Denim Care Guide

COOL TIPS FOR RAW DENIM CARE

Raw denim can confuse and scare some people, but what you are actually dealing with is denim in its purest form.

To first cover the basics, raw denim is denim that has not been washed after the indigo dying process, which means that over time the indigo colour will fade in any areas where the denim is regularly creased or rubbed. This natural fading creates unique patterns of wear that will become your individual denim fingerprint over time.

WATCH OUT FOR SHRINKAGE

You've just picked up your brand new pair of raw denim jeans and your first reaction is to wear them out of the store, right? Hang tight! You need to check if your new pair of jeans has been pre-shrunk (or sanforized) during the manufacturing process.

If your raw denim is unsanforized (i.e. not pre-shrunk), it will shrink drastically – approximately 2" in length*and waist – after its first wash.

You could imagine how annoyed you'd be if, after months of wear, you give your denim a complete, proper wash (more on this later), and your hard-earned fades have shifted 2" higher!

So, if your denim is unsanforized you need to give them a post-purchase, pre-wear soak, following these simple steps:

1.  Fill your bathtub with 2-3 inches of hot, but not scolding, water. Bear in mind that the hotter the water, the more indigo will be lost.
   Optional: to optimize the post-soak fit you can sit in the bathtub wearing your denim.
2. Flip your raw denim inside out and lay them flat in the tub for 1-2 hours, with something heavy-ish resting on top of them to keep them submerged. Do not try to shake or move your denim too much, otherwise you will risk losing more indigo.
3. Remove your jeans from the water and hang them out to dry, up-side down. This also helps reduce the shrinkage.

WASH WITH CARE

Once you've determined if your raw denim needs a pre-wear soak you're ready to go

Unsurprisingly, aside from the stiff, rigid material, the toughest thing people find with raw denim for most is wearing them a lot and washing them very little.

The reality though is that the longer and harder denim is worn (some denim heads even sleep in them), the faster you will create those personalized, vivid fades.

We suggest that an optimal amount of time before washing is six months, but wearing them for longer won't have any detrimental effects, whereas washing prematurely will not give you enough time to achieve those strong, contrasting creases.

When washing time does come around, follow these steps:

1. Draw a bathtub of cool to lukewarm water, about 3-4 inches deep.
2. Mix in a small amount of very light washing powder, preferably something specially designed to lock in darker colours, like Woolite Black. Don't use bleaches or regular laundry detergent
3. Lay your raw denim inside out and flat in the bathtub and submerge them in the water by placing heavy object on top.
4. Leave to soak for 45 minutes
5. Rinse with cool water to remove the detergent
6. Remove the water and hang dry up-side down, ideally outdoor and in the sun.

KEEP THEM FRESH

As you'll be wearing your raw denim on a daily basis and not washing them for six months, you will undoubtedly run into minor hygiene problems. Whether it is a spillage or a funky smell, these "incidents" often become too prominent to ignore.

Here are some handy tips on how to resolve some of the most common problems: blood stains, smells, and chewing gum.

BLOOD

Sometimes blood isn't noticeable on dark denim, but if you want it gone here is how:

1. Lay jeans flat and isolate blood-stained area.
2. Draw cold water (as cold as possible) and soak a cloth. Cold water is optimal for protein-based stains like blood, so it is vital you do not use warm or hot water.
3. Dab (don't scrub) the stained area until as much blood as possible is removed
4. If denim is still stained, apply tiny amount of soap or use a stain remover pen
5. Dab again with cold, wet cloth.

CHEWING GUM

This can be a real nightmare and should be dealt with ASAP:

1. Pick off as much gum as you can.
2. Wrap an ice cube in cloth.
3. Rub the affected area and soon the frozen gum residue will simply fall off.
4. If some persistent gum won't shift, use a toothpick or butter knife to pick it off.

ODOUR 

Bacteria thrives in humid environments, so if your denim gets damp it is likely to acquire an unpleasant odor. Here is how to remove it:

1. Lay your jeans flat, brush them off and empty the pockets.
2. Fold carefully and compactly place jeans into plastic bag.
3. Place them in the freezer.
4. Leave for several hours to kill the bacterial.
5. Remove from the freezer and enjoy your fresh-smelling jeans

HANGIN' OUT

it's also important to be mindful of your denim when you're not wearing them. Are you the type to toss your clothes on the ground? The risk is that if you don't store your raw denim properly, you will muddle or lose the wear patterns you have made (I've learned this the hard way), damage the fabric, and potentially creating an ideal breeding-ground for odor-causing bacteria.

Hanging your denim solves these problems and lets them air out when they're not being worn. Make use of the belt loops if you're running short of hangers.

