If, after reading this, you still have questions, visit the Denim Encyclopedia. If you still can’t find the answers you’re looking for, reach out to us here. We’re always keen to help new members of this constantly growing community. Love denim and fades? Join the competition! REGISTERED OFFICE CHANGED ON 28/10/20 FROM 34 Watling Street Road Fulwood Preston Lancashire PR2 8BP

You can go to town on your denim with a scouring pad, sandpaper, or chemical agents. The result might be a pair that looks the part, but you’ve missed the point in a big way.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any more ridiculous. It may sound farfetched, but one method of washing favoured by some hardcore denimheads is to take your jeans for a dip in the sea. Men's or boys' bib and brace overalls, of cotton (excl. knitted or crocheted, industrial and occupational) The original 501® proprietary shrink-to-fit fabric has a very distinguished look and fabric characteristics due to the unique shrinkage and construction,” Murphy says. She adds, “Most jeans that are found in stores today have gone through some kind of pre-washing process to soften the fabric and reduce shrinkage post-wear and wash.” How does raw denim fit versus other types of denim? But heavy pre-distressing – the artfully placed rips and worn patches (artfully placed in identical spots on a thousand pairs, that is) – is best avoided. For one, artificial fading processes have largely been environmentally bad news, not to mention detrimental to the health of the people employed to do the work; that’s why they’re using lasers to achieve the same finish these days. And for two, it rarely looks authentic. Some distressing is done convincingly. Most of it is not – putting fades and rips where they would never occur through actual wear, for example. How Should Raw Denim Jeans Fit? If you’re new to the raw denim scene, the answers below will help you come to battle armed with a proven fading and washing strategy. This is everything you need to know about how to fade and wash your raw denim.

There are plenty of faders who only wear their jeans part time and still manage to produce beautiful fades. They make up for their time away from their denim by wrench monkeying in the garage or climbing mountains in every moment of their spare time. They know that great fades won’t come to us. We’ve got to chase them. Either way, your jeans should be washed with as little other clothing as possible, on a short cycle, and using a minimum amount of bleaching agent-free washing powder (or even a small amount of mild shampoo). Despite the standard ‘wash at 60°C’ label, wash them on as cold a setting as possible. Understanding Shrinkage Raw denim is denim that is unwashed in garment form,” Murphy tells Vogue. “It has a clean look and a dark indigo color.” According to McDonald, “All denim starts as raw denim. Technically speaking, once it hits water, it is no longer considered raw.” During the raw denim washing process known as blooming, as McDonald explains, different treatments such as hand sanding, laser technology, sponge potassium, and ozone bring out the natural qualities of the fabric that raw denim’s dark exterior otherwise hides. Wet a cloth and dab the affected area, but don’t rub. You want to minimise how much of the dye you take off and scrubbing away like an angry maid is not going to help. Once dry, repeat again as needed. 3. BathtubIf in doubt, return the jeans. If you do anything to them to try and shrink them, you’ll no longer be able to do that. Your denim education resource

Remember, most dedicated faders wear the same pair every day without fail for months (or even years) on end. If you want fades and want them now, live loud and live in one pair. Don’t cheat! FAQ #2: How can I accelerate the fade process? Let’s just say, maybe don’t sit on your friend’s cream boucle sofa when you come over for a glass of wine,” McDonald advises when wearing raw denim. What is the suggested care for raw denim?Raw denim will develop its own unique character with wear, particularly if you avoid washing it for the first 6 months Aside from the leg style of the jeans, raw denim will come in different rises as well. If you want the jeans to sit lower on your hips, you may spring for a pair of low rise raw denim jeans. Alternatively, if you’d prefer a more retro look and feel, opt for a pair of more high waisted jeans.