As everyone knows, jeans are a simple pant made from a fabric called denim. They have quite a colorful history and are an integral part of the growth of the American West. They were a popular garment for cowboys, outlaws, farmers, and railroad workers. Some brands of jeans have been around for quite a few generations. Brands like Levi’s, Wrangler and Carhartt jeans have all survived and contributed to the growth of this great nation: America.
Before There Were Jeans
Prior to blue jeans there was an indigo cloth exported from India during the 16th century called dungaree. It was very thick and made of cotton and sailors used it to make clothes.
The jeans fabric itself was first made in the late 1600s in Italy. It was first made for the Italian navy as the fabric could be worn either wet or dry. In addition its versatility allowed the legs to rolled up while washing the boat decks and it could be easily washed with a ducking in the ocean. This fabric came to be called denim.
The Rivets
Sailors brought their denim trousers to the Americas with them on their voyages of discovery. The farmers and ranchers in the states soon adopted them and they gradually made their way out west to be adopted by cowboys and miners of the day. One day a salesman named Levi Straus noticed a miner kept on purchasing his cloth to reinforce pants he was wearing that kept on ripping while he worked the mines. The miner eventually decided to reinforce the pants with copper rivets in areas that were prone to be torn. Levi suggested they go into business together and the rivet jean was born.
On The Railroad
It seems engineers and railroad workers had a similar problem to the miners of the time. Working around heavy machinery resulted in pants and shirts that were easily shredded and torn. Thanks to the discovery of Hamilton Carhartt, Carhartt jeans came to the rescue of the train engineers. Carhartt jeans were also a denim blue jean with a twist. They had a bib top to protect the shirts of the railroad engineer and railroad worker. In addition Carhartt jeans were so durable and long lasting they gained a reputation as the worker’s jean.
Jeans In Culture
Blue jeans, like Carhartt jeans, became quite popular with factory workers during the Second World War. Jeans became a symbol of protest by teenagers during the 1950s and in some areas of the country youngsters wearing jeans were banned from admittance to establishments. By the 1960s and 1970 jeans became an acceptable mode of fashion. In today’s society jeans are a necessity and part of every persons wardrobe from senior citizens to toddlers. In addition, the popularity of blue jeans is now global making its mark in the Soviet Union and China.
Today denim blue jeans can be stonewashed, bleached, distressed or shredded. One pair can cost $1000.00 or $19.95 at your local discount store. They can for made for the fashion forward by such designers as Calvin Klein or Gloria Vanderbilt. Or, they can be made with the sole purpose of serving the worker as a lasting durable garment intended to withstand stress and extreme wear like Carhartt jeans. |
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