Denim FAQ

In the manufacture of denim, fabrics are woven with interfacing yarns, they interlace at 90 degree angles. The filling yarns run across the width of the fabric and the warp yarns run the length of the fabric.

What is traditional denim? Traditional denim is durable twill-woven cotton fabric with colored (usually blue) warp and white filling threads; it is also woven in colored stripes.

What are the two types of twill fabrics? Left hand Twills (LHT's): This weave runs diagonally from right to left and is usually softer. Right Hand Twills (RHT's): This weave runs diagonally from left to right and usually has more uniform surface texture.

Why is denim blue? The warp yarn is traditionally dyed with the blue pignment from indigo dye. Until the introduction of synthetic dyes at the end of the 19th century, indigo was the most significant natural dye known to mankind.

Who first prewashed denim? Jack Spence for Lee.

Who started with stonewash? François Girbaud.

What stones are used? The first stones used were pea gravel and then later pumice because it floats around with the jeans instead of lying in the bottom. Today anything from golf balls, ceramic stones and tree bark can be used.