If you follow these five tips you and your raw denim should have a long and happy relationship with each other. Like with any good girlfriend, raw denim requires a fair bit of maintenance, care, and attention, but in the end they're well worth the hassle.

Smoking killer

Cigarette smokers are said to have chance of getting various fatal diseases. But I think that other people’s tobacco smoke seems to increase the chances of non-smokers getting a wide range of cancers.

First , although passive smokers inhale less tobacco smoke, the researchers point out that the smoke they breathe in is richer in many toxic chemicals. There is an example, three times as much as benzo-apyrene, six times as much loluene and more than 50 times as much dimenthyl nitrosamine. Of course these substances will harm our body in the long run.

Second , the recent research reported that the risk of getting cancers not normally associated with smoking also rose among passive smokers. The risk of leukaemia rose 6 – 8 times and the risk of cervical cancer increased 3 – 4 times.

Third , past studies have found that by product of cigarette smoke such as coinine and thiocynate, turn up in the blood, urine and saliva of non –smoking adults, children and fetuses that have been exposed to smokers. These substances are the main causes of various cancers.

In short , the effects of exposure to the cigarette smoking of others are greater than has been previously suspected. That is why passive smokers have more chances of contracting cancer than people with no such expose.

How To Rock A Denim Dress

Style blogger Flávia from Criciúma, Brazil shows us how a denim dress doesn’t have to be prom queen cheesy or Diesel Island sexy—there is a happy medium! Here she rocks a Damyller denim dress with atiered skirt and fringe edges with Gabriela Faraco accessories. Two great Brazilian brands and one Brazilian babe? We’re all over it! But she’s not just cute, she knows her stuff! She works heavy, powerfulmetallic accessories into the look so that her aesthetic is balanced with the weight of the denim garment, but still spunky enough to throw off the whole tiered-dress-frilly-factor. Bottom line? If you wear a denim dress, go bold all the way! A slinky silver chain just wouldn’t cut it in this outfit.

How To Remove Odors From Your Vintage Denim (Or Vintage Anything, Actually)!

We all love shopping vintage. There are few things closer to actually treasure hunting than picking through the selections at your favorite second hand & vintage store. But truth be told, sometimes the history behind your new favorite denim skirt or chambray dress comes through in more ways than one. We’re talking about odor. Want to zap the unpleasant aroma ASAP? Follow this tip we found on Glamour:

Janie Bryant, Mad Men costume designer, says “All you have to do is mix one part vodka with two parts water in a spray bottle. It works every time—that’s the power of vodka for you.”

Cropped Boyfriend Jeans Are Your Go-To Denim This Fall

Vogue accessory editor Sylvana Soto-Ward ways, “Cropped-and-pegged jeans are perfect for showing off a strong pair of sandals or cute flats, they also look swell with a winter-friendly ankle boot.” (via Who What Wear)

Check out three of our favorite boyfriend jeans of the moment below:

1. DENIM & SUPPLY Ralph Lauren Ripped Boyfriend Jeans ($200) – buy it at Harrods.

2. AG Jeans The Ex-Boyfriend Crop 28 Years Destroyed ($245) – buy it at AG Jeans.

3. Current/Elliott The Boyfriend High-Rise Jeans ($81) – buy it at The Outnet.

Exposed Denim Workshirt Collar As An Accent

Today’s denim tip is all about style: the exposed denim collar, worn under a layered pop-color top. Check out style blogger Hanna’s bold-but-simple outfit combo. Even though the focal point of this outfit is primarily the hot pink top, the collar peeking out at the neckline becomes as important as a statement accessory. After this formula is executed, you just need a sleek pair of skinnies and some chic flats or lace-up boots to bring it all together. Try it out this week!

How To Incorporate Distressed Denim Into Your Fall Wardrobe

Distressed denim was all over New York Fashion Week and we couldn’t be happier about it! It is such an easy trend to keep up with and what is really great about it is how it gives your outfit some attitude without looking like you’re trying too hard. But what do you wear it with? The guys over at Gilt MANual have got you covered! Check out the many ways you can rock this trend all season long!

What To Wear With A Light Jean Jacket

As it is beginning to get colder out, it can be hard to find the right thing to wear to keep warm, but not toowarm. Thankfully, jean jackets are just the thing to get the job done, and (bonus!) look great while doing it. Wondering what goes with a jean jacket? Lucky for you, the guys over at Gilt MANual have laid it out for us plain and simple!

“What are the options to match with a light denim jacket?

Sunglasses. A white T-shirt. A white button-down. A white button-down with a tie. A blue button-down. A blue button-down with a tie. A pink button down… but probably not with a tie. A corduroy shirt. A flannel. Chinos. Of any color. Well, maybe except bright red. Cargo pants. Dark denim jeans. Light denim jeans. Cords. Cutoffs. A vintage watch.

