Ten best jeans

How does dry cleaning affect the fading process for dry denim? I've been wearing my dry nudies for a few weeks now, and I'd like to go the full six months before washing but I'm looking into strategies to control the coming smell. Will the chemicals used in dry cleaning do something wierd to the indigo, or will it just take out the smell? Thanks

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I know only one guy who does this. His jeans look brand new except for the striations. IMO, though, drycleaning jeans is in the same category as ironing jeans - against their spirit. Just air them out thoroughly (full day on both sides in a well ventilated area) after steaming them in the shower before each time. If you're not convinced yet, drycleaning the jeans will take out some of the creases, and it'll take some time to wear them in again.

Helmut Lang jeans have multiple warnings on them about how you should only dry clean them, so I assume it is safe to do.

I have never tried that though; too many bad experiences with dry cleaners.

The booklet that comes in the RR Selvage box mentions that if you are dying to get the smell out, dry cleaning is okay, as no water is added to the mixture. That and LA Guy's posts are the only authorities I have heard on the matter.

with my raw denim helmut lang jeans, i have dry cleaned them in the past and LA Guy is correct in that it does take out some of the creases that have naturally developed, however, it sort of just flattens them and they pop back rather quickly

i have also used dryell in the dryer on them with decent results

i also steam with with my steamer after each wearing as well and that goes a long way to freshening them and taking any smell out

as such, i find i really only dry clean them now once a year and steam them regularly

LA Guy or Brian SD (or anyone else) -

How does dry cleaning affect the fading process for dry denim? I've been wearing my dry nudies for a few weeks now, and I'd like to go the full six months before washing but I'm looking into strategies to control the coming smell. Will the chemicals used in dry cleaning do something wierd to the indigo, or will it just take out the smell? Thanks

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Aquaintances I know who work at denim stores have drycleaned their raw denims to no ill effect regarding fading.

Vinegar? How does that help prevent fading? I like to keep my denim dark. Will pick up a couple of bottles tomorrow.

Right now my favorite pair of jeans are those PDC's I bought off of someone here. Don't know where else I could get some good jeans. South Korea doesn't have much selection, and forget about buying anything imported; I'd rather chop off my arm than pay stupidly high import tax.

Vinegar? How does that help prevent fading? I like to keep my denim dark. Will pick up a couple of bottles tomorrow.

Right now my favorite pair of jeans are those PDC's I bought off of someone here. Don't know where else I could get some good jeans. South Korea doesn't have much selection, and forget about buying anything imported; I'd rather chop off my arm than pay stupidly high import tax.

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Let us know if it works out. I'm assuming you're talking pre-washed jeans?

Vinegar? How does that help prevent fading? I like to keep my denim dark. Will pick up a couple of bottles tomorrow.

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The vinegar bath is supposed to "set" the indigo dye on newly dyed cloth--indigo is not soluble in pure water and the vinegar is supposed to provide a final set to ensure that all absorbable indigo has been pushed into the fibers. I don't know if it is applicable to items that have already been worn, or which come prewashed.

I've done it in the past with my Japanese-made indigo-dyed hakama (traditional Japanese pleated trousers, for those who don't know), and can't say whether it really works. Ask anyone who practices kendo, iaido, or another hakama-wearing martial art what to do with a brand-new hakama and they'll probably tell you to soak it in vinegar to set the dye--maybe an old wives' tale, maybe not. Maybe not even applicable if the cloth isn't dyed using indigo pigments.

dont know about you guys but im about 5'11 and 34 inch inseams on my paper denims are almost always too long. do you let them just bunch up. it seems i can only were them with sneakers, because if i ware say clarks wallabees or a dress loafer they almost always drag and get ripped up. just curious to see what your take is on the long inseams. good day.

I'm exactly the same height (well, actually 1/4" shorter) and just get the jeans hemmed to 32 1/4 (I'm sort of particular that way.)

jb - just get them hemmed. I've never bought PDC because (generally, now) the finishing doesn't line up right on my frame (5'10"). I've had two pairs of jeans hemmed though, and they turned out fine. On vinegar - when you buy madras (pants, shirts, what have you) the old WASP's tale is soak it in vinegar before washing. If it works, you can't tell from the people wearing madras, who have it faded just right. EDIT: Curses, LA Guy, fastest gun on the SF.

who would you say to have hem them, just go to the dry cleaners? or a real tailor? how do the bottoms come out,is there anyway they can get the bottom to look just the same is it currently is. it seems like such a small task but i have seen some hemmed jeans gone wrong.

I always tell the tailor to match the existing hem. Some get it perfect, other's not so much. A good tailor should do it perfectly. I have a couple I can trust.

If you do a search on the forum, you might hit on some testimonials/advice on hemming jeans; it's come up a lot lately. People have mentioned that you can keep the original hem. I have not done this - I dunno who's qualified, willing, or how much it costs. My tailor - who's nothing special - has done a fine job on mine, but I've never asked him to maintain a hem.

How do you do the vinegar? Just like pour it all over it? Soak it?