How to care for your denim
AT A GLANCE
How do you care for denim?
Wash it rarely, inside out, in cold water, and keep it out of the dryer. Denim doesn't need a wash after every wear. Most quality jeans do better with an occasional wash, when you see a stain or the fit starts to loosen, than with a regular laundry cycle.
Five steps, in order:
- Decide how often to wash
- Wash without losing color
- Dry without losing shape
- Give raw denim its own routine
- Repair before you replace
01
Decide how often to wash
Less often than you think
Denim doesn't behave like the rest of your wardrobe. Frequent washing fades the color faster and wears out the fibers early. Wash only when you notice:
- A visible stain
- An odor that won't go away
- A fit that starts to lose its shape
Between wears, hang your jeans to air out instead of tossing them in the hamper. That's usually enough to keep them fresh.
02
Wash without losing color
Inside out, always cold
Turn your jeans inside out before every wash. It's the most important step for keeping the color and finish of the original wash, because it cuts down friction on the outer surface.
- Cold water only. Hot water strips indigo dye faster, especially on dark washes and raw denim.
- A gentle cycle. If you can, use a detergent made for dark fabrics.
- Separate loads. Wash dark and light jeans apart, or with pieces in a similar tone, so the color doesn't transfer.
03
Dry without losing shape
Skip the dryer
Air-drying is the safest way to keep both the fit and the color of your denim. A dryer hits the fabric with direct heat, which can shrink the fiber and break down the weave over time.
Hang your jeans inside out, out of direct sunlight, so the color doesn't fade unevenly.
04
Give raw denim its own routine
Wait before the first wash
Raw denim comes with no prior treatment, so it needs different handling. Hold off on the first wash for several weeks of wear. That gives the fabric time to build its own wear pattern before it ever touches water.
When the time comes, wash it by hand in cold water. It's the gentlest option.
05
Repair before you replace
Built to last, made to mend
A small tear or a loose seam doesn't mean your jeans are done. Fix it early, before the damage spreads, and the pair will last a lot longer.
That's how Chevignon thinks about denim, too. We build each piece to hold its shape and pick up character over time, not to be swapped out every season.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions about caring for your denim? Get in touch.
Denim built to last
