Mens jeans

Who doesn't have jeans in their closet? Perhaps, everyone has them and not a single pair. Today jeans are one of the most popular wardrobe items around the world, both among men and women. Jeans come in many shapes and colors, but blue jeans are considered the most popular. We easily associate them with the Wild West and American culture.

Despite the vintage look, jeans do not go out of fashion even in our 10s of the 11th century. They are still used successfully by students and workers alike due to their high strength compared to other fabrics. What are men's jeans and where did they come from – the topic of our today's article.

Jeans are trousers made from denim or cotton fabric. Often the term 'jeans' refers to a particular style of pants called 'blue jeans', invented by Jacob Davis in 1871 and patented by Davis and Levi Strauss on May 20, 1873.

Miners in jeans. Photo of 1882

Designed for cowboys and miners, jeans caught on in 1950s teenagers in America, especially in the greaser subculture. Jeans became a popular fashion item in the hippie subculture in the 60s and continued to conquer the punk and rock subcultures in the 70s and 80s. The history of jeans dates back to the Levi’s, Lee and Wrangler brands. In the 2010s, jeans remained popular and gained varieties such as skinny, tapered, skinny, straight, bell-bottomed, tapered, baggy. Torn or “torn” (seemingly worn and old, but still functional) have become incredibly popular, creating an entire production of 'ripped' jeans.

Jeans history

The history of jeans began long before the popularity in American culture and originated in Italy or France.

A study of the history of the denim trade shows that it appeared in the cities of Genoa (Italy) and Nimes (France). Gênes is the French word for Genoa, and may be the origin of the name 'jeans'. In Nîmes, weavers tried to reproduce jeans, and instead invented a keeper fabric, which became known as denim, which means' from Nîmes. Jeans from Genoa were made from velveteen 'good quality and price'. They were very similar to the cotton for which Genoa was famous and were mainly used for work. Nimes denim was rougher, which meant higher quality, and was used to make workwear and overalls.

By the way, almost all indigo paint was supplied from the plantations of India until the beginning of the 19th century. Later, the paint was replaced with an artificial one produced in Germany.

Indigo dye from India was supplied to dye jeans

By the 17th century, denim had become the most important material for the working class in northern Italy. Confirmation of this can be seen in a series of genre paintings by the artist of that time, who is now called The Master of Blue Jeans. 10 paintings depict scenes of the poorest class dressed in denim-like fabric.

Woman with two children (The Master of Blue Jeans) Boy (The Master of Blue Jeans)

The fabric was most likely from Genoa due to its cheapness. Genre painting gained fame at the end of the 16th century, and the poverty depicted in all 10 paintings puts them in a row with other portraits of the same theme.

Denim is not the only rough cotton fabric used for both workwear and fashionable wardrobe items. There is also a dangari. Dungari first appeared in the 17th century. At that time, this was the name of cheap coarse cotton fabric, which was often dyed blue and sometimes white. It was worn by the poor in today's Bombay in the port village of Dangri. Dungri was exported to England and used to make cheap, strong workwear. The British began to call 'Dangri' a little differently – 'Dangari'.

The importance of jeans is further demonstrated by the history of the textile trade. Genoese sailors used denim to protect cargo on the docks during bad weather. During the existence of the Genoese Republic (XVII-XVIII centuries), denim was sold throughout Europe.

Jeans gained popularity in the United States when Levi Strauss & Co introduced the blue denim jumpsuit in 1873.

Jumpsuit by Levi Strauss & Co

Levi Strauss, still young in 1851, came from Germany to New York to join the older brothers who ran a haberdashery shop. In 1853 he traveled to San Francisco, where he opened his own shop.

Jacob Davis was a tailor who often bought rolls of fabric from Levi Strauss & Co. In 1872, Davis invited Strauss to jointly patent and sell rivet-reinforced fabric. Copper rivets were used to reinforce vulnerable areas such as pockets and fasteners. Levi accepted Davis' offer. On May 20, 1873, they received US Patent No. 139,121 for 'Improvement of pocket mounting holes'

Davis and Strauss tried various fabrics. For early experiments, they used brown canvas. They then concluded that denim was better suited for work wear. They began to use it to create their pants with rivets. Denim was made in America, but popular legend has it that it was brought directly from Nimes. Another famous myth tells that Strauss initially sold canvas trousers to miners, then began to dye them blue, switched to denim, and only then Davis suggested reinforcing the trousers with rivets.

