WEAR & TEAR HINTSHow to break them inGet a Beautiful pair of worn-in jeans
Below you find some useful information on how to treat your jeans while you break them in and how to behave when the moment of truth has finally come - the wash. Good luck with your dry jeans. See you at the gallery!
THE BREAK INNo pre-washed or pre-faded jeans in the world can compete with a pair of dry worn in jeans. The special features of the indigo dye make the jeans age in a unique and beautiful way, reflecting your everyday lifestyle. To break in a pair of dry, unwashed jeans you need to wear them for at least six months before you wash them.
Wear them as much as possible, preferably every day. The indigo will be worn off in places where you make natural creases. When you finally wash your well-worn jeans, the indigo will fade off and you will get contrasts in these places and the jeans will get fabulous. It's a hard job but someone's got to do it!
Sometimes you get spots that you wish to remove before the first wash. You can do this using a cloth and water. Keep in mind though that when rubbing the spot you also rub off the indigo. This will leave a spot where the spot used to be, so to say. Of course this is a part of the break in process, but it can be good to know.
If you need to get rid of smell, hang them outside in damp weather or put them in the freezer for a while. The longer you can keep them unwashed, the more beautiful they will get.
If you wash your jeans too soon there is too much indigo left on the surface of the fabric and it will just bleed all over the garment. This will give an even, dark colour without contrasts. The magic process is gone. You can still get abrasions and fading but not as visible and unique.
A QUESTION OF QUALITYObviously it's not only the time you wait until you wash your jeans that matters. It is also important to have a great dry denim fabric from the beginning. For the best result choose heavy dry denim, 13-14 oz or more; for example our dry selvage from Japan.Dry fabrics in lighter weights and stretch can also be worn in this way but won't get the same strong abrasions and the fabric is not as strong as the heavyweight denims.
MOMENT OF TRUTHWhen the day for the first wash finally comes, remember the following: Turn the jeans inside out, or you might get strange unexpected creases from the machine. Use washing powder with little or no bleach and wash at 40-60° C. Higher temperature gives higher contrast. Stretch the inseam when the jeans are still damp. Let them dry hanging. Do not dry tumble.
If you prefer to keep the dark, dry look you can have them dry cleaned. This only removes the dirt but does not affect the indigo fading process as water is not added.
POST WASHDuring your daily wearing the jeans stretch from the warmth of your body. When you wash them after six months they shrink all these stretched out inches from your wearing them + the normal shrinkage. Some people feel that they do not fit into the garment after wash. If you try on your jeans while they are still damp they will easily stretch and fit your body. Within a short while they are back to feel like your favourites again.
DRY CROCKINGThe indigo colour in dry denim is not colourfast. All dry blue denim have a bleeding process called dry crocking. The indigo might transfer onto shoes and underwear. Do not sit in white sofas wearing brand new denim.
FINALLYWearing your Nudie Jeans for at least six months before you wash them is only valid for dry indigo coloured denim. Not black denim. Not prewashed denim.
Minako Chiba
