Denim

DENIM / Denim is a rugged cotton twill textile, in which the weft passes under two (twi- "double") or more warp threads. This produces the familiar diagonal ribbing identifiable on the reverse of the fabric, which distinguishes denim from cotton duck. Denim has been in use in America since the late eighteenth century. The word comes from the name of a sturdy fabric called "serge", originally made in Nîmes, France. Originally called "serge de Nîmes", the name was soon shortened to "denim". Denim was traditionally coloured blue with indigo dye to make blue jeans, though jean then denoted a different, lighter cotton textile. The contemporary use of "jean" comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made. The word "selvage" comes from the phrase "self-edge", the natural edge of a roll of fabric. As applied to denim, it means that it is made on old-style shuttle looms. These looms weave fabric with one continuous cross thread (the weft) that is passed back and forth all the way down the lenght of the bolt. As the weft loops back into the edge of the denim it creates this selvage. Selvage is desirable because the edge can't fray like lower grade denims that have separate wefts which leave an open edge that must be stiched.








Levi's Vintage Clothing - 501 1947