Jeans came to the USSR almost 100 years later. In 1957, during the World Festival of Youth and Students, when foreign guests arrived in Moscow. The festival was attended by 34,000 people from 131 countries of the world.

World Festival of Youth and Students 1957

The Soviet youth appreciated the stylish blue trousers with dignity, and after some time, jeans began to be sold in large cities of the country. Only in 1964 was the Beryozka store opened, where, among other goods, it was possible to legally buy jeans.

Famous denim brands

The history of iconic jeans begins with the brands that created this very story, releasing various fashionable models. That is why, one cannot fail to note the outstanding brands of this industry.

Levis

Levis jeans

It was founded by Levi Strauss in San Francisco (USA). The company started out as dry goods stores, but quickly found its way into history when a tailor named Jacob Davis came up with a partnership to create superior trousers reinforced with copper rivets in places subject to intense stress. Patent # 139 121 was issued in 1873. Using the world's finest denim, Levi Strauss and Co became a seal of excellence for the next 150 years. In 1890, she presented the legendary item # 501 – a jumpsuit with copper rivets.

Today you can buy the same jeans, without a couple of parts (suspender buttons and back buttons), that were produced a hundred years ago.

Lee company

Lee Jeans

GD Lee traveled West after a brilliant career on the East Coast due to health problems. Against the doctor's advice, Lee saw opportunities in Kansas, where he founded Lee Mercantile in 1890. Relying on the lack of quality items and the central geographic location of Salina, Kansas, Lee began production with Union-All jumpsuits as his flagship product. They sold like hotcakes, in part because the designers decided to make it for the people, making it easier to open and close the jumpsuit by inventing the zipper that has become the standard today.

Lee continued to grow throughout the previous century, thanks in large part to smart marketing and sponsorship, including an investment from the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Working closely with the American Southwest, jeans have formed a powerful and loyal fan base.

Finally, mention should be made of the company mascot Buddy Lee. First appearing in a shop window in 1920, it was used in a variety of unusual and funny advertisements. For 90 years, 35cm Buddy Lee has been a legend.

Wrangler

Jeans by Wrangler

Founded in 1904 as the Hudson Overall Company, the company changed its name to Blue Bell 15 years later. For a long time it remained a regional company with overalls as its main product. After World War II, Blue Bell bought a sewing company and got a second wind as a Wrangler targeting the Western market. The company became known for its new pocket designs, enlarged belt loops and sponsoring rodeo legend Jim Sholders. Thus, she was able to climb to the top of the Western Market for two decades.

Lee copper

Lee cooper jeans

Lee Copper Jeans is less well known in the US, but has many followers in Europe and England. The brand made a name for itself in World War II, when the introduction of product rationing made everything but denim a luxury. For 30 coupons, a person could take either a business suit for 26, or a Lee Copper overalls for 2 (and jeans in general for 1). Lee Copper grew rapidly in the 50s and 60s under the leadership of Harold Copper. The company now sells its products in 70 countries around the world.

Types of men's jeans

Despite the hundreds of names that manufacturers give to their jeans, in fact there are no more than half a dozen. Here is a list of the most popular ones.

Classic / Traditional / Straight Jeans

Straight jeans are the descendants of the first blue jeans. They are the most diverse and suitable for different purposes. Thanks to their loose fit, they are equally good for people of all sizes. They do not draw attention to a specific part of the body and do not make it feel like they are meant to hide imperfections. Classic jeans are worn at the waist without covering the navel.

Classic jeans

Skinny / skinny jeans

The latest trend is low-rise jeans that taper at the ankle. They are usually longer than necessary and tend to cluster around the ankles. Thanks to the tapered design, they make the leg visually longer, just like loose jeans – on people of short stature. However, this style suits skinny people and looks best on teenagers. So far, skinny is a part of pop and rock cultures, so it is not known when they will become part of another fashion.

Skinny jeans

Flared jeans

Flares are the third most popular and most diverse jeans. They are worn slightly lower than the classic ones. Whereas traditional jeans taper slightly towards the ankle, flared jeans, on the contrary, extend from the knee downward. Most often, the expansion is almost imperceptible, but it feels a little tighter in the hips than the loose or classic ones.

Flared jeans

Loose jeans

The difference between bell bottoms and loose jeans is subtle. However, it feels stronger than the look. Loose jeans, due to the increased waist, can be worn higher.

