Origins and meaning
There is a lot of stories about the origins of the denim fabric and the jeans. We will tell you one of them here. Nobody actually knows how it all began. But one thing is sure, jeans don’t leave anyone indifferent!
From Nîmes to Genoa: the travel of a fabric
It seems it all began in the 16th century in Nîmes in the South of France, where denim was manufactured. This famous fabric was used for the manufacture of fustians and casaquins for the local population. The fabric was exported throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. Its name would come from the name of the city: “de Nîmes”.
However, after a law enacted in the region, by Louis XIV in 1685, prohibiting all religions outside Christianism, Protestant families manufacturing denim had to go into exile and found refuge in Genoa, one of Europe’s many trading ports. It is said that the word “Jean” is inspired by the name of the city of Genoa (or Gênes in French, pronounced jenn) because it was the lead importer of the indigo color characterizing the fabric. The famous blue color of the warp yarn comes from a dye called “blu di Genoa” (blue of Genoa). That’s where the name “blue jeans” would come from.
Many other French Protestants refugees (called Huguenot) had to leave France for Italy, but also for America, England, the United Provinces, exporting the fabric of Nîmes with them. The industrial revolution in the United Kingdom in the 18th century contributed in popularizing the Huguenot’s textile tradition in making denim. Hence was the British textile industry thereafter and for a long time the major actor in this field.
A story of jealousy?
One of the legends about the origin of denim says that the weavers of Nîmes, envious of the success of the Genoese, tried at the time to copy the “jeans” of Genoa but did not succeed. It is thus accidentally that they gave birth to the textile known under the name of “denim”: “twill fabric of Nîmes”!
Jacob Davis, Levi Strauss and the jeans
In the 19th century, denim was reserved to make the clothes which needed to be the most resistant. By adding robust rivets on the pockets of the jeans, a tailor called Jacob Davis and textile factory owner Levi Strauss created a sturdy pair of jeans. Jeans were then patented in 1873. It was the beginning of a success.
As years went by, jeans changed a lot as far as the creation is concerned. Originally jeans were appreciated by workers and miners thanks to the sturdiness of the material. After their creation, jeans were improved. For example, Levi Strauss added orange seams to make the material solid. The orange seams were the identification of the brand as well.
A powerful symbol
We can observe that jeans have been evolving through years and they have become more and more important.
For example, Hollywood presented jeans as a romantic object during the 1920s-1930s. They were worn by two famous actors such as John Wayne and Gary Cooper acting cowboys.
Jeans nowadays attract a lot of people by their difference in shapes, colors, whether they are new or secondhand. Not only are they synonym of holidays but also of work, as they are being worn in offices. From a symbol of rebellion in the 60s, they have now been democratized and adopted by many people around the globe. Who doesn’t have a jean in its wardrobe? Some would even speak about standardization, but that’s another debate!
Looking for quality fabrics? Go now to our e-shop La Cotonnerie!
