Thursday 3 June 2010

History of Jeans


The word Jeans originated from a rare type of material used in Europe, the material named 'Jean’ was named after Italian sailors in Genoa as they were the first to use the material as part of their uniforms, consequently the name ‘jeans’ comes from the French phrase bleu de Gênes, literally meaning blue of Genoa. Initially jeans were sturdy and appropriate for workers, it was in the 1930s when western movies created popularity for jeans as cowboys often wore them, it was common for eastern Americans to vacate to the west and were sure to bring back some denim overalls.

Photobucket

It wasn't till the 1940s when Levi Strauss had to complete with different companies such as Wrangler and Lee after the soldiers in World War II made them popular again.  Jeans started to become popular with the younger teen generation in the 1960s and was becoming more acceptable, new styles of jeans started to develop to keep up with the evolving fashions. However in non western parts of America jeans were still firmly associated with the west. Everywhere else they were a symbol of teenage rebels in movies with such characters played by the likes of James Dean. Some schools even banned students from wearing jeans because of their connotations.

Photobucket

The denim and textiles industry revolutionised in the 1980s and the sale of jeans went up and up when they finally became high fashion clothing and designers started to create their own designs with their own names on them. Since then jeans are no longer known as a fashion statement but a necessity and they will continue to develop in shape and size through years to come.
Photobucket

20 comments:

Becca. said...

how was snowdon with your dad?!
and lovely info on jeans adele ;)
ahaa! and gorgeous collage as usual!
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

I love the collage! It's always great to learn something new and who would've imagined how they started put. Well done on the climb, I know I couldn't do it...

Kb from I Want You To Know
xx

Tiffany Kadani said...

So interesting! Thanks for the info. I feel smarter :)

FashionJazz said...

Really interesting! Have a good Friday xx

WeShop said...

Hi, great article. Denim originated in a place in from called Nimes. 'De Nimes' is French for 'from Nimes'. xx
http://www.weshopthereforeweare.co.uk/

Anonymous said...

I like this post ! And the pics you choose are great !

daniela kate morosini said...

i love posts like this, informative but snappy and interesting! i remember learning people used to make tents out of denim waaay back in the day - seems so odd now! and to think it was rebellious once...

Mon Cheri said...

wow amazing collage

very informative post, I did not know any of this information about jeans

hope the mountain climbing went sweet <3

http://moncheri2311.blogspot.com/

Margaret said...

eeee love these. id given up on jeans, but now i really want some highwaisted ones x

Annie Spandex said...

So that's why they're called jeans! Never knew that :)

Giovanna said...

Love this collage!!
xoxo
Giovanna
www.bohomarket.blogspot.com

Maddy said...

Interesting! Can't wait to hear about your climb with your dad!

Unknown said...

Lovely collage, you are the queen of the photoshop! :) I'll DM you back later in the week with some Nottingham gossip haha, I'm so excited for this potential meet :) My dad asked me if I wanted to go to Lincolnshire Show that day and I turned him down for our lunch date! THAT'S how much I'm looking forward to it! And yes, we have a storm here too, it's huuuge.

Claire @ Jazzpad

Anonymous said...

Nice post, like it.... keep blogging.

Alice said...

Hei! Thank you for stopping by :) I love your blog so your comment really cheered me!
Anyway I just noticed you added some pics to this post, great. I love Jeams Dean, I have a "Rebel without a cause" tshirt.

x
Tokyo Quadrille

Emma Louise Long said...

I really love your blog, and i have to say that there are no better jeans than Abercrombie and Fitch

xox

Margaret said...

what if you got the super special awesome velvet ones in those crazy prints :)
though boyfriend disowning you is pretty decent motivation to opt out :D
(but they're so coooool :p)
xx

Hélène Heath said...

Fantastic post Adele! Also, you left out that denim got its name from the place where it originates: the city of Nîmes in France, which makes the name "De Nîmes" (from Nîmes) and then they put it together to make "denim"! Cool, no?! :) Jean is simply for the color, while denim is actually the material and the type of knit!

Hope you had a nice weekend :) xxxx

Eliza said...

Such an interesting post...hhuh...I never would have know about the Genoa connection without you! So strange to think that sailors would wear denim as part of their uniforms...it's such a heave material! I would think that it would be most uncomfortable if they got wet well on the job!

And great collage :) Gotta love James Dean!

x

Unknown said...

I love the levis collage! So cool!