Baggy jeans

Baggy jeans are much wider at the legs than all other types of jeans. Their popularity peaked in the 90s. Back then, baggy jeans (like the JNCO) were 127 cm in diameter at the ankle. These jeans are not that popular today. They are looser than loose fit jeans, but there is a significant difference between the two styles. Loose jeans can be either baggy or wide, depending on the brand.

Baggy jeans

Cargo jeans

Cargo jeans, or carpentry jeans, have appeared and disappeared several times in history. They feature a hammer loop on one side and long, straight pockets at the back. The cut is usually loose, although there are many other varieties.

Cargo jeans

Cargo jeans are complemented by large pockets on either side near or above the knee. Pockets are usually flared, which comes from military cargo pants. These jeans are often dyed in khakis and other colors. Heavy denim is not always associated with them.

Other types of jeans

Big brands sometimes bring new design jeans to the market. An example is Levi’s Twisted jeans, which have a seam that wraps the entire length of the leg. Others may add specific features. For example, jeans with a low waist by 7-8 cm. This is suitable for those who think that the traditional length is already outdated.

Jeans color and wear

Dyeing and shaving jeans is a good way to find the perfect pair for you. The most popular jeans look worn and torn.

Stylish distressed jeans with fading

More business jeans usually come in dark colors. They come in light, moderate, dark, black and gray colors. A worn look can be obtained by washing them several times until they fade or tearing them in some places. Most people have seen these jeans in stores before, while others may not understand the look.

Rinsing

Indigo is a blue dye most commonly used for jeans. After applying the paint, the jeans need to be rinsed slightly. Indigo is a very long-lasting paint, so jeans will not stain immediately. In everyday life, using indigo, you can give a new look to old jeans.

Fading jeans

Frayed jeans usually have several holes or patches. While such a style is not in demand by a business dress code, scuffs can give jeans an interesting look if you approach the matter with taste. Rubbing, cutting, and scratching are the most popular methods to give jeans a tattered look.

Washing jeans with stones

Stone wash has been popular for decades and has never gone out of style. Jeans are washed with the addition of pumice, which is also used in pedicure, so that the threads break and come out. Jeans become very soft after such washing. However, you should not do this often unless you want the color to fade, which may mean that the jeans were washed with pumice stone.

What to look for when buying jeans

Focus on making the jeans fit first. This is the most important part to look out for when choosing a pair of jeans. You can measure 5 or 10 pairs of different brands and never find those that suit you in style and style. When worn regularly, they will stretch and sit more freely; however, as soon as you wash them or heat the cotton, they will shrink back to their original size, and in some cases even become smaller. The best way to stretch jeans is to move vigorously in them.

Jeans should fit well

Jeans weight

Denim can weigh in different ways – from 200 to 510 grams. Most people want to find an optimal weight pair. Jeans that are too light will tear quickly, too heavy – too much pressure. The latter is less common, as many brands save on material and sew jeans that are too light. The difference is, in fact, subtle. You will feel it when, after 6-9 months of use, the jeans begin to tear in some places.

Choose your color

Jeans come in a wide variety of colors and shades. By the way, therefore, not all jeans are equally suitable for painting and highlighting procedures. For men, I recommend looking closely at dark colors with a minimum of embellishment – these jeans can be worn with a sweatshirt or blazer. Lighter, ripped, frayed jeans may not work for all situations.

Be careful with fakes

In large stores and shopping centers, it is unlikely to find a fake. The problem has become more acute with the spread of purchases through eBay, AliExpress, where all responsibility for the goods falls on the shoulders of the buyer. If the price is too good to be true, it is most likely fake.

Brand reliability

A great model can be a guarantee of love for a particular brand for decades. There are stories where news of the company's impending bankruptcy led to a supply shortage due to the eagerness of fans to go out and buy a lifetime supply of their favorite jeans. It sounds ridiculous, but how many of you have that cherished, time-tested pair that fits your body perfectly?

How to choose the right jeans – video

Finally

Jeans are an integral part of a man's wardrobe. Depending on the color and model, jeans can be worn both for a business meeting (business casual style) and for a hiking trip with friends (casual style). Personally, I have no idea what else you can wear on Friday to work or for a walk with your family, except for jeans. They are comfortable, comfortable and not scary to stain with something. Even if you tear them, it is a fashionable element rather than a flaw. This seemingly simple garment contains an incredibly wide range of applications.

If today there were no jeans on store shelves, then, in my opinion, it would be very problematic to find an alternative. And what do you think? Write your comments, I will be glad to know your opinion;)