If I had a dollar for every time I purchased a distressed garment and my mother said, “I can’t believe you pay money for someone else to ruin your clothes…” I’m not sure how much money I would have exactly, but it would be enough to splurge on some designer ripped jeans, that’s for sure. Since she is not exactly what I would refer to as a “fashionista,” I always took these comments with a grain of salt. When I have questions about cooking or gardening, she’s my go-to, but fashion? Not so much. Today, distressed clothing – jeans in particular – are part of our cultural fabric. In fact, this style has been a wardrobe staple from the beginning, as you’re about to find out. The First Jeans pxfuel.com First designed by Levi Strauss in the late 1800s, he used twilled cotton to make sturdier, longer-lasting pant that was also comfortable for the working-class man. They quickly became so popular for their mix of comfort and durability that it wasn’t long before jeans became a form of casual clothing outside of work as well. The Counterculture Young Rah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Fast-forward to the 70s, when youthful rebellion, cultural angst, and popular music helped build a counterculture of individuals that rejected the restrictive and conservative ways of being. In Great Britain, the first wave of punk kids was highly influential when it came to fashion. The early punk movement tore apart consumer goods as a symbol of revolt and expression of anger towards society. Denim became one of the main targets for the politically fueled deconstruction. People were tearing the arms off their jackets, turning them into vests, pinning and writing slogans onto their t-shirts and pants, and wearing Dr. Martens work boots outside of work. They also began distressing their own denim – pants, jackets, button-down shirts, etc. As this ideology traveled across the pond to America, where free-love, flowy pants, and silk shirts were more the rage, it was only a matter of time before punks and distressed clothing made their way into their culture as well. Fashion and music have always gone hand-in-hand, so once punk began to take over the music scene, so did the wardrobe. Starting with Iggy Pop in the 70s and really grabbing hold in the 90s with the grunge movement, distressed denim became a comfortable, yet stylish way to state your allegiance to the worldwide punk, counterculture mentality. Fashion Today Pixoos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Having entered a new millennium, distressed denim no longer is exclusive to a punk mindset, and is simply just part of the general fashion landscape. Today, youth rarely distress and destroy their own wardrobe, but rather purchase brand-new denim that already has a worn-in appearance. Contrast is also popular nowadays, so pairing your ripped denim jeans with neatly tailored apparel, such as a Lacoste polo shirt or with a blazer, button down, and Oxfords gives you the appearance of being fashion savvy and versatile, able to be refined and relaxed in one fatal style swoop. Making Ripped Jeans pxfuel.com There are two ways that manufacturers rip jeans – by laser or by hand. Cheaper, more mass-produced brands tend to use a laser, while premium high-end brands prefer the latter. First, the laser: the most popular machine is the Laser Sharp Denim HD Abrasion System. After programming the desired pattern into the machine’s software, the jeans are vertically secured against a metal backdrop and the laser targets the denim, burning holes into the fabric. These machines are so accurate, they can be programmed to distress the fabric by varying degrees, by burning into it just a little but also by cutting intricate patterns. Each pair can take a minute or less to complete. Hand-ripping is much more intricate and requires an individual worker to design, rip, and finish each pair, which can take several hours. First, the desired design is sketched onto the jeans using chalk or a fabric marker. Then, using large, blunt dressmaking shears or a Dremel tool, the cuts are made. Next, the threads are pulled apart using a fabric picker, which frays the material to give it an authentic finish. Once the rips have been made, the denim is then frayed around the rip. Various tools can be used, from pumice stones to heavy-duty sandpaper to sandblasting. Types of Rips Yes, there are three different kinds of rips. Look at you, learning stuff. First, there is a hole, which is a cut all the way through the fabric. The second type is a shred, where threads remain, covering up the hole. Thirdly, a scrape is a small abrasion on the surface. According to some fashion experts, holes should always be horizontal since vertical would go against the grain and could cause the jeans to fall apart. Holes should also never be wider than the leg of the jean and never more than an inch high when standing since they will expose more flesh when you sit. There is also a rumor that the optimum number of rips is 2 ½. However, every pair and every person is different, so if you want more, larger rips, go for it. Rules are meant to be broken.