How To Stay Warm In Flare Jeans This Winter

Flare jeans are making a comeback, but what do you wear them with in the colder months? Check out what this ShopBop stylist recommends to make sure you looking cool and cozy.

Q: It’s officially winter, and I go nowhere without a heavy coat. How can I pair parkas and flares without looking too bulky?

A: Again, keep things minimal and linear. Try a longer jacket with clean lines, hitting at the mid-thigh or knee. A wool trench coat is great, especially belted!

Denim Therapy Tutorial: Removing wax from your jeans

Let’s face it: sometimes we’re not all as graceful as we’d like to be. We slip, trip, and spill and many times, the universe will have these things happen at the most unfortunate times. So, when Denim Therapy‘s Renee found herself in her brand new black Nudie Jeans, hanging at a bar, with a wax spill on her precious pants, she knew she had to figure out how to fix them. Watch as Renee shows us how to get white candle wax out of black denim!

What Jeans To Wear To Holiday Dinner

What jeans should you wear to holiday dinner (AKA, the grand tradition of over-eating)? Raven Denim suggests you aim for higher-than-usual-waisted jeans, if you don’t want to resemble a stuffed bird. Aim for mid-rise to be comfortable and still contain your food baby.
“Don’t be afraid of a higher rise. After you have dinner, everyone gets a little tummy. Wear a a mid-rise, which will hold you in, while giving you versatility to tuck-in or wear loose.” (Ya’el Torbati, Raven Denim)

Try This Vinegar + Oven Treatment To Remove Odor From Raw Denim

Today’s tip comes by way of Rawr Denim, assessing the crisis of jeans with odor. If the previously discussed methods of cleaning have not worked for you, you might give these two methods of cleaning raw denim a go.

How-To Clean Your Raw Denim via Vinegar Wash

1. Fill a bathtub with enough cold water to completely submerge the denim
2. Addabout 2 cups of white vinegar
3. Lay the pants flat and inside out
4. Agitate and flip several times over few hours of soaking
5. Rinse with cold water and hang dry (ideally outdoors)

How-To Clean Your Raw Denim via Oven Treatment
1. Preheat oven to 400°F and turn back to 175°F – 200°F
2. Flip denim inside out and fold to fit on center rack
3, Leave for 1-2 minutes and shut oven door
4. Remove from oven to cool down (fumes may exude from fabric)
5. Refold and reposition denim on rack for 1-2 more minutes; be mindful for denim not to scorch

In the Rawr Denim example, the jeans were not sufficiently odor-free after the vinegar soak alone, so they were put into the oven to be cured of stank.
“While this an extreme example that pertains to black sulphuric-dyed denim, the oven technique made scientific sense (i.e. sulphuric dye must be broken down into particles via heat exposure prior to being water soluble) and proved to be extremely effective.”
Rawr Denim also warns that the oven cleaning method is the most hazardous & dangerous way to clean your jeans, so proceed at your own risk!

How To Keep Jeans Clean Without Losing Your Denim Snob Street Cred

“Don’t wash your jeans!”
We hear it over and over, and many of us abide by this denim-addict’s rule of thumb when it comes to letting denim take its shape around your figure, and letting wear happen naturally. But the fact is, after a certain period of time, you’re going to want to remove odors, dirt, and even dead skin cells (yep, their final resting place is your jeans).  Freezing denim removes odor to some extent, but if you’ve decided it’s time to take action with *gulp* water… there’s a right way to do it.
Check out this awesome tutorial on washing raw denim from Park & Bond (and visit the original to see their informative graphics).

Step 1: Fill a sink, tub, bucket or other jean-sized vessel with lukewarm water and a small amount of ultra-mild detergent. Woolite Dark is a good bet, but it’s very concentrated, so start with just a couple of teaspoons. Take a deep breath, ignore the anticipated slights from the hip police running through your mind, and put your smelly-ass jeans in the tub. Make sure they’re fully submerged (this may require you to weigh them down).
Step 2: Soak them for about an hour, giving them a stir half way through to loosen any dirt that’s worked its way into the denim.
Step 3: Remove the jeans, drain the tub (of course), and rinse them thoroughly with cold water to remove detergent residue. Roll them up in a dry towel that you don’t mind staining blue to remove some moisture.
Step 4: Hang them out to dry. (Note: Make sure you hang them in a place that has good air movement, as you don’t want your jeans to mildew. Also, take care to hang them somewhere that won’t be ruined by a steady flow of indigo-infused water.) Do not tumble dry, as all that heat will undo your good work. Once your jeans are dry, pull them on and proceed to beat the hell out of ‘em till they need a bath again.

