Part of the allure of vintage denim is the individuality of each piece. Each garment is a picture in time of the spinner's work, the dyer's eye, the weaver's skill, and the sewer's dedication. Suddenly the variations in the fabric caused by the differences in the cotton and old technology, often considered so undesirable in manufacturing, are the very attributes so revered by denim aficionados and collectors.
Vintage denim pieces that have been worn have the added history of the owner. His occupation, how the garment was washed, whether he cuffed the jean or not, and sometimes what he carried in his pockets, all add to the unique "worn in" history of each piece.
The lower the technology used and the older the technology, the more variation we find, and the greater the likelihood of finding something of unique beauty. Today we can use high technology to duplicate the variations in yarn and dye, but we just can't get real selvage denim without real shuttle looms.
Catch our next posts in which we explain what selvage denim really is and shed light on Cone Denim's take on making some of the most authentic denims with over a century of heritage.
