May 27, 2008 @ 10:05 pm
How We Got Blue Jeans - Part 1
Wearing jeans is so common and popular today, and it is no wonder. Jeans are so durable and trendy. and they don’t cost very much. Everyone enjoys the simplicity and comfort for work, for everyday wear and even for formal events. People are wearing jeans for times at home relaxing, as work clothes, for social occasions and even a night out on the town. Jeans withstand the test of time so you can really wear them just about anywhere.
Who Originally Created Jeans?
No one person invented jeans. Rather than being created at one point in time, they evolved over 400 years into the form and design we are familiar with today.
Jeans are made of denim which is a durable woven cotton fabric that appeals to most people. There are many reasons: denim has long-lasting durability, it is comfortable, it comes in varying hues, it is versatile and it is not terribly expensive. Denim jeans can be worn for hard physical labor, out to dinner, or any type of activity in between.
This distinctive fabric was popularized in Europe. But a similar thick cotton cloth had been made in India since before the 1600s. That older material was called dunagree - the origin of the term “dunagarees” - which was normally dyed in indigo blue and sold in the district near Dongarii Fort on the outskirts of the Indian city of Bombay. Bombay was a major port on the important spice route between Europe and China. Portuguese sailors on trading vessels were the first regular users of dungaree clothing, and they introduced it to other points along the trading routes.
By the mid 1600s a similar cloth was being woven in France near the city of Nimes. This popular fabric was called “serge de Nimes.” The name was shortened to “de Nimes” which was eventually pronounced “denim.” That is how we got the name we use today.
Denim trousers became known as “jeans” because the port of Genoa (Genes in French) became a major manufacturer of denim pants. The sturdy pants were used by sailors in the Genoese Navy. They were ideal for sailors, like modern teenagers - who had to practically live in their clothes. They could wear their denim clothing wet or dry, the legs could be easily rolled up, and they could be washed simply by dragging them behind the ship in a large net.
Hey! What could be more convenient than that?
See the video of this article at Where Did Those Jeans Come From. Visit IceCanadaInc.com for a great selection of wholesale jeans and wholesale clothing. Article promotion with articles and youtube videos.
- Howard Brule