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Theworddenimcameabout
from theFrenchnameof the
fabricknownas “SergedeNimes”
whichStrauss then turned to
Denim. Denim isheavy twill-
wovencotton, anatural fiber that
absorbsmoisturequickly, dries
quickly, andhas acoolingeffect
when it iswarm. Theoriginal Levi
JeansDesign501 didnot undergo
toomanychangesover theyears,
with theexceptionof becoming
tighter fitting. In the 1960s,
preshrunk jeans knownas Levi
Design505, regular fit jeanswith
a zipper flyopening rather than
abuttonfly, becameavailable.
Thisdesignwas followedbya
slimboot-cut jeanswithanormal
waistlineknownas Levi Design
517, and then lowerwaistline
jeans referred toas Levi Design
527. Since the 1970s, Strauss&Co.
haveproduced trendy styles such
as the loose, comfort, relaxed,
slim, and skinny jeans.
The riseof popularitycameby the
1930swhencowboys alsoadopted
the indestructiblepant.Western
moviesboosted itspopularity
amongyoungmenandboys
andeveryonewantedapair like
theones their idol iswearingon
screen. During the60s and70s
jeanswere reinventedandbecame
a symbol of acare-freegeneration.
By then, theywerebell-bottomed
andhadbeads, embroideryand
paint. By the80s, the rock scene
addedanother twistwhichwas
acidwash, rips andholes –which
arecurrently in trend. The90s
optedaneater andclassic look. It
isobvious that jeanswereclimbing
the social ladder appealing to
manyclasseswithdifferent tastes.
Nowadays, thedenim trend is
makingacomeback in full force
withmuchof thedesigns inspired
by the90sdenim-on-denim looks
and jacket patches. Big fashion
houseshave recentlydisplayed
denimaspart of their collections
for 2017 suchasAlexanderWang,
Balenciagaandevenclassicbrands
asChanel &Gucci. If there isone
thing I know for sure is that denim
ishere to stay. All hail thekingof
pants!
“JEANSARE
EXPRESSIVEAND
DISCREET, THEY
HAVESEXAPPEAL
ANDSIMPLICITY,-
EVERYTHING I COULD
WANTFORTHE
CLOTHES I DESIGN”
YVESSAINT-LAURENT
