Denim jeans have been an essential item of clothing since the 19th century. Before the 1950s, most denim jeans were crafted from raw and selvedge denim. In the decades since the way jeans were produced changed drastically with the implementation of new cost-cutting technologies and manufacturing in developing countries.
Raw and Selvedge denim remains available at a slightly higher cost and has recently seen a resurgence in demand. Even though most raw denim enthusiasts are obsessed with achieving fades on their jeans, there are still a small community of people who want to preserve the dark indigo colour their jeans are when they purchase them. There are a few approaches for maintaining that dark colour, much to the dismay of some raw denim devotees.
- Soak in water and white vinegar
- Iron sporadically
- Wash with specific denim care brands
- Refrain from strenuous activity when wearing the jeans
- Buy non-fading denim
- Have your jeans dry cleaned (professionally)
Soak in water and white vinegar
You may have seen this hack featured on our blog before in the How To Remove Stains With Viniger post. Luckily for you, vinegar has lots of incredible uses that don’t include fish and chips, like being used to set the indigo dye in your jeans.
Once mixed with water (about half a cup for a tub full), soak the pair of jeans in the mixture to limit any further fades. This is also a good cleaning option for denim heads who don’t want to wash there jeans at all.
Iron regularly to stop creasing
Parts of your jeans that crease are often the first places that you will find fading; the crotch, knees and the seat are the most prominent areas for fading.
Ironing out these creases after every wear will help minimize fading in the areas mentioned above. This isn’t the most time-efficient method and will require a high level of dedication from the wearer. So it all depends on how dedicated you are to minimizing those fades.
Wash with specific denim care brands
There are a host of reliable brands that have been tried and tested by the raw denim community to ensure the best care for your jeans. However, it is important to bear in mind if you want to limit fades, avoid the washing machine at all costs.
One common brand used to clean raw denim is Woolite Dark washing detergent. A small amount of Woolite Dark mixed with water provides an excellent soaking environment to soak your denim in. Alternatively, brands like Mr Black Garment Essentials produce ‘Denim Refresh’ products, a biodegradable solution designed to clean, refresh and extend the life of your beloved raw denim jeans.
Refrain from excessive activity
Without a doubt, the most depressing option on this list, refraining from wearing your new raw denim is probably the last thing you want to think about right now.
Having several different pairs of selvedge jeans can mean spacing out how much you wear each pair, leading to less fading in the long run. This option is obviously dependant on your budget and how desperate you are to maintain that dark indigo look.
Buying non-fade denim
This one has to go down as the easiest tip on this list and that is to just buy jeans that don’t fade. Unfortunately, raw denim that doesn’t fade comes at a hefty price and aren’t commonly found.
Some traditional denim brands like Pure Blue Japan have recently started making raw denim that won’t fade. PBJ sells a pair called NC-005. The “NC” stands for ‘No Change’, referring to the fabric holding its colour. These jeans will still show signs of wear, but will not fade to a lighter shade like other raw selvedge denim.
Have your jeans dry cleaned (professionally)
Taking your jeans to specialists like us here at Laundryheap ensures your denim will get the best care possible. Our service is reliable, professional and takes just 24hours. Did we mention that it’s also free next day delivery? What are you waiting for!
