An Analysis of Denim Jeans

Jeans are a part of all of our lives today. They have become as common as t-shirts, and everyone will wear a pair of jeans at some point, usually in a variety of flavors (baggy or tight, dark or light, bootcut, skinny jeans, regular fit, etc). On May 20, 1873, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss obtained a patent on what is now known as "blue jeans" pants, and began creating these pants. Blue jeans were worn mostly by blue-collar workers until they became popular among adolescents in the 1950s, and from then on denim has become a common apparel material. Denim jackets, denim backpacks, even denim underwear has entered the market of available clothing for the modern family, but why is denim such a great material?

Denim has some very unique qualities to it. The texture of denim jeans is generally smooth and thick, yet rough and tough. Jeans were created by Jacob Davis installing rivets at certain stress-points of the jeans, which allowed the jeans to hold stronger, and become the "sturdy work-pants" they are typically associated with. Denim jeans have diagonal lines, and vertical lines displayed throughout the jeans. These patterns create balance and unity through repetition. The typical yellow-orange stitching of dashed lines around the seams of the jeans creates a great contrasting and complementary color combination on the jeans, which adds a subtle effect to the dynamism of the jeans. The stress-areas on the jeans allow a darkened area where the dye has collected to show deeper colors, emphasizing these areas that already get scrunched together.

The actual textile of denim is created when the weft passes underneath two or more warp threads, which produces the identifiable diagonal ribbing. Of course the diagonal and vertical lines displayed in most denim jeans creates a staccato visual rhythm and a visual pattern of dark-value and light-value which really creates the vertical and horizontal lines, and the focal points that we look at because of the darkened or lightened values at certain stress points on the jeans. The diagonal lines that are created by the weaving of the cotton that creates the denim jeans creates the dynamic sensation that makes this clothing such a timeless item. It looks hardworking, relaxed, yet modern, and sexy all at once.

Of course the focal points in the jeans are the denim pockets, which are always unique in shape and size, and the front rivet button that hold the pants together right below the navel. The denim jeans takes the concept of a durable and stylish working pants and creates a cheap and effective form to express its purpose.