Why most jeans are blue
When was the last time you can remember that blue jeans were out of fashion? These pants have become an American icon, but how did they get that blue color in the first place? Following is a transcript of the video.
People have been wearing blue jeans for centuries. Originally, the blue color came from a natural indigo dye. The dye was chosen for the way it interacted with cotton. When heated, most dyes penetrate the cotton fibers but indigo dye attaches to the fiber's surface, instead. The result? During each wash, some of the fibers and dye molecules escape, giving jeans that signature faded look over time.
Today, jeans are dyed with a synthetic indigo dye. Take a closer look and you'll see a clever design. The warp thread is dyed but the weft thread is left white. This reduces the amount of dye needed for each pair of jeans. It's also why many jeans are blue on the outside but white on the inside. Each pair of jeans requires 3-12 grams of dye. Each year, we produce several hundred thousand tons of indigo dye. Most of that is mused for making blue jeans. Do the math, that's between 90 million to 2.2 billion new jeans per year. Looks like this fashion trend will stick around for a while.
- Luxury “floating” beach unveiled in France, termed an “ecological aberration”
- Scientists think they’ve spotted 60 potential alien power plants in the Milky Way!
- Bread, butter, milk-based health drinks, cooking oils classified as ultra-processed food, ICMR advises restriction
- Debt, equity holders approve merger of IDFC with IDFC First Bank
- Sunrisers Hyderabad to take on Punjab Kings as they look to grab the second spot in IPL points table