See more about - The 15 Best Pairs of Black Jeans for Men in 2021
Styling Ripped Jeans Anything goes with jeans. That’s part of their appeal. Jeans look great with boots, sneakers, loafers, or dress shoes. A white dress shirt slightly tucked in is always a fan favorite with blue jeans. A trusted and time-tested look is a vintage graphic tee. Throw on a blazer or leather jacket and you’re ready to go. Check out some of our favorite styles below. Best Buy1. Ksubi Chitch Kselvedge 5 Year
Check Price We love Ksubi here at Next Luxury. This Aussie brand has been killing it in the denim market for decades, with these jeans truly spectacular. The Chitch Kselvedge 5 year is a slim fit denim jean with a mid-rise and a unique Ksubi angled dutch tab and tucks. Made from a premium Selvedge denim, worn in with subtle wash marks to authentically show the signs of a jean worn over five years.
2. HUDSON Men’s Blake Slim Fit Straight Leg Button Fly Jeans
Check Price This super stretchy pair of distressed denim is the perfect pair to ease your way into this style if you have any trepidation. With the light chambray wash and the white denim, these jeans have a small hole or two around the knee and a few shreds and scrapes front and back, but very minimally. Wear them with your favorite button-down or t-shirt and your favorite broken-in Converses.
3. Brunello Cucinelli Straight-Leg Jeans
Check Price Brunello Cucinelli makes some of the most impressively constructed yet fashionable and luxurious menswear on the market. These 100% cotton blue jeans have a fitted look to them that feels comfortable and looks fashionable and are finished with a distressed design that won’t ever go out of style. While they have a few more shreds and scrapes, this pair does not have any holes, so your skin will not be exposed until after repeated wear.
4. Frame Heritage Slim Jeans Crater Lake
Check Price This pair has a 90s era faded blue that is on-trend right now, but these jeans will never go out of style. Coming in with a slightly slimmer fit, these barely distressed denim jeans will get softer and more comfortable with age (just like you if you don’t eat right and exercise … just sayin’).
5. 501® Original Fit Ripped Men’s Jeans
Check Price What kind of list about denim would this be without a pair from the inventor of jeans? With the classic straight-leg fit, 501® jeans are literally the blueprint for every pair of jeans in existence. This particular distressed style features shredded cuts on the uppers of both thighs, but worry not, very little skin is exposed unless you start removing threads.
See more about - How To Wear Skinny Jeans: A Complete Guide
If I had a dollar for every time I purchased a distressed garment and my mother said, “I can’t believe you pay money for someone else to ruin your clothes…” I’m not sure how much money I would have exactly, but it would be enough to splurge on some designer ripped jeans, that’s for sure. Since she is not exactly what I would refer to as a “fashionista,” I always took these comments with a grain of salt. When I have questions about cooking or gardening, she’s my go-to, but fashion? Not so much. Today, distressed clothing – jeans in particular – are part of our cultural fabric. In fact, this style has been a wardrobe staple from the beginning, as you’re about to find out. The First Jeans pxfuel.com First designed by Levi Strauss in the late 1800s, he used twilled cotton to make sturdier, longer-lasting pant that was also comfortable for the working-class man. They quickly became so popular for their mix of comfort and durability that it wasn’t long before jeans became a form of casual clothing outside of work as well. The Counterculture Young Rah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Fast-forward to the 70s, when youthful rebellion, cultural angst, and popular music helped build a counterculture of individuals that rejected the restrictive and conservative ways of being. In Great Britain, the first wave of punk kids was highly influential when it came to fashion. The early punk movement tore apart consumer goods as a symbol of revolt and expression of anger towards society. Denim became one of the main targets for the politically fueled deconstruction. People were tearing the arms off their jackets, turning them into vests, pinning and writing slogans onto their t-shirts and pants, and wearing Dr. Martens work boots outside of work. They also began distressing their own denim – pants, jackets, button-down shirts, etc. As this ideology traveled across the pond to America, where free-love, flowy pants, and silk shirts were more the rage, it was only a matter of time before punks and distressed clothing made their way into their culture as well. Fashion and music have always gone hand-in-hand, so once punk began to take over the music scene, so did the wardrobe. Starting with Iggy Pop in the 70s and really grabbing hold in the 90s with the grunge movement, distressed denim became a