Denim care tips
Denim may not have been invented in America, but it certainly became an icon alongside cowboys and miners around the turn of the 20th century. Versatile, timeless and unpretentious, the classic denim jean will never go out of style. A great pair of jeans is a wardrobe essential that can look just as up-to-date decades later –with the proper care.

Photo credit: flickr user freeparking
While denim seems to be a very rugged and durable fabric, it’s actually quite fragile. Dyes used in denim can bleed or transfer easily, and the cotton twill used to form denim wears thin more readily than many other textiles.
Considering that a decent pair of jeans can run a few bills, it’s important to take precautions to care for them correctly. Gentle denim care can add years to the lifespan of your favorite jeans. And, of course, if your denim is in need of professional care, Meurice offers comprehensive treatment through both our unique dry cleaning and wet cleaning processes.
Do’s:
Wash, by hand in cold water. It’s best to use a tiny amount of gentle detergent (Woolite is available almost everywhere), or simply plain water. Remember to turn jeans inside out.
Dry cleaning is an easy way to preserve wear. Since dry cleaning is a chemical process, not water based, it doesn’t affect the indigo dye used in most jeans. It’s a great way to remove dirt without causing fading.
Air dry your jeans, even if you haven’t washed them. Denim loves to breathe, and airing out your jeans will help prevent them from getting funky.
Wait as long as possible to wash at home. It’s very difficult to avoid removing dye and wearing fabric when washing at home. Besides, the longer you hold out, the better patina your jeans will develop. Trust us, no one will notice.
Repair damage prior to washing. Tears in jeans can spread quickly, and the agitation of washing will only make things worse. Unless, of course, that’s the look you’re after.
Check the care label. This is good advice for all clothing, but especially jeans, since you may not be 100% sure what the fabric content is (women’s jeans often feature lyrca or other materials, for instance).

Photo credit: Picasa user Kiley
Don’ts:
Spot clean. Cleaning just a blemish can cause areas of discoloration, so wash your entire jeans at once, unless you can live with a less than uniform appearance.
Machine wash. Using a washing machine at low temps won’t necessarily ruin your jeans, but if you really love them, don’t take the chance.
Tumble dry. Never, ever, put your denim jeans in the dryer. They will shrink.
Wash too frequently. It’s not necessary to wash your jeans after every wear, and some denim enthusiasts go for months between cleanings. Air them out to prevent funky smells.
Forget to care for all your denim, not just jeans. Remember denim shirts, jackets and vests are cotton denim too, and require delicate care.
Store improperly. It’s important for denim to breathe, so make sure you don’t pack it too tightly in your closet. Like all garments, denim should be stored away from light, extreme temperatures, and never put away soiled.
Know your denim
Dry Denim is the term for dark, unwashed denim. Also referred to as raw denim, this is usually sold in deep, monochromatic shades. Unlike jeans that have been distressed or pre-treated, these are sold almost straight off the loom
The advantage of buying dry denim is that the break-in process creates a personalized garment – no two jeans wear in quite the same way. As denim gradually ages it can go through many stunning shades of appearance. For the purists, this is the only kind of denim to buy.
Dry denim is harder to care for since it ages so noticeably, and slightly uncomfortable until broken in. It’s also prone to transferring dye on other (particularly light-colored) textiles and hides.

Raw denim jeans before being worn
Prewashed denim is generally more comfortable and colorfast. The downside of pre-aged denim is that they are typically worn uniformly by machinery (sanding, stonewashing, bleach, etc) and therefore not particularly personal or unique. Also, since denim becomes thinner with use, prewashed jeans will wear out sooner, no matter how careful you are.

Photo credit: Flickr user jvblogger
Cotton Serge. Traditionally, denim was made of pure ‘cotton serge,’ a term for the weaving pattern used to create denim on a loom. Today, jean denim is often blended with other materials.
Stretch Denim. Women’s jeans (and perhaps super-skinny men’s jeans) are often made of this denim blend, commonly 98% cotton and 2% spandex.
.
.
.
.