Ripped jeans have been popular for some time now. People thought it was ridiculous at first – tattered jeans with loose threads and cuts; it just didn’t feel right at first glance.
But now, it’s a billion-dollar business with famed designer brands and celebrities on its front. Ripped jeans are everywhere now. Whether in the mall, in a crowded concert, or on the street, it never falls short of these bold looks.
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Right now they are the trend. Ripped jeans have stepped into the spotlight once again and it’s about time we got clear answers as to why.
Why Ripped Jeans Are Back In The Fashion Scene
- What Are Ripped Jeans?
- Its Political History
- Why Is It Back Now?
- Why Ripped Jeans Are A Hit Today
- Should You Wear Them?
What Are Ripped Jeans?
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In a nutshell, ripped jeans are your typical pair of pants with a wide variety of cuts along the panel to exude a street-chic aesthetic. These stylish incisions are either made using a laser or by hand. The main idea is to loosen the tightly woven fabric and let the frayed ends out.
Some ripped jeans makers use the laser method, where a machine burns the design onto the jeans. Advancements in technology greatly reduced the processing time from 30 minutes to 90 seconds, making the production of these jeans much more efficient.
Others use hand-ripping techniques to create the ripped look. Their incisions are far more intricate and on point, as they rip the jeans manually, a process that can take hours. They do this by sketching the design on the denim with a fabric marker or chalk. The cuts are then carefully carved using large and blunt shears (the bluntness of the shears makes the rips look more natural). Then finally, the threads are pulled using a fabric picker, which gives it a more authentic-looking finish.
That’s what ripped jeans are and these are the various methods used to create them. Now, let’s take a closer look at where these trendy pairs of pants came from and see how they became the favorite outdoor pick in today’s generation.
Its Political History
Loeb Strauss, a German businessman (who later changed his name to Levi), created the first pair of jeans in the 1870s. He innovatively used a twilled cotton cloth, to create a durable trouser for factory work. Indigo – a beautiful dye produced by an Indian plant – was then used to create the classic dark blue color for the jeans.
In the ’70s, a cultural punk movement introduced the trend of ripped jeans. The rips signified their deep-seated rebellion. It was the early punks’ expression of their anger towards the common society. Denim then became a central figure in this political statement.
Tattered jeans along with Pendleton littered the streets during the ‘90s. This continued into the 2000s, where ripped jeans finally got included in the casual chic clothing line. Now, ripped jeans are a popular favorite among musicians, like Iggy Pop to Curt Cobain, and The Ramones.
Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Kaboom Pics
Why Is It Back Now?
Ripped jeans made a grand comeback with a new name – the distressed denim. Famous designer brands showed the jeans’ untapped potential by giving a glimpse of it on the catwalk. Big-box retailers also started to stock up on them when ripped jeans came back into style.
It’s no surprise that ripped jeans are now back in the scene when it has garnered this much attention from leading brands and celebrities.
Ripped jeans have become people’s classic favorite for one simple reason: personality. It is a fashionable clothing line that screams a lot of personal characteristics. The uncanny rips that expose your bare knees or thighs can easily give a lax yet bold impression. The loose threads on the cuts casually evoke a wild ferocity that you won’t see in any other clothes.
Despite the messy and ragged look, there’s actually a lot more science behind these seemingly random rips. For instance, the holes are always horizontal, because vertical cuts go against the grain of the denim, which can make the jeans fall apart. The holes should also never be wider than the leg, and they should never be more than an inch high when you are standing up (as they’ll expose more skin when you sit). This ensures a fully comfortable and fashionable experience with the jeans.
These jeans are generally versatile too, as they can adapt to any look and add a cool, youthful touch without bogging your outfit down with many layers and accessories. You can easily pair them with a leather jacket or a simple sweatshirt, a silk top for a night out, or even a tank top if you’re opting for a cozy look.
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Should You Wear Them?
They are definitely a good wardrobe pick for a casual hang-out with your friends, a loose party or a summer vacation. However, because of their informal and laid-back looks, they’re not ideal for formal events like weddings, or church nights unless they’re part of the theme. Ripped jeans will bring more personality to your overall attire and help you exude a new level of confidence, but that’s not necessarily good for formal scenarios.
Giving ripped jeans a try is a life-changing and fashion-altering experience, as they live up to their reputation as a trendsetting clothing item. Paired with the right clothing and worn for the ideal event, ripped jeans will surely make you a highlight of the occasion.
Conclusion
Ripped jeans are back in the scene and we can now understand why. It is a resourceful innovation of the classic factory jeans, and it just keeps getting better.
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