Denim Therapy’s expert denim care advice was featured in the November issue of InStyle Magazine! Our founder Francine Rabinovich reveals the best way to wash jeans and reduce fading:
“Typical jeans, no matter how dark or light, are dyed with indigo. Like paint, indigo eventually chips off. Minimize color loss by turning your pair inside out before tossing them in the washer. The major exception is coated denim, which should never come near a laundy machine (it breaks down the finish). Soak it in lukewarm water with a few drops of Woolite, rinse, then air-dry.”
—DT Staff
Tags: coated denim, Denim Therapy, Francine Rabinovich, how to reduce fading, how to wash jeans, instyle magazine
Spring’s officially here, and spring cleaning/wardrobe-refresh is just as important as dusting, vacuuming, and polishing your way to a clean home. If you’re anything like us, your denim collection has multiplied since last spring and it’s time to get it back in check. Maybe you lost weight, changed tastes, or want to try something new? In any case, read on for our version of a denim closet face lift.
1. Cover your bases. Own a pair of gorgeous dark-wash jeans, a few fierce prints, a flare (or wide leg) jean, and classic cut-off’s. Shop our favorite dark wash jeans below:
1. 7 For All Mankind Roxanne Skinny Jeans
2. MOTHER The Looker mid-rise skinny jeans
3. Current/Elliott The Roller mid-rise boyfriend-fit jeans
Shop our favorite printed jeans below:
1. Current/Elliott The Stiletto printed cropped jeans
2. Diane Von Furstenberg The Classic mid-rise skinny jeans
3. Rag & Bone Goetz printed mid-rise skinny jeans
Shop our favorite flare-leg/wide-leg jeans below:
1. MiH Jeans Miramar mid-rise wide-leg chambray jeans
2. Christopher Kane mid-rise flare leg jeans
3. Michael by Michael Kors Faded mid-rise wide-leg jeans
Shop our favorite classic cut-off’s below:
1. J Brand Cut-off low-rise denim shorts
2. Christopher Kane Neon stretch-denim cut-off shorts
3. KSUBI Alberceque cut-off denim shorts
2. Tailor your jeans so they fit you flawlessly. We offer expert tailoring services (and you don’t need to live in NYC to achieve a perfect fit!) You can also get cut-off’s made from existing fav’s that need a twist.
Tailor your jeans to the perfect size now!
Transform your jeans into custom cut-off’s now!
3. Brush up on your denim care techniques. Below, 5 tips for doing so.
- How to remove an odor from your vintage jeans.
- How to remove wax from jeans (and how to remove gum).
- How to store & organize your jeans.
4. Add a little vintage denim to the mix. Shop in thrift stores or second-hand stores to find unique (sometimes bizarre and DIY-inspiring) denim pieces to set your collection apart.
Above: Vintage high-waisted denim shorts in rainbow stripe ($32) – buy it at In The Hammock Vintage. 70s HANG TEN vintage denim overalls ($72) – buy it at Passé Nouveau Vintage. Vintage chambray soft denim shirt ($40) – buy it at Capricorne.
Some of our favorite vintage shops, with locations cross-country, are listed below.
Tags: denim care, denim shopping, how to store jeans, how to wash jeans, remove stain from jeans, repair your jeans, tailor your jeans
Denim Therapy’s founder Francine Rabinovich shared her expertise on cleaning your denim and sparing it from fading and color bleeding: “The stronger the detergent and the hotter the water, the more you’ll compromise the fabric’s strength and color.”
Check out this and more tips in the Men’s Health 2011 Guide To Denim.
—DT Staff
Tags: denim guide, Denim Therapy, how to care for denim, how to wash denim, how to wash jeans, men's health, prevent denim fading
Ruined jeans? Colors faded or dye bleeding? Oh no! Chances are, it could have been prevented. Garde Robe imparts some knowledge on making sure you don’t destroy your jeans when you’re washing and caring for them. This tip comes from our previously Q&A, which you can read for more expert advice.
“We’ve all had the experience of a pair of jeans bleeding or shrinking in wash. It’s important like any garment, to read and follow the care instructions for each and every pair of denim jeans we own.
Follow the instructions carefully to keep them looking bright and new, or break all the rules and create the denim you want. I’d always recommend washing denim by hand, if not professionally. If you do machine wash your jeans, I’d recommend separating and washing your jeans individually in a cold wash to prevent bleeding & shrinking.
