How to Care for Vintage Denim
Finding the perfect pair of jeans is no easy task. Everyone has unique curves and features in their body – some that we like to accent and others that we want to hide. As much as the fashion designers believe that we can all be labeled by our waist and leg size, the truth is very few people are a perfect fit for the mass produced jeans available at the mall.
When you finally do find a pair that matches your style and body shape you need to make sure you take care of them. Clothes are not designed to last forever, but denim in particular gets softer and more form fitting over time. Getting the longest life out of your favorite pair of jeans requires patience, especially if you want to preserve the fit you worked so hard to achieve.
If you are lucky enough to find authentic vintage jeans that suit your taste then you will have to pay special attention to how you wash them. Because these jeans are older, they are more likely to tear or fade with every wash. If you use a washing machine, the best bet is to wash them inside out in cold water on the delicate cycle.
As for drying, hang dry is the gentlest approach, but you can also use the low heat setting on household dryers. Just remember that most of the wear and tear done to your clothes occurs in the dryer. If you must go this route we recommend drying them by themselves to about 80% dry. Use the hang dry method to finish the last 20% of the job.
For those who can afford it, dry cleaning is the best bet. You don’t have to get your jeans done after every wear. In fact, the dirt and oil from your body will actually help to relax the denim and make it fit better. Ideally you would have two favorite pairs that you can rotate while the other is being cleaned.