comfortable, yet stylish way to state your allegiance to the worldwide punk, counterculture mentality. Fashion Today Pixoos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Having entered a new millennium, distressed denim no longer is exclusive to a punk mindset, and is simply just part of the general fashion landscape. Today, youth rarely distress and destroy their own wardrobe, but rather purchase brand-new denim that already has a worn-in appearance. Contrast is also popular nowadays, so pairing your ripped denim jeans with neatly tailored apparel, such as a Lacoste polo shirt or with a blazer, button down, and Oxfords gives you the appearance of being fashion savvy and versatile, able to be refined and relaxed in one fatal style swoop. Making Ripped Jeans pxfuel.com There are two ways that manufacturers rip jeans – by laser or by hand. Cheaper, more mass-produced brands tend to use a laser, while premium high-end brands prefer the latter. First, the laser: the most popular machine is the Laser Sharp Denim HD Abrasion System. After programming the desired pattern into the machine’s software, the jeans are vertically secured against a metal backdrop and the laser targets the denim, burning holes into the fabric. These machines are so accurate, they can be programmed to distress the fabric by varying degrees, by burning into it just a little but also by cutting intricate patterns. Each pair can take a minute or less to complete. Hand-ripping is much more intricate and requires an individual worker to design, rip, and finish each pair, which can take several hours. First, the desired design is sketched onto the jeans using chalk or a fabric marker. Then, using large, blunt dressmaking shears or a Dremel tool, the cuts are made. Next, the threads are pulled apart using a fabric picker, which frays the material to give it an authentic finish. Once the rips have been made, the denim is then frayed around the rip. Various tools can be used, from pumice stones to heavy-duty sandpaper to sandblasting. Types of Rips Yes, there are three different kinds of rips. Look at you, learning stuff. First, there is a hole, which is a cut all the way through the fabric. The second type is a shred, where threads remain, covering up the hole. Thirdly, a scrape is a small abrasion on the surface. According to some fashion experts, holes should always be horizontal since vertical would go against the grain and could cause the jeans to fall apart. Holes should also never be wider than the leg of the jean and never more than an inch high when standing since they will expose more flesh when you sit. There is also a rumor that the optimum number of rips is 2 ½. However, every pair and every person is different, so if you want more, larger rips, go for it. Rules are meant to be broken.
See more about - The 15 Best Pairs of Black Jeans for Men in 2021
Styling Ripped Jeans Anything goes with jeans. That’s part of their appeal. Jeans look great with boots, sneakers, loafers, or dress shoes. A white dress shirt slightly tucked in is always a fan favorite with blue jeans. A trusted and time-tested look is a vintage graphic tee. Throw on a blazer or leather jacket and you’re ready to go. Check out some of our favorite styles below. Best Buy1. Ksubi Chitch Kselvedge 5 Year
Check Price We love Ksubi here at Next Luxury. This Aussie brand has been killing it in the denim market for decades, with these jeans truly spectacular. The Chitch Kselvedge 5 year is a slim fit denim jean with a mid-rise and a unique Ksubi angled dutch tab and tucks. Made from a premium Selvedge denim, worn in with subtle wash marks to authentically show the signs of a jean worn over five years.
2. HUDSON Men’s Blake Slim Fit Straight Leg Button Fly Jeans
Check Price This super stretchy pair of distressed denim is the perfect pair to ease your way into this style if you have any trepidation. With the light chambray wash and the white denim, these jeans have a small hole or two around the knee and a few shreds and scrapes front and back, but very minimally. Wear them with your favorite button-down or t-shirt and your favorite broken-in Converses.
3. Brunello Cucinelli Straight-Leg Jeans
Check Price Brunello Cucinelli makes some of the most impressively constructed yet fashionable and luxurious menswear on the market. These 100% cotton blue jeans have a fitted look to them that feels comfortable and looks fashionable and are finished with a distressed design that won’t ever go out of style. While they have a few more shreds and scrapes, this pair does not have any holes, so your skin will not be exposed until after repeated wear.
4. Frame Heritage Slim Jeans Crater Lake
Check Price This pair has a 90s era faded blue that is on-trend right now, but these jeans will never go out of style. Coming in with a slightly slimmer fit, these barely distressed denim jeans will get softer and more comfortable with age (just like you if you don’t eat right and exercise … just sayin’).
