Denim is a cotton fabric used in clothing, known for its twill weave and diagonal rib. Originally for workwear, it’s now ubiquitous in fashion. Levi Strauss made the first blue jeans in 1850, and denim has since become popular among all classes. It’s available in various colors and blends, with stretch denim being common. Denim is still dominated by early manufacturers but high-fashion designers also use it.
Denim is a type of cotton fabric known for its use in blue jeans and other clothing. It uses a strong twill weave with a distinctive diagonal rib. Originally used for workwear, denim is now ubiquitous and has even entered the world of high fashion. Nowadays almost everyone has at least one garment made with this fabric in their closet.
Levi Strauss is credited with making the first denim blue jeans in 1850, for gold prospectors in California. In the 1930s and 1940s, commercially sold denim workwear became very popular, with new companies like Dickies and Wrangler joining the trend. Comfortable, durable, and associated with blue-collar culture, the fabric quickly became fashionable among working-class youth in the United States. Denim jackets became a fashion statement in the 1950s along with jeans.
Over the decades, denim has continued to capture a larger market. In the 1970s, women wore it just as frequently as men, and denim skirts and dresses could be found in numerous styles. In the 1980s, designer jeans were all the rage, and a style once associated with the working class was updated for well-heeled yuppies. While denim is still considered a casual material and isn’t usually worn for more formal occasions, it’s not uncommon to see people wearing jeans in high-end night clubs, and many designer pieces cost hundreds of US dollars (USD).
Denim was originally dyed blue with indigo, hence the signature color of “blue jeans”. While blue remains a popular color, fabric can be found today in nearly every color imaginable. It is also available in a cotton blend, although it is traditionally 100% cotton. Some blends add a little Lycra® or spandex to create stretch denim. Early manufacturers, including Levi’s and Dickies, still dominate the market, although high-fashion designers such as Calvin Klein are also famous for their denim pieces.
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