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FABRIC GUIDE:
All About Denim

A good pair of jeans is a staple in anyone’s closet - there’s nothing quite like it!

At Blue Bungalow, we don’t like to compromise on comfort so we stock a range of flattering jeans with elasticised waistbands - add one of our bamboo drape tops and accessorize with a scarf and you’ve got yourself a stylish outfit in a matter of minutes.

What is denim made of?

Denim is actually made of a strong warp-faced cotton weave that is traditionally dyed to the indigo colour that we have come to know and love.

While jeans used to be 100% cotton, nowadays it is often mixed with fibres such as polyester or spandex to create a variety of other looks. It is also dyed in other shades such as blue, grey and black and can be treated or designed to be faded, frayed, distressed or ripped (hey, all the cool kids are wearing them).

Is denim cotton or synthetic?

Traditionally denim is cotton, although it is increasingly being mixed with synthetic fibres such as polyester. This is done because polyester doesn’t stretch out as much as cotton, which means that having a small percentage of the material will help your jeans keep their shape and be less prone to wrinkles.

What is the difference between jeans and denim?

That’s an easy one to answer: denim is the fabric and jeans is a type of garment that can be made out of that fabric.

Are all jeans denim?

Most jeans are denim with, in some cases, some additional fibres added to create a different look. For example, a lot of our jeans here at Blue Bungalow have a small percentage of elastane to make them stretchier, form-fitting and, ultimately, more comfortable than a traditional pair of all-cotton denim, which can feel rigid (remember having to unbutton jeans at the dinner table - we’re so glad that’s a thing of the past!).

But the term “jeans” can also be used to refer to a casual pair of pants in other fabrics - you have to refer to the product description and care label to know exactly what you’re dealing with.

Does denim shrink?

This depends on the exact composition of your jeans - a pair with a higher percentage of spandex will tend to keep its shape or stretch out a little bit over time while 100% cotton jeans, like the traditional ones that we all wore in the 70s, are more prone to shrinkage.

However, most denim these days is pre-shrunk which means that it will usually hold its shape unless you willingly try to shrink them by washing and drying them at a high temperature.

How tight should jeans be?

When trying on jeans, keep in mind that they will generally only stretch out a little bit, so the waistband should feel tight but comfortable and the pants should fit from the get-go - you should be able to squeeze a finger or two between your stomach and the garment.  

Always look at product descriptions on the website as our amazing team usually takes the time to indicate how each garment fits and how it should feel when you put it on (firm, relaxed, need to size up or down, etc.).

Denim Care Guide

Always be careful when washing your new pair of jeans for the first time as they are heavily dyed, which could easily transfer to other clothes if you’re not careful. We always recommend giving them a first wash alone to be safe and then always washing with darker colours.

While you should always refer to your garment’s individual care label, here are some helpful guidelines to keep in your back pocket.

How do you keep jeans in good condition?
If you want to keep your jeans in the same condition as when you first bought them, you will want to hand wash them in cold water using a small amount of detergent. No need to scrub them, just let them soak for a few minutes, drain the water and repeat the cycle once more before squeezing out excess water and laying flat to dry.

If you wash them in hot water or use a hot setting on your dryer, you risk shrinking your jeans as the cotton fibres will tighten up as they dry; unless your latest diet was wildly successful or you forgot to take advantage of our generous returns and exchanges policy, this is something that you will likely want to avoid doing!

How to wash jeans?
Jeans should ideally be hand washed as per the instructions above but a gentle or delicate machine cycle works too. You should always turn your jeans inside out before washing to preserve their colour and zip them up to avoid any snags.

Then, hang them up or lay flat to dry - avoid the dryer unless you’re in a pinch, in which case make sure that you use the low heat setting.

How often should you wash jeans?
You shouldn’t need to wash your jeans every single time you wear them - only do so when truly necessary, every few wears/weeks (some denim-obsessed people out there will tell you to only wash your jeans every few years - they obviously don’t live in a hot tropical climate like ours).

Need to freshen them up between washes? Just hang them outside for a few hours.

Denim Care Guide

Always be careful when washing your new pair of jeans for the first time as they are heavily dyed, which could easily transfer to other clothes if you’re not careful. We always recommend giving them a first wash alone to be safe and then always washing with darker colours.

While you should always refer to your garment’s individual care label, here are some helpful guidelines to keep in your back pocket.

How do you keep jeans in good condition?
If you want to keep your jeans in the same condition as when you first bought them, you will want to hand wash them in cold water using a small amount of detergent. No need to scrub them, just let them soak for a few minutes, drain the water and repeat the cycle once more before squeezing out excess water and laying flat to dry.

If you wash them in hot water or use a hot setting on your dryer, you risk shrinking your jeans as the cotton fibres will tighten up as they dry; unless your latest diet was wildly successful or you forgot to take advantage of our generous returns and exchanges policy, this is something that you will likely want to avoid doing!

How to wash jeans?
Jeans should ideally be hand washed as per the instructions above but a gentle or delicate machine cycle works too. You should always turn your jeans inside out before washing to preserve their colour and zip them up to avoid any snags.

Then, hang them up or lay flat to dry - avoid the dryer unless you’re in a pinch, in which case make sure that you use the low heat setting.

How often should you wash jeans?
You shouldn’t need to wash your jeans every single time you wear them - only do so when truly necessary, every few wears/weeks (some denim-obsessed people out there will tell you to only wash your jeans every few years - they obviously don’t live in a hot tropical climate like ours).

Need to freshen them up between washes? Just hang them outside for a few hours.

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