If black jeans still have a way to go before dethroning indigo jeans , they nevertheless constitute an interesting alternative ( just like gray jeans ) when putting together your outfit. Let's see here how to insert it into your everyday outfits .
Why wear black jeans?
Black has some advantages of its own. It makes the outfit more dressy, while bringing a modern and graphic touch (legs that appear in a more structured way within the silhouette), as well as a rock side that speaks to everyone. Like blue jeans, they age and patina well provided you pay the price .
Let's quickly take a look at the main criteria to take into account when choosing black jeans.
The fabric of black jeans
Good thing to know: black jeans don't necessarily fade the same way as indigo jeans . The dye used for most black jeans is chemical and more resistant to washing, while indigo is a natural pigment that does not completely adhere to the fiber of the fabric.
Some canvases have a "coated" effect, that is to say a black coating has been applied which takes the fiber well, giving an almost rubberized finish.
We also find stretch fabrics (often with 2% elastane) for additional comfort and a more fitted silhouette.
Here, a beautiful black canvas coated on slim “black coated” jeans from Nudie. Credits: Nudie.
That said, there are also black jeans dyed naturally, with low-fixing pigments, to obtain a wash that tends towards gray.
In terms of thickness, we advise you to invest in denim with weight. It will naturally be more durable.
The method of making black jeans
This is important because it determines how the denim will develop its patina. If they have been previously washed, the jeans will not have the same fading potential as an unwashed pair.
There are basically three main manufacturing methods for black jeans:
- Piece dyeing , where we weave with undyed threads, and dye the resulting armor in vats. This allows a wide variety of colors, but also to make coated jeans. In the industry, we call this technique “garment-dyed” (literally “garment-dyed”).
Here, black “garment-dyed” jeans from Zegna. Credits: Zegna.
- Yarn dyeing , which consists of dipping only the warp yarn in a boiling vat containing a black dye, then drying it, then starting again several times in a row depending on the desired effect (this method is called overdyeing) . Of course, the more baths there are, the more expensive the jeans will be, but the washes will only be more subtle because the pigment will have penetrated deeper into the heart of the fiber. This is the most common method among brands.
Here, black yarn-dyed jeans from Edwin. Credits: Edwin.
- The last method, often called black-black , consists - as its name suggests - of weaving the denim using directly a black warp thread and an equally black weft thread. This gives a perfectly black, contrast-free appearance to the canvas. This is a more expensive technique, because we also dye the weft yarn this time (double yarn dyeing, if you like).
And there, Tom Ford jeans dyed black-black. Credits: Tom Ford.
The iconic denim brands
At relatively affordable prices, Levi's (which is the benchmark when we think of jeans), Lee and Wrangler remain safe bets in terms of style. Their proposals for black jeans are therefore rather interesting, with a wide variety of cuts. If you're just starting out, this is where you should start.
Among brands that are a bit more niche, we can cite brands like Acne, Edwin or Asket. Pretty washes, neat materials, deeper shades, enough to appeal to jeans enthusiasts.
Here, black jeans from Acne. We appreciate the very clean cut. Credits: Acne.
Black jeans in Japanese denim
For denimheads who are only interested in Japanese fabrics, there is also something to do. Some brands like 3sixteen, Left Field NYC, or Rogue Territory Stealth take jeans even further. This requires a certain budget, but you will buy jeans with exceptional finishes, which will keep their matte and intense black, allowing a more subtle patina to develop.
Here, jeans from the 220X range from 3sixteen. Credits: 3sixteen.
There, black selvedge jeans from Rogue Territory Stealth. Credits: Rogue Territory Stealth.
It is certainly far from dethroning the essential raw jean, but black jeans still have their place in the men's wardrobe. The notions that it recalls as well as the effects that can be brought to its canvas allow it to be integrated into many looks and to experiment with different styles.
You are wondering how to wear black , this article is for you!