As a self-proclaimed jeans addict, I’ll find any excuse to wear them - whether it's for everyday outfits, heading to work, or even dressing them up with a blazer for a night out. Sure, I’ll throw in some khakis or trousers now and then to mix it up, but honestly, I can’t imagine life without my denim.
I know I'm not the only one who feels this way about these easy-to-wear, easy-to-style pants. So, let me share a little bit of what I’ve picked up about Nudie Jeans, a Swedish denim brand famous for their “wear them for 6 months before washing” philosophy.
Founded in 1999, Nudie is a relative newcomer compared to denim legends like Levi’s, Lee, and Wrangler, but it’s made quite an impact. What sets them apart? They use only organic cotton, free from chemicals, to create designs that make denim lovers excited just by hearing the names: Tight Long John, High Kai, Skinny Lin, Tape Ted… you get the idea.
The secret sauce behind Nudie’s appeal? Dry denim. If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s the lowdown: most jeans are pre-washed with stones to create that soft, worn-in look before they even hit the store shelves. But dry denim skips that process, leaving the fabric untouched and rich in indigo, which fades naturally over time, reflecting your own personal journey.
The indigo blue of dry denim, to me, is the 'Theory of Everything' because it can be paired with so many different outfits
My pair of Nudie High Kai jeans, after just a month of breaking them in, is already filled with memories - quitting my job, bidding farewell to colleagues, and a few other milestones I can’t even remember. It makes me wonder what they'll look like after their first wash.
Unlike washed denim, dry denim is dipped straight into dye vats and left unwashed, meaning the jeans start off a deep, pure indigo that gradually lightens with wear. Sure, you might get some dye transfer onto light-colored shirts or even your white underwear, but don’t worry - it washes out easily.
Nudie emphasizes the "break-in" period, urging wearers to live in their jeans for at least six months before their first wash. This process allows the jeans to mold to your body, making them truly yours. Every fade, crease, and mark tells a story about your life. Got a habit of keeping your wallet in your back pocket? There’ll be an imprint. Keys in the front pocket? A fade mark will show. Even something as small as a coin can leave a permanent trace over time. On Nudie’s website, users share personal stories about their jeans. One stone mason talks about how his Nudies have tears from carrying heavy rocks and the iconic "honeycomb" creases from bending and sitting. Another person wore his jeans for over a year without washing them, through rain, festivals, fishing trips, and life as a new dad, complete with paint stains from renovating his house.
Some people might cringe at the idea of not washing their jeans for six months, but don’t worry - there’s a workaround. Just pop your jeans in a plastic bag and freeze them for a day to kill off bacteria. And, according to some studies, the bacteria count on "dirty" jeans isn’t much different from clean ones. That’s science talking, not me!
Here are some of the stories people have shared about their Nudie jeans:
One stone mason's pair is torn and battered from heavy lifting. The knees are worn through, and honeycomb creases have set in after long hours of work.
The pants of the stonemason above, before and after. He wore them continuously for nine months without washing.
Another guy wore his Nudie jeans for a year and four months without washing them. Between rainstorms, festivals, and his daily life, the jeans became a map of his journey.
Four years with only three washes, impressive, right? After wearing them for so long, they’ve torn quite a bit, especially with all the cycling, the tears have spread to the inner thigh. So, I had to get them repaired, and because of that, I finally had to wash them
Then there’s the record holder - five years and only three washes! He had to fight his mom off from throwing them in the laundry. His jeans even have a bloodstain from a boxing match with a buddy.
Every pair of Nudie Jeans becomes a part of you, just as you become a part of them. From the day you break them in to the moment you give them that long-awaited first wash, your jeans will be one-of-a-kind, telling your story through every crease and fade.
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