Closet Cleaning! Four Reasons To Ditch A Few Pairs Of Jeans

As you guys already know, we’re not really advocates of getting rid of jeans. In fact, we offer a huge range of reasons to keep ‘em with our Denim Therapy expert repair and alterations services, because even if they tear, you lose weight, or they don’t fit quite right, there’s a way to fix them up and make them your favorite pair again. But if you’re like us, you have about 100 pairs of jeans floating around, and sometimes donating denim to make room for superior pairs is a good idea.

1. When they are covered in rhinestones and you used to love them in Junior high. Seriously, we’re proud of you for still being able to fit into them, but they’re covered in rhinestones and you’re not in Junior high anymore. We’re sure some 12-year-old girl would love to uncover them while treasure hunting at a local thrift store.
2. When they’re three sizes too small and you used to love them in Junior high. If you want to be confident and feel amazing in jeans, wearing the same ones you wore in days-gone-by (while that might make you feel “young” for a minute) is not the way to do it. Wearing jeans that fit your figure now will help you look proportionate and stylish in ways ill-fitting jeans cannot.
3. If the pocket placement makes your butt look too big/too small/ too awkward. There are a lot of things you can modify when it comes to denim, but pocket placement is a crucial aspect of whether or not your butt looks good in jeans. Your denim collection should reflect trial and error pocket placement according to the unique shape of your bum.
4. If you have more than six pairs of the same cut/style/wash. We can sympathize here, as denim-lovers ourselves, but sometimes the extra closet space to branch out in your denim wardrobe is more valuable than owning a hundred of the same pair. The beauty of jeans is that they can be worn over and over without daily washing, so having a back-up arsenal of verbatim styles is not necessary. Why not explore some new cuts and colors in jeans instead?

How To Avoid Destroying Your Jeans When You Wash Them

Ruined jeans? Colors faded or dye bleeding? Oh no! Chances are, it could have been prevented. Garde Robe imparts some knowledge on making sure you don’t destroy your jeans when you’re washing and caring for them. This tip comes from our previously Q&A, which you can read for more expert advice.

“We’ve all had the experience of a pair of jeans bleeding or shrinking in wash. It’s important like any garment, to read and follow the care instructions for each and every pair of denim jeans we own.
Follow the instructions carefully to keep them looking bright and new, or break all the rules and create the denim you want. I’d always recommend washing denim by hand, if not professionally. If you do machine wash your jeans, I’d recommend separating and washing your jeans individually in a cold wash to prevent bleeding & shrinking.
Wash inside out with all buttons or zippers unfastened. Use a half-sized amount of color guard detergent of your preference. Wash on a gentle or hand dry cycle. When done, tumble dry on a low heat, never high. Remove from dryer when still damp to touch. Dry flat.”

Brighten Up Double Denim With White Shoes This Fall

Double denim’s been done. We still love it, but it’s nothing new, and at this point, you’re probably wondering how you can freshen up the look of a two-tone blue outfit. Here’s one way we love—a pair of big white platform shoes! White is a dramatic accent (more dramatic than black if you use it correctly), and when you’re working with one basic color in your look, a flash of white can mean the difference between an average ensemble and something worth street-style-snapping. In the market for a pair of white platforms? We love the Jeffrey Campbell Two Timer White Suede Perforated Wedge (on sale right now for $87.50).

Four Items To Invest In (Including Jeans) This Fall/Winter

Here’s a bit of shopping advice by Jessica Quirk of What I Wore. “If you’re going to spend money on investment items, look for a quality winter coat and boots, jeans and a cocktail dress.”
Here are a few ideas!

1. Rag & Bone Mid-rise skinny jeans ($240) – buy it at Net-A-Porter.
2. Australia Luxe sage rubber ‘Duke’ shearling lined rain boots ($153) – buy it at Bluefly.
3. Dress Up Topshop Sequin bodycon dress ($118) – buy it at Topshop.
4. Barbour Winter White honour wool trench coat ($493.35) – buy it at My Wardrobe.
Quote via Metromix.

How To Wear Isabel Marant Navajo Print Embroidered Jeans

With tribal prints all the rage, what better of a way to sport the look than with denim. Isabel Marant has done this perfectly with her  amazing Navajo print embroidered denim inspired by the trend. These tribal patterned jeans have been worn by celebrities such as Nicole Richie and Cheryl Coles. Paired with a simple blazer and high platforms this is the perfect look to transition into the winter months. One may need to dig a little deep in their pockets to splurge for a pair, but it’s worth it, right?!

Denim and Dry Jeans

Every people like to wear clothes and pants. The most pants which people like to wear is jeans. Because jeans is easy to mix with any clothes you wear. Now, There are so many type and models of jeans in the world, like :

• Dry Jeans
• Denim
• Levis Jeans
• Casual Jeans
• Sport Jeans

I try to describe all about denim and dry jeans. So, check it out