Today, denim is worn across ages and social classes worldwide
Denim, which brings to mind rugged cowboys, iconic fashionistas and maybe the comfortable jeans you are wearing at the moment. But this renowned fabric has a history that runs deeper than its modern role in our wardrobes. Stand by for an exciting voyage into denim’s past: from strong workwear to a trendy must-have.
Can you think of a time before chic labels and trendy looks? In the 1800s, denim became practical for hard work. Remember gold miners in California enduring harsh conditions? Thus their wear was required to be tough enough to endure their hard working while digging for gold under extreme weather conditions. Meet Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant who saw opportunity.
Together with tailor Jacob Davis, he had a bright idea of fortifying durable trousers by using metal rivets on stressed areas. That’s it! First pair of blue jeans were made in 1873. Word went round very quickly about these denims and they became symbols of strength and commitment in people’s minds.
Denim began losing its merely functional meaning and significance in the early 1900s. Jeans now stand for something more than just rugged individualism, thanks to Hollywood westerns. Cowboys with their striking jeans started appearing in the movies. Think Marlon Brando and James Dean; they made denim fashionable and young people across the globe took note. No longer was denim only a garment worn at extreme workplaces; it became a way of defining oneself and standing out from others.
Denim underwent transformation during the seventies and eighties that marked a turning point for many denim lovers. The world’s most renowned designers changed denim from being an ordinary street wear to a high fashion item. It suddenly occurred that jeans were not only for cowboys or rebels; they turned into an avenue of putting creativity on display.
This fabric that had been used as workwear by labourers had now evolved into sophistication through designer cuts and high-end washes among other things. Famous people readily adopted this trend thus making denim jackets an essential fashion statement to rock today.
It is this flexibility that makes denim worth all the love it receives. Dress up or dress down, you can wear your jeans in any style that matches your personal taste. From ripped jeans of the grunge era to skinny jeans at the turn of century, denim has been changing with every fashion trend. Today, denim is worn across ages and social classes worldwide. It represents unity among us all through function and individuality.
Denims journey isn’t over yet. More and more denim are being made in eco-friendly ways as we become more informed about sustainability. To keep denim looking new and interesting, designers are always putting forward different washes, shapes or embellishments to try out.
This means that it will be a staple in our wardrobes for years to come because it is versatile and constantly evolving. Take some time to think about these facts when you flaunt your most loved pair of jeans next time; realize how old they have grown while becoming such a celebrated fabric by everyone on earth any day!
