These jeans were meant to have you stretch them out with everyday wear and constant movement. After a couple of days the denim begins to break down and get softer and more comfortable with each daily use.
The jeans are also priced higher than the pre-washed and pre-shrunk denims that are sold at all major retailers. They cost more because the raw unwashed denim is constructed with exceptional quality. The brands pay strict attention to details such as rivets, seams, the cut of the jean, natural dyes used, as well as where the denim comes from and how it was produced. The most popular styles for raw selvedge denim are usually slim and skinny, although there are also some relaxed fits.
Fading is one aspect we really enjoy about raw denim. The more stress and strain put on the jean, the more it stretches and the more fading occurs. The most noticeable fades will usually start behind the knees and they will have a “honeycomb” look to them. After that, the thighs will start to whisker and the knees will begin to get lighter. Additionally, your back pockets will also start to fade from rubbing on surfaces and may start to shadow your wallet and keys.
After witnessing these changes we started looking at raw denim jeans as art and anticipated breaking them in even more. We rarely wash selvedge raw denim now. We wear our raw denim jeans consistently for about 4 months, everyday. Be careful, purchasing raw denim can get addicting after a while.