I have never lived in a world where blue jeans didn’t exist – so it got me thinking. How did the blue jean craze start and how has it evolved throughout the years to become one of the most favored styles of pants in the world? Here are five quick facts about jeans that give insight about this clothing item that sells approximately 450 million pairs annually in the U.S. alone.
1. Who made the first pair of blue jeans?
Levi Strauss & Co. have been credited for making the first pair of blue jeans, a company headed by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis.
2. When was the first pair of blue jeans made?
In 1873, the first pair of blue jeans was made in San Francisco, California. It was patented for it’s fasting pocket-openings (created by Jacob Davis) on May 20, 1873. Both Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis held the patent.
3. What was the first name for jeans?
They were originally called ‘waist overalls’. The term ‘jeans’ became popular in the 1960s when the jean wearing audience expanded from mainly workers wearing them for practical reasons to the baby boomers who helped them reach the level of popularity they are at today.
4. What was the original style?
The first jeans came in two styles, indigo blue and brown cotton “duck”. The brown cotton material was much less comfortable then the indigo blue jeans and was eventually dropped from the line. The indigo blue jeans were originally treated with a blue dye that came from the indigo plant. Jean manufacturing companies imported the plant from India until the twentieth century when synthetic indigo was created to take it’s place.
5. How much water is used to make one pair of jeans?
The process of manufacturing jeans involves using over 900 gallons of water per pair. That’s a lot of water potentially being polluted with toxic chemicals used in the jean manufacturing process.
Though the technique for manufacturing jeans has evolved throughout the years, we are still seeing toxic chemicals going into the production of denim around the world, which is furthering the destruction of the world’s waters. Help us make a change and save our planet before it is beyond the point of healing.
Spread the word.
Sources:
http://www.historyofjeans.com/jeans-facts/interesting-facts-about-jeans/
www.levistrauss.com/our-story
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/bluejeans.htm
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Blue-Jeans.html#b