5. 501® Original Fit Ripped Men’s Jeans
Check Price What kind of list about denim would this be without a pair from the inventor of jeans? With the classic straight-leg fit, 501® jeans are literally the blueprint for every pair of jeans in existence. This particular distressed style features shredded cuts on the uppers of both thighs, but worry not, very little skin is exposed unless you start removing threads.
See more about - How To Wear Skinny Jeans: A Complete Guide
If I had a dollar for every time I purchased a distressed garment and my mother said, “I can’t believe you pay money for someone else to ruin your clothes…” I’m not sure how much money I would have exactly, but it would be enough to splurge on some designer ripped jeans, that’s for sure.
Since she is not exactly what I would refer to as a “fashionista,” I always took these comments with a grain of salt. When I have questions about cooking or gardening, she’s my go-to, but fashion? Not so much. Today, distressed clothing – jeans in particular – are part of our cultural fabric. In fact, this style has been a wardrobe staple from the beginning, as you’re about to find out.
The First Jeans
pxfuel.com
First designed by Levi Strauss in the late 1800s, he used twilled cotton to make sturdier, longer-lasting pant that was also comfortable for the working-class man. They quickly became so popular for their mix of comfort and durability that it wasn’t long before jeans became a form of casual clothing outside of work as well.
The Counterculture
Young Rah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fast-forward to the 70s, when youthful rebellion, cultural angst, and popular music helped build a counterculture of individuals that rejected the restrictive and conservative ways of being. In Great Britain, the first wave of punk kids was highly influential when it came to fashion. The early punk movement tore apart consumer goods as a symbol of revolt and expression of anger towards society. Denim became one of the main targets for the politically fueled deconstruction.
People were tearing the arms off their jackets, turning them into vests, pinning and writing slogans onto their t-shirts and pants, and wearing Dr. Martens work boots outside of work. They also began distressing their own denim – pants, jackets, button-down shirts, etc. As this ideology traveled across the pond to America, where free-love, flowy pants, and silk shirts were more the rage, it was only a matter of time before punks and distressed clothing made their way into their culture as well.
Fashion and music have always gone hand-in-hand, so once punk began to take over the music scene, so did the wardrobe. Starting with Iggy Pop in the 70s and really grabbing hold in the 90s with the grunge movement, distressed denim became a comfortable, yet stylish way to state your allegiance to the worldwide punk, counterculture mentality.
Fashion Today
Pixoos, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Having entered a new millennium, distressed denim no longer is exclusive to a punk mindset, and is simply just part of the general fashion landscape. Today, youth rarely distress and destroy their own wardrobe, but rather purchase brand-new denim that already has a worn-in appearance.
Contrast is also popular nowadays, so pairing your ripped denim jeans with neatly tailored apparel, such as a Lacoste polo shirt or with a blazer, button down, and Oxfords gives you the appearance of being fashion savvy and versatile, able to be refined and relaxed in one fatal style swoop.
Making Ripped Jeans
There are two ways that manufacturers rip jeans – by laser or by hand. Cheaper, more mass-produced brands tend to use a laser, while premium high-end brands prefer the latter.
First, the laser: the most popular machine is the Laser Sharp Denim HD Abrasion System. After programming the desired pattern into the machine’s software, the jeans are vertically secured against a metal backdrop and the laser targets the denim, burning holes into the fabric. These machines are so accurate, they can be programmed to distress the fabric by varying degrees, by burning into it just a little but also by cutting intricate patterns. Each pair can take a minute or less to complete.
Hand-ripping is much more intricate and requires an individual worker to design, rip, and finish each pair, which can take several hours. First, the desired design is sketched onto the jeans using chalk or a fabric marker. Then, using large, blunt dressmaking shears or a Dremel tool, the cuts are made.
Next, the threads are pulled apart using a fabric picker, which frays the material to give it an authentic finish. Once the rips have been made, the denim is then frayed around the rip. Various tools can be used, from pumice stones to heavy-duty sandpaper to sandblasting.
Types of Rips
Yes, there are three different kinds of rips. Look at you, learning stuff. First, there is a hole, which is a cut all the way through the fabric. The second type is a shred, where threads remain, covering up the hole. Thirdly, a scrape is a small abrasion on the surface.
According to some fashion experts, holes should always be horizontal since vertical would go against the grain and could cause the jeans to fall apart. Holes should also never be wider than the leg of the jean and never more than an inch high when standing since they will expose more flesh when you sit. There is also a rumor that the optimum number of rips is 2 ½. However, every pair and every person is different, so if you want more, larger rips, go for it. Rules are meant to be broken.
