Why Selvedge Denim Costs More, and Why it’s Worth Every Penny
There’s no getting around it: raw denim and selvage brands are more expensive than their faster counterparts. If you’re used to spending about as much on jeans as you do on movie nights (maybe less), this is your first time in a pair of decent jeans.
“Why is raw denim so expensive?” is the first question many people new to selvage ask, so we’ve provided this article as a resource. The highlights below will help you understand why raw denim is so expensive, and what kind of return you can expect to make on this investment—spoiler alert: huge.
Let’s dive in by looking at the main reasons why raw denim and selvage denim are expensive
Why Selvedge Denim Costs More
Selvage Looms Snag Production Speed
We won’t get too far into the weeds here, but selvage denim is produced in narrow shuttle looms not dissimilar to the production of new throw looms More production of throw looms comes with a price: mass-produced non-selvage denim is dirty and it is not very difficult.
In the 1970s and 1980s, this distinction didn’t mean much to consumers, but a handful of enthusiasts did the old thing on food when the market turned in the 1990s and denim aficionados began to seek out good (cheap) denim, the rest selvage looms, the handful that knew how to run them And artisans are ready to jump back into work Many of these machines are not touching, which means there is a shortage of selvage denim.
Selvage Looms Demand Skilled Hands
Selvage looms require constant maintenance and skilled service. Such skilled workers do not provide inexpensive services. The tailors who assemble the jeans also need to be more skilled, and they also need heavier sewing machines that can handle heavier denim. These machines are generally as old as self-age looms and also need to be maintained by experienced hands.
A combination of expensive labor and machinery means that a meter of selvage denim can be as much or more than a pair of non-selvage jeans from a fast-casual boutique when you hire a professional seamstress for the mixture is at least four to five times more than you can give a couple of cheap wholesalers.
Ethically Crafted, Sustainably Made
The fierce competition for the denim consumer’s dollar in the 70s, 80s, and 90s saw denim brands looking for ways to cut corners and shave costs and this meant that the denim industry had more than just indigo in their hands. They exploited the labor and manufacturing markets of developing countries, polluted and exploited sweatshop workers to keep costs down and profits up
But since the turn of the century, consumers have raised their voices, asking manufacturers to align their practices with strict ethical and environmental regulations Selvedge brands have been quick to answer calls these types of address to increase corporate responsibility.
Skilled craftsmen are paid handsomely for their work, scrutinize every stage of production (from cotton farmers to couriers), and find ways to clean up their environmental footprint. This saves the user a lot of money, but it also means brands and customers can sleep better at night.
Why Selvedge Denim is Worth Every Penny
Denim with Distinct Character
When you carefully compare selvage denim to mass-market brands, it quickly becomes clear that there is no comparison. Pick it up and rub it between your fingers and the difference is more noticeable. Mass-market denim has no texture. That familiar denim feel and look is there, but it’s one-dimensional. There is no character.
Long before they had their full raw denim journey (more on this below), Denimheads was a fabric dyer and weaver’s art showcase that fell head over heels for the look and feel of selvage denim.
There are subtle color differences (caused by the dye penetrating the cotton yarn in small amounts), and you can see and hear where these fibers attach (caused by rough, uneven weaving in the ba).
This is mandatory to know about Denim vs. Jeans: 5 Key Differences, before purchasing the best denim for any occasion.
Selvedge Is Made to Fade
Mass-market denim is made with a short shelf life.
If it becomes dirty or damaged, the user is expected to throw it away and buy a new one.
Selvedge brands expect consumers to associate with jeans—And this method of tying leaves a mark on the denim. The selvage disappears, and the surface is designed to carry a map of your journey together.
Selvage jeans are very hard at first. Every time you move or kick your leg, this creates lumps in the upper part (the waistband), behind the knees (honey row), and where the denim gathers around the ankles (the seams) Item the treatment exposes the white of the yarn and begins to chip.
This beard, honey, and muscles are yours. Every couple that the master treats is very unique, and therefore of immeasurable value. A perfectly tailored pair is a treasured possession for the denimhead of the world.
Selvedge Denim Will Relegate All Your Other Pairs to the Back of the Closet
Many who fall into raw denim for the first time roll their eyes and say they find their best-selling jeans more comfortable. They admittedly look great, but don’t feel like they expect denim to feel. With a little encouragement, they get involved. We start first going backward.
Within a month, they are back, and they have changed their tune. The heavy denim is starting to relax, making it more comfortable. Fades are starting to appear around the knees and inside the top piece, you can see the faint outlines of their back pocket wallet, front pocket, and maybe the phone they can see where the pair are going and are hooked on the action in.
Investing in selvage denim may not be small, but make it an investment, and the full raw denim experience will make you glad you did. The bond between the two of you will grow stronger with each shot, and soon you will change completely. The other two of you are pushed to the back of the closet, where they collect dust until you dispose of it or recycle it.
There is no more difficult issue. Those who spend a little extra for selvage denim will find that they have paid this investment tenfold, and it will soon be the only thing they want to wear. They see value in a fashion experience that feels a little better each time they wear it, and they see value in the results they see when they fit in a pair without seeing the cost as a sacrifice. On the contrary, they often wonder why it is not enough.
