Raw Denim

    Raw Denim is an art form and way of self-expression that not many or familiar with. It is something that you shape on your own and is completely unique to each individual even if you tried recreating someone elses. If done correctly, each pair of raw denim will adapt fades, whiskering, and wear marks similar to your everyday life.  

 My Levi 511 Rigid Dragon at 9 months

Back in the 1870's when denim was first being manufactured, they would dye each individual strand then sew it together. After this process, they were sold to whomever was wearing them, and the person would on his or her way. However, nowadays, almost all pairs of jeans you see in the store are either dyed after assembly, or each strand is dyed, then assembled; however they pre-wash jeans before they sell them to consumers to remove excess dye and soften them up. Back in the 1800's, denim was not pre-washed because it was seen as an unnecessary step. The jeans were sold straight to the consumer off the line and often weren't washed until they absolutely needed to due to water shortages. Therefore, the excess dye remained until they washed it. The miners would work in their jeans as long as they could go before they absolutely needed to be washed to conserve good water. This could range anywhere from weeks to possibly even months. Therefore, they would each adapt their own unique fades. You could have rips, tears, or indentations from what you worked with every day. For example, if you always carried a tin of chewing tobacco in your back right pocket, the fade would show. The jeans became a unique second identity that told their own story.

(before) Levi Rigid 511 pre-wash

Almost all denim sold now is pre-washed. However, many brands such as Levis, APC, N&F, and others have been bringing back raw unwashed denim. It is a growing culture. As gross as it initially sounds, people are walking around for months and even years wearing jeans they haven't washed. However, their are other forms of cleaning your jeans that don't involve machine washing; from freezing, dry cleaning, and spraying. And studies have shown that even the jeans that havent been washed have no higher levels of bacteria than those that are straight out of the washer and dryer.

(after)Levi Rigid 511 post-wash 21 months

Raw denim is an unknown art form.

(unfinished)