Wash inside out with all buttons or zippers unfastened. Use a half-sized amount of color guard detergent of your preference. Wash on a gentle or hand dry cycle. When done, tumble dry on a low heat, never high. Remove from dryer when still damp to touch. Dry flat.”
—DT Staff
Tags: care for jeans, denim care, Garde Robe, how to wash denim, how to wash jeans, should i wash my jeans
We snagged the following tip for you from the Glamour blog:
“Brand new denim in bold (or even dark) colors can lose its hue all over your washing machine–and all over whatever other clothes are in there. The dye can also rub off on your sofa, your white trench coat, and the camel-colored handbag you’re holding against yourself. To prevent major color running, I did some Hints-from-Heloise style searching on the internet, and discovered that there’s a super-simple trick to keep your red in check: Vinegar! Add a full cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when you’re washing your jeans, and skip the fabric softener. Alternatively, you can soak the pants overnight in a solution of two parts vinegar to one part cold water, then run them through a regular wash. The vinegar acts as a fixing agent and keeps the dye where it belongs!”
Via Glamour Blog.
—DT Staff
Tags: colored denim, colored jeans, denim care, how to maintain colors, how to wash denim, how to wash jeans, should i wash my jeans
Welcome to your morning dose of denim news, links, sales, and everything else we couldn’t help but share. Check out what’s happening (and totally not happening) in the world of denim now. Got a tip you think we should include, a sale you want to share, or a style you just saw and can’t live without? Email us!
1. Miss Sixty is celebrating the last days of summer with a sale that’ll fill out the holes in your fall wardrobe. Jump on it!
2. Hey East Coast, did Hurricane Irene do any denim damage in your life? We’ve got the quick fixes you need to get your jeans back in shape ASAP! Check out our new repair & modification services!
3. Laundry day? Read these 5 steps from Denim Debutante on how to wash your jeans for maximum longevity and comfort.
4. Step inside the d.brand concept store and gaze upon a world in shades of blue! Check this Swedish denim brand‘s official site and click “Store” to drop in for a visit.
5. Today’s super exciting denim sale item is a pair of fresh Diesel skinny jeans. Usually $250, these baby blues are yours for just $175.
—Michelle Christina Larsen
Tags: d.brand, denim links, denim news, Denim Repair, denim sale, Denim Therapy, Diesel jeans, east coast, how to wash jeans, hurricane irene, jeans repair, skinny jeans
Hate stiff denim? Want to wash your jeans so they soften up a bit, without losing their rich hue or damaging the fibers extensively? The Laundress has a product for you to try: a special denim detergent with pre-treat instructions that allows you to wash your denim and soften it gradually with its formulated “fabric conditioner”, and color-saving “darks detergent”. They also offer a range of other products for stain removal, bleach alternative, etc. Check it out!
Image via The Laundress Blog.
Tags: denim detergent, fabric softener, how to wash jeans, New York, stiff jeans, The Laundress, wash your jeans
We sourced this gem of wisdom during our denim style and care Q&A (which goes down weekly at 3:30PM – 4:30PM EST on Wednesdays)…
“To make jeans last longer, don’t dry them in a dryer! Lay flat to dry or dry hanging upside-down (this will keep the length of your jeans long as they dry, and keep the butt area from being stretched out).”
—Renee, resident Denim Therapist.
Check Renee out at the Raw Denim Project!
Tags: denim care, denim washing, how to care for jeans, how to dry jeans, how to wash denim, how to wash jeans, make jeans last longer
Using computers and cell phones until they don’t work anymore. Wearing clothes until they’re completely worn out. What a concept! Levi’s, for example, is a denim brand that is showing their customers how to make their jeans last longer. According to a recent New York Times article: “Levi Strauss is telling customers to take steps that will actually lead them to buy fewer pairs of jeans. The Levi’s sustainability campaign urges customers to wash their jeans less often and in cold water, a move that the company says reduces water use.”
A hallmark of the Denim Therapy service is the ability to reconnect owners with their favorite — but unwearable — jeans, reducing a need to purchase “Favorite Jean 2.0.” Do your jeans have holes? Do they need a re-dye treatment? Those boot cuts don’t fit anymore? Denim Therapy’s services not only restores your jeans, but in many instances, makes your jeans last longer. Check out Denim Therapy services to learn more. Like computers, sometimes we just need a refresh or a re-boot.
—Kathy Ng Hassan
Tags: denim doctor, denim rehab, Denim Repair, denim restoration, fix jeans, how to wash jeans, jeans repair, recycled jeans, sustainability
Follow us
Join us
Subscribe
