Denim
Introduction
Denim is more than just a cotton fabric it inspires strong opinions within the hearts of designers, teenagers, winter, bloggers, historians and about many others worldwide. From the 17th Century to the present denim has been woven, used and discarded, made into upholstery, pants, worn as symbolism of hard honest work. It has been used as the expression of angry rebellion and worn by American cowboys. The origin of denim has been a debate among historians and scholars for many decades. Many have questioned the traditional belief that denim originated in the 17th Century from the town of Nimes in France and it was originally called serge de Nimes. The debate lays within the fact that serge de Nimes was known in France prior to the 17th Century and there was another fabric known as Nim both where composed partly of wool. Despite the debates about its origins, denim has survived many decades and won’t be dying out anytime soon.
The secret to denim being able to stand the tests of time lies within the fabric. Denim is uniquely connected to one colour and that is blue. The warp yarn was traditionally dyed with blue pigment obtained from indigo dye. Indigo was the most significant natural dye that was available until the late 19th Century when synthetic dyes where manufactured. The durability of indigo and its dark tone made it a suitable choice of colour. But by 1894 it was no longer needed because a synthetic dye was processed which became the standard colour for denim. Denim which is a cotton fabric made from a twill weave and is constructed by interfacing warp and filling yarns in a progressive alternation which creates a diagonal effect on the right side of the fabric and has a surface of diagonal parallel ridges. Due to this right hand twill construction, one colour/side predominates on the fabric surface and because of this type of weaving denim has become very strong and durable.
Denim has evolved since its early discovery and has had huge an
Denim is more than just a cotton fabric it inspires strong opinions within the hearts of designers, teenagers, winter, bloggers, historians and about many others worldwide. From the 17th Century to the present denim has been woven, used and discarded, made into upholstery, pants, worn as symbolism of hard honest work. It has been used as the expression of angry rebellion and worn by American cowboys. The origin of denim has been a debate among historians and scholars for many decades. Many have questioned the traditional belief that denim originated in the 17th Century from the town of Nimes in France and it was originally called serge de Nimes. The debate lays within the fact that serge de Nimes was known in France prior to the 17th Century and there was another fabric known as Nim both where composed partly of wool. Despite the debates about its origins, denim has survived many decades and won’t be dying out anytime soon.
The secret to denim being able to stand the tests of time lies within the fabric. Denim is uniquely connected to one colour and that is blue. The warp yarn was traditionally dyed with blue pigment obtained from indigo dye. Indigo was the most significant natural dye that was available until the late 19th Century when synthetic dyes where manufactured. The durability of indigo and its dark tone made it a suitable choice of colour. But by 1894 it was no longer needed because a synthetic dye was processed which became the standard colour for denim. Denim which is a cotton fabric made from a twill weave and is constructed by interfacing warp and filling yarns in a progressive alternation which creates a diagonal effect on the right side of the fabric and has a surface of diagonal parallel ridges. Due to this right hand twill construction, one colour/side predominates on the fabric surface and because of this type of weaving denim has become very strong and durable.
Denim has evolved since its early discovery and has had huge an