Americans, as well as millions of people in other countries, love denim. Although this strong cotton twill actually originated in Italy, a survey would probably find that most citizens of the USA believe that storekeepers in California invented it for miners during the Gold Rush. Teenagers adopted 'blue jeans' in the rebellious years of the 50's and 60's, and their appeal spread world wide. Today, denim clothing and accessories are a multi-million dollar industry.
Denim is a durable fabric, originally made of 100% cotton woven on the diagonal. It fades fastest in areas that are stretched or rubbed; the look of wear is part of the appeal. Hard-riding cowboys of the Old West helped romanticize the image, and the well-worn look is now high fashion. In fact, people now buy jeans pre-worn and pre-faded, with carefully-designed holes.
Once all jeans were blue, since the original fabric invented in Italy was died with natural indigo. Now, of course, they come in every color and can be made with synthetic fibers or cotton combined with spandex for stretchy fit and comfort. Although the word itself still means the original faded blue, fashion has brought infinite variety to clothes and other fashion details.
The fabric is not an American innovation but originated in Italy in the 1700's. It was used for military uniforms and factory wear. However, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss made 'levis' famous in the California Gold Rush days, when they created overalls and pants made of this strong cloth and reinforced with rivets at stress points. Miners, farmers, and ranchers all loved the unsurpassed durability of levis.
Today North America still buys most of the jeans made in the world, but the style is worn virtually everywhere. Once considered informal wear, blue jeans are now paired with blazers at fancy restaurants or worn with tweed coats to trendy outdoor activities (hunt races, polo games, soccer matches). Ladies wear jean skirts, and everyone likes jackets made of this material.
Pants, skirts, and jackets are made for people of all ages, even infants and toddlers. Other garments and accessories may look like the real thing but be fashioned from synthetic materials for lighter weight or from plastic, (watch bands, for instance). Hats, scarves, belts, shoes, boots, and handkerchiefs look like they're made from well-worn jean scraps. The look is popular for den furniture, picture frames, and lamp shades.
Actually, the word is now a color, the faded blue of a well-worn and well-loved garment. Even the 'stone-washed' craze for pre-faded and pre-washed garments of a grayer tint did not erase the predominance of the original blue. The world has never tired of its blue jeans.
All across America, from Laurel, MD where every groom on the racetrack wears it to the Los Angeles movie scene, denim is king. Even well-dressed Labs wear it tied around their necks. The garments made by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis over 150 years ago changed the nation and the world.
Denim is a durable fabric, originally made of 100% cotton woven on the diagonal. It fades fastest in areas that are stretched or rubbed; the look of wear is part of the appeal. Hard-riding cowboys of the Old West helped romanticize the image, and the well-worn look is now high fashion. In fact, people now buy jeans pre-worn and pre-faded, with carefully-designed holes.
Once all jeans were blue, since the original fabric invented in Italy was died with natural indigo. Now, of course, they come in every color and can be made with synthetic fibers or cotton combined with spandex for stretchy fit and comfort. Although the word itself still means the original faded blue, fashion has brought infinite variety to clothes and other fashion details.
The fabric is not an American innovation but originated in Italy in the 1700's. It was used for military uniforms and factory wear. However, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss made 'levis' famous in the California Gold Rush days, when they created overalls and pants made of this strong cloth and reinforced with rivets at stress points. Miners, farmers, and ranchers all loved the unsurpassed durability of levis.
Today North America still buys most of the jeans made in the world, but the style is worn virtually everywhere. Once considered informal wear, blue jeans are now paired with blazers at fancy restaurants or worn with tweed coats to trendy outdoor activities (hunt races, polo games, soccer matches). Ladies wear jean skirts, and everyone likes jackets made of this material.
Pants, skirts, and jackets are made for people of all ages, even infants and toddlers. Other garments and accessories may look like the real thing but be fashioned from synthetic materials for lighter weight or from plastic, (watch bands, for instance). Hats, scarves, belts, shoes, boots, and handkerchiefs look like they're made from well-worn jean scraps. The look is popular for den furniture, picture frames, and lamp shades.
Actually, the word is now a color, the faded blue of a well-worn and well-loved garment. Even the 'stone-washed' craze for pre-faded and pre-washed garments of a grayer tint did not erase the predominance of the original blue. The world has never tired of its blue jeans.
All across America, from Laurel, MD where every groom on the racetrack wears it to the Los Angeles movie scene, denim is king. Even well-dressed Labs wear it tied around their necks. The garments made by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis over 150 years ago changed the nation and the world.
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