Raw denim is denim in its original state: unwashed, untreated. No distressing, no chemicals, no pre-fade.
Tell me more?
Raw denim means denim that has never been washed, sanded, or treated in any way. Most jeans in stores are washed to create a fake worn look. Ours are not.
We prefer denim in its pure state. The fabric will break in naturally as you wear it, and the fades will form according to your daily life.
Why Does Raw Denim Fade?
Fading happens because of the way denim yarns are dyed. Our denim is rope-dyed, a traditional process where cotton yarns are dipped into indigo baths and then dried many times in a row, often up to thirty times. The indigo only coats the surface, leaving the center of each yarn white.
As you move, bend, and wear your jeans, the outer indigo layer rubs off to reveal the white core. This creates the bright contrast and depth that make raw denim fades so distinctive.
As you move, bend, and wear your jeans, the outer indigo layer rubs off to reveal the white core. This creates the bright contrast and depth that make raw denim fades so distinctive.
What makes rope-dyed denim fade more beautifully?
In vat dyeing, the yarns are fully saturated and the color reaches the core. In rope-dyeing, the yarns are dipped and dried repeatedly, but never long enough for the indigo to reach the center.
The result is a rich indigo shell around a white core. Over time, the indigo wears away and the white cotton beneath shows through, creating sharper, more dynamic fades.
*As shown on UB301 Indigo Selvedge Denim after months of wear.
Why Selvedge Denim?
Our jeans are made from rigid and raw selvedge denim. Selvedge denim is the only true vintage denim as it is woven on old shuttle looms.
These looms were used in American denim mills from the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. In the 1950s, mills replaced them with faster modern machines. Later, some mills brought the old looms back to revive the craftsmanship that made denim iconic.
Selvedge denim is special because it cannot be mass-produced. Each yard of fabric is slow-woven and unique. Flip up the cuff of your jeans or look inside the coin pocket to see the clean white and blue self-finished edge — the selvedge — which proves your denim was made on a shuttle loom.