See more about - The 15 Best Pairs of Black Jeans for Men in 2021
Styling Ripped Jeans
Anything goes with jeans. That’s part of their appeal. Jeans look great with boots, sneakers, loafers, or dress shoes. A white dress shirt slightly tucked in is always a fan favorite with blue jeans. A trusted and time-tested look is a vintage graphic tee. Throw on a blazer or leather jacket and you’re ready to go. Check out some of our favorite styles below.
See more about - The 15 Best Pairs of Black Jeans for Men in 2021
Best Buy1. Ksubi Chitch Kselvedge 5 Year
Check Price We love Ksubi here at Next Luxury. This Aussie brand has been killing it in the denim market for decades, with these jeans truly spectacular. The Chitch Kselvedge 5 year is a slim fit denim jean with a mid-rise and a unique Ksubi angled dutch tab and tucks. Made from a premium Selvedge denim, worn in with subtle wash marks to authentically show the signs of a jean worn over five years.
We love Ksubi here at Next Luxury. This Aussie brand has been killing it in the denim market for decades, with these jeans truly spectacular. The Chitch Kselvedge 5 year is a slim fit denim jean with a mid-rise and a unique Ksubi angled dutch tab and tucks. Made from a premium Selvedge denim, worn in with subtle wash marks to authentically show the signs of a jean worn over five years.
- HUDSON Men’s Blake Slim Fit Straight Leg Button Fly Jeans
Check Price This super stretchy pair of distressed denim is the perfect pair to ease your way into this style if you have any trepidation. With the light chambray wash and the white denim, these jeans have a small hole or two around the knee and a few shreds and scrapes front and back, but very minimally. Wear them with your favorite button-down or t-shirt and your favorite broken-in Converses.
This super stretchy pair of distressed denim is the perfect pair to ease your way into this style if you have any trepidation. With the light chambray wash and the white denim, these jeans have a small hole or two around the knee and a few shreds and scrapes front and back, but very minimally. Wear them with your favorite button-down or t-shirt and your favorite broken-in Converses.
- Brunello Cucinelli Straight-Leg Jeans
Check Price Brunello Cucinelli makes some of the most impressively constructed yet fashionable and luxurious menswear on the market. These 100% cotton blue jeans have a fitted look to them that feels comfortable and looks fashionable and are finished with a distressed design that won’t ever go out of style. While they have a few more shreds and scrapes, this pair does not have any holes, so your skin will not be exposed until after repeated wear.
Brunello Cucinelli makes some of the most impressively constructed yet fashionable and luxurious menswear on the market. These 100% cotton blue jeans have a fitted look to them that feels comfortable and looks fashionable and are finished with a distressed design that won’t ever go out of style. While they have a few more shreds and scrapes, this pair does not have any holes, so your skin will not be exposed until after repeated wear.
- Frame Heritage Slim Jeans Crater Lake
Check Price This pair has a 90s era faded blue that is on-trend right now, but these jeans will never go out of style. Coming in with a slightly slimmer fit, these barely distressed denim jeans will get softer and more comfortable with age (just like you if you don’t eat right and exercise … just sayin’).
This pair has a 90s era faded blue that is on-trend right now, but these jeans will never go out of style. Coming in with a slightly slimmer fit, these barely distressed denim jeans will get softer and more comfortable with age (just like you if you don’t eat right and exercise … just sayin’).
- 501® Original Fit Ripped Men’s Jeans
Check Price What kind of list about denim would this be without a pair from the inventor of jeans? With the classic straight-leg fit, 501® jeans are literally the blueprint for every pair of jeans in existence. This particular distressed style features shredded cuts on the uppers of both thighs, but worry not, very little skin is exposed unless you start removing threads.
What kind of list about denim would this be without a pair from the inventor of jeans? With the classic straight-leg fit, 501® jeans are literally the blueprint for every pair of jeans in existence. This particular distressed style features shredded cuts on the uppers of both thighs, but worry not, very little skin is exposed unless you start removing threads.
See more about - How To Wear Skinny Jeans: A Complete Guide
See more about - How To Wear Skinny Jeans: A Complete Guide
