Washing Unsanforized Jeans

[dudewuttheheck]

I don't understand denim either. The information is out there, but boy is it confusing.

It's not actually that bad if you get it from the right source. The issue is all of the bias. Most brands tend to do only raw or only sanforized so when they release information, it's incredibly biased toward one side or the other.

This means that people who haven't already spent time learning about it feel more lost than necessary. On top of that, a lot of raw denim wearers like to make it seem more complicated than it is to feel special and like their better than those who don't wear raw denim.

I just explain it like this: Ever tried Levi's shrink to fit? Raw denim is like that. Sanforized raw denim is like every other pair of jeans you've owned, but better.

If they have no idea, then I just say: Raw denim shrinks an inch or 2 in the waist and 2-3 inches in the inseam. The store selling them will almost always tell you exactly how much they will shrink and even provide post-soak measurements. Buy the pair that fits you after they shrink.

Hell, raw denim is actually easier to size because people actually give out full measurements unlike other brands that just give waist size and leg opening.

 

[Monitor]

I don't understand denim either. The information is out there, but boy is it confusing.

Yeah, ditto. I don't really get jeans at all... I wish I could see a good pair of jeans some day just to have a point of comparison but I don't even have the slightest clue what to look for and I don't want to get into shopping online since I don't really know what jeans size I wear anyway.

 

[Carlos840]

I have been wearing only unsanforized jeans for around 3 or 4 years, i have pretty much every thickness IH makes (14oz, 18, 21, 23, and 25 oz).
What i do is bathtub wash. Just flip them inside out, put a little bit of your usual liquid laundry soap in the tub, cover the jeans with warm water, and give them a soak for 20 minutes agitating every 5 minutes or so.
I then give them a rinse in warm water, flip them back and rinse them one final time. Be gentle with the last rinse, as it is easy to wash indigo out even after a few washes.

Doing this you will not get waist shrinkage and you will not get washing machine marks. You will lose an inch or two in length the first time you wash them.
The jeans will feel a bit tighter the first time you put them back on, but will relax back to where they were after a few minutes.

 

[ButteMT61]

Last few posts make me laugh. Think about it - what would a nOOb say coming in here and reading all the threads about leather jackets? Zippers? Pockets? Lining? Hides? You get my point. Once you enjoy something and get sucked in, the learnin' happens by itself!

 

[Fanch]

Yesterday I ordered one of these waist expander contraptions from Amazon as I hate jeans that are too tight at the waist. Once again you guys on the Forum are world class enablers.

https://www.amazon.com/INCH-MASTER®-Waistband-Stretcher/dp/B000POJL9M?tag=viglink20661-20

 

[nick123]

It's not actually that bad if you get it from the right source. The issue is all of the bias. Most brands tend to do only raw or only sanforized so when they release information, it's incredibly biased toward one side or the other.

This means that people who haven't already spent time learning about it feel more lost than necessary. On top of that, a lot of raw denim wearers like to make it seem more complicated than it is to feel special and like their better than those who don't wear raw denim.

I just explain it like this: Ever tried Levi's shrink to fit? Raw denim is like that. Sanforized raw denim is like every other pair of jeans you've owned, but better.

If they have no idea, then I just say: Raw denim shrinks an inch or 2 in the waist and 2-3 inches in the inseam. The store selling them will almost always tell you exactly how much they will shrink and even provide post-soak measurements. Buy the pair that fits you after they shrink.

Hell, raw denim is actually easier to size because people actually give out full measurements unlike other brands that just give waist size and leg opening.

Thank you.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Thank you.

No problem. Like I said, people like to make it seem way more special than it is.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Yeah, ditto. I don't really get jeans at all... I wish I could see a good pair of jeans some day just to have a point of comparison but I don't even have the slightest clue what to look for and I don't want to get into shopping online since I don't really know what jeans size I wear anyway.

Depending on where you live, I can just tell you where to go haha

 

[Monitor]

@ButteMT61, of course you're right but having never even seen a pair of those jeans you guys talk about here, I have no idea what to look for. Like, I found several Aero, Schott, Vanson, Brooks, Fidelity, Brimaco, etc. jackets right here in the town I live in which was an extremely unlikely thing to happen but it still happened. But in all these years I've been looking, not once did one of those good jeans ever pop up.

Depending on where you live, I can just tell you where to go haha

Well, I've no access to anything other than Lee, Levi's, Wrangler and a whole bunch of random mall brands whose names I can't even recall.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

@ButteMT61, of course you're right but having never even seen a pair of those jeans you guys talk about here, I have no idea what to look for. Like, I found several Aero, Schott, Vanson, Brooks, Fidelity, Brimaco, etc. jackets right here in the town I live in which was an extremely unlikely thing to happen but it still happened. But in all these years I've been looking, not once did one of those good jeans ever pop up.



