Why are denim jackets so expensive, anyway?
In 1873, Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss introduced denim to the general populace.
They made clothing out of fabric known as serge de Nimes from Nimes, France.
The fabrics name eventually shortened to just denim.
This, in turn, depends on the vagaries of weather and other factors.
This alone gives us a baseline consideration for why denim jackets are so expensive.
After growing and picking the cotton, manufacturers opt for cotton with longer fibers suitable for weaving.
It then undergoes a thorough cleaning and combing process.
The number of yarns as well as the depth of the twill determine how bold the pattern is.
Warp yarns are colored indigo, while weft lines are neutral or light-colored.
This arrangement gives the denim fabric two tones: blue on the outside and light-colored on the inside.
The next step is dying, usually with indigo, to give the denim that signature blue-jeans blue.
Finally, theres any mixture of finishing processes to determine the final look of your denim jacket.
Garments made in this way are usually not washed for at least six months to a year.
This makes the stiff material crease and folds in contours that naturally follow the wearers body shapeand lifestyle.
In essence, raw denim offers an item of personalized clothing that is molded after the wearers body.
So, how complex is denim processing?
Is it mechanized and automated, or does it involve skilled workers?
Using skilled workers, especially in the selvedge and distressing stages, will affect its pricing.
Therefore, the cost may not be too high.
But hand-made, limited edition jackets will cost moreoftena lotmore.
Adding Color
Denims hallmark blue color stems from the indigo dye in its yarn.
However, the indigo hue is still by far the most popular color for denim garments, jackets included.
These days, indigo dye is mostly synthetic, although more costly indigo from fermented plants is also available.
In the denim world, attention to detail is another factor that determines the cost of your denim jacket.
One of these details is the selvedge, which is a modification of self-edge.
This is a tightly woven band of cloth meant to prevent the weave from unraveling.
But, its also come into its own as a desirable aesthetic touch in denim clothing.
It uses a continuous thread that is tightly woven, resulting in a fabric that does not fray.
This highly desirable fabric does, admittedly consume and waste thread in manufacturing.
Thus, the price goes up to compensate for the loss.
In todays world, creating denim usually involves 12 to 14 machines.
Mass production, therefore, becomes necessary to recoup the investment in equipment.
Adding Other Fibers to Cotton
100% cotton is the purists ideal for denim.
To make the fabric more malleable, most denim makers will add synthetic fibers to the cotton base.
A small amount of polyester will make the denim more resistant to wear.
Usually, though, this neither adds to nor detracts from the general cost of making a denim jacket.
On the other hand,stretch fibersdo drive up the price.
The more stretch fiber there is, the more expensive a denim jacket is going to be.
Another consideration ishowmanufacturers incorporate stretch fibers into the the fabric.
(The downside with stretch fibers is that they often give your denim fabric an unattractive, synthetic sheen.
Furthermore, the indigo dye does not attach well to the stretch fabric.
The result is a fabric that looks like normal denim, but with the stretch fabrics desirable characteristics.)
Sewing
Still wondering why denim jackets are so expensive?
Consider the methods of sewing your garment together.
This offers a clean look that is not replicated by the overlock or serger machine.
And since the flat-felled machine is expensive, those costs are passed on to the customer.
Additions
Dont forget about the buttons and zippers adorning denim jackets.
The gold standard in zippers is YKK, both for style and for durability.
Buttons will normally have the logo of the company on them.
If no logo is present, this is a sure sign theyre generic and possibly of lower quality.
Another item that is worth looking at is the artistry of the grommet on your jacket.
Grommets are small studs that are placed on the edges of the pockets of some denim jackets.
If the fiber is loose around the grommets, it could be an indicator of poor workmanship.
Its goal is to simulate years of honest wear and highlight your best features without the commitment.
Distressing is the most popular form of finishing, but definitely not the only one.
For example:
A cost-increasing process worth noting is the whiskers on your denim jacket.
To create this without the long wait for them to form naturally, most manufacturers will use lasers.
Others will use skilled workers to sandpaper the material.
The latter process will add significantly to the price of your denim jacket.
And you know what, if you dont want to pay more than the bare minimum, thats okay.
#1.
But, it is safe to generally assume that the higher the price point, the better the quality.
After all, making something right actually takes time and money.
And by right, we mean it looks good and wears hard.
#2.
This leads us to our next point.
#3.
Not so with expensive clothing like a premium denim jacket.
#4.
You dont need to justify your spending to anyone but yourself.
You do you, with or without dropping the big bucks!
So, before balking at the price tag, consider the journey!