Well, I've no access to anything other than Lee, Levi's, Wrangler and a whole bunch of random mall brands whose names I can't even recall.

That's not the best choice... I'm perfectly comfortable buying online, but I know that many people are not.

 

[Monitor]

That's not the best choice... I'm perfectly comfortable buying online, but I know that many people are not.

Which would I be looking for, then? Some heavy stuff, durable and tough. My job is such that I work with my hands, on my feet so all of my jeans get tears pretty quickly.

 

[EmergencyIan]

I don't get it, I guess. We used to always get raw/shrink to fit denim; wash and dry it. It was no big deal. This was done on a regular basis. In fact, we did it with all of our clothing. It was fine.

- Ian

 

[nick123]

I've been eyeing the Sugar Cane 1947 model jeans. Something along those lines/budget. I'm probably a 33 (gained weight) but usually wear a 32x34. Any insight from owners? Trying to avoid the slim fit. Sorry Bob; hijack.

 

[ButteMT61]

I don't get it, I guess. We used to always get raw/shrink to fit denim; wash and dry it. It was no big deal. This was done on a regular basis. In fact, we did it with all of our clothing. It was fine.

- Ian

My guess: because we no longer buy in person. Tags are useless and many vendors don't offer accurate numbers etc. I'm pretty confident buying online now. I'm mostly settled, body wise.
Used to try things on. How many do that now?

 

[tropicalbob]

Which would I be looking for, then? Some heavy stuff, durable and tough. My job is such that I work with my hands, on my feet so all of my jeans get tears pretty quickly.

You can't go too far wrong with Gustins if you order the straights and are completely honest with yourself about the waist size. To figure that out, just take a pair that really fit you, button them at the waist, and measure straight across. Then double it. As an enabler, I might mention that I just ordered a pair of the Zimbabwes last night, and they're still available. I fully realize that I really don't need another pair but the pictures got me.

 

[tropicalbob]

Yesterday I ordered one of these waist expander contraptions from Amazon as I hate jeans that are too tight at the waist. Once again you guys on the Forum are world class enablers.

https://www.amazon.com/INCH-MASTER®-Waistband-Stretcher/dp/B000POJL9M?tag=viglink20661-20

View attachment 81944

Ha! I got mine the other day. I haven't quite figured out yet exactly how the thing works, but I'm going to give it a shot today. Last night I remembered that I have a couple of pairs of old jeans and corduroys that I "grew out of" that I'll try it on. Yes, it's exactly this kind of thing that keeps me coming back to this forum.

 

[tropicalbob]

I have been wearing only unsanforized jeans for around 3 or 4 years, i have pretty much every thickness IH makes (14oz, 18, 21, 23, and 25 oz).
What i do is bathtub wash. Just flip them inside out, put a little bit of your usual liquid laundry soap in the tub, cover the jeans with warm water, and give them a soak for 20 minutes agitating every 5 minutes or so.
I then give them a rinse in warm water, flip them back and rinse them one final time. Be gentle with the last rinse, as it is easy to wash indigo out even after a few washes.

Doing this you will not get waist shrinkage and you will not get washing machine marks. You will lose an inch or two in length the first time you wash them.
The jeans will feel a bit tighter the first time you put them back on, but will relax back to where they were after a few minutes.

That's exactly what I'm going to do with these new jeans (with the gadget inserted). What did you mean, though, when you said "flip them back?" Turn them inside-out?

 

[Cyber Lip]

Sanforized will still shrink about an inch in the waist if you machine wash them

 

[Carlos840]

That's exactly what I'm going to do with these new jeans (with the gadget inserted). What did you mean, though, when you said "flip them back?" Turn them inside-out?

Yeah, i do washing and 1st rinse with the jeans inside out, and do the final rinse with them back inside in.
If you do it all outside out you will lose a lot more indigo (blue water).

 

[AeroFan_07]

I've been trying out a pair of "Unbranded" selvedge denim jeans over the past several months. 11 oz model in the Tapered fit. Wear them about 3-4X a month, and try to be pretty careful with them. My issue is they are a 36 waist and I really have no extra room. I would also not like to loose the length, I need all I can get.

You can find thier products here: https://theunbrandedbrand.com/

For more on Raw Denium (from their perspective): https://theunbrandedbrand.com/pages/rawdenim