What is selvedge denim?
What is red edge/red ear selvedge denim? The origin of red edge cloth? Why do denim factories develop selvedges in different colors? Which was the first denim brand to use red edges/red ears selvedge denim fabric?
‘Selvedge’ is the name for the higher-quality, harder-to-produce type of denim that is typically sold and worn unwashed.So Selvedge denim fabric itself means high quality faces to high-end market,the price is higher than regular denim.
Purchase 21.5oz blue selvedge denim
Selvedge denim fabric
Let’s talk about what is red edge/red ear selvage denim or selvedge denim~
The old-fashioned looms used in the last century were called narrow shuttle looms. The narrow woven machine uses the shuttle to insert the weft back and forth, so as to form a self-locking edge on the edge of the denim, and its English name is Selvedge or selvage.
Both selvedge or selvage are grammatically and spelling correct, but more brands tend to use the former because it refers directly to the root “edge” (edge).
In China, overlock,-selvage, selvage, and selvage all mean the same thing.
The purpose of this overlock is to prevent the edges of the denim from unraveling.
There are many colors of selvedge, which is determined by the color of the selvedges, the most common is red, which is called red ear in Japan, and red edging in China.
Because the red edge is so famous, this narrow denim produced by the old-fashioned shuttle loom is collectively referred to as the red edge cloth.
The reason why red-edged cloth is also called narrow cloth is because the denim woven by the old-fashioned shuttle loom is much narrower than the modern shuttle less loom.
What is Difference between selvedge and non-selvedge denim?
The difference between selvedge and non-selvage denim is that because the edge of the red selvedge is neat and does not scatter, the selvedge will be directly used as the outer seam of the jeans when tailoring and sewing. When sewing jeans with non-selvage denim, the edges should be overlocked to prevent the edges from loosening.
Before the 1940s/1950s, since all denim was produced on narrow shuttle looms, the edge of the fabric would have a selvage/overlock/selvage, but not necessarily red ears.
In fact, the selvedge color of denim was all white at first.
The origin of the red selvedge denim
According to Cone Denim records, after Levi’s signed a cooperation agreement with Cone Denim, it still used all-white selvedge denim until 1927.
Why must the selvedge color of the denim be all white in the beginning?
Everyone knows that denim is interwoven with blue warp and white weft. Before the fabric factory invested in colored selvage to develop colored selvage, the white selvage of denim was actually the white weft.
图片
In 1927 Cone Denim developed a denim with red selvedge (red selvedge) for Levi’s specifically for 501 jeans. Original text: “red line selvedge denim intended exclusively for 501 jeans.”
To focus, the red selvage denim is specially designed for the 501.
This later world-famous red selvedge raw denim has become one of the features of the 501.
Why do denim factories develop selvedges in different colors?
At the time, the colored selvage was usually unique to a particular mill, to indicate the weight and origin of the denim, and to help the mill distinguish which brand the denim was made for. Certain brands are marked with these different colored selvedges, which even unreadable workers in the factory can easily identify.
The reason why Cone Denim added red yarn from the all-white selvage, instead of other colors, turned out to have its own special meaning, in order to distinguish different grades of fabrics.
That’s why Denim with red selvage was considered the top denim at the time.
Although the red edge has not been trademarked by the brand, it has been Levi’s unofficial business card since 1915. No one could have imagined that this small move has enhanced the charm and influence of jeans, and then major brands have begun to develop exclusive color selvedge for their clothing.
Of course, there are also many small brands that imitate Levi’s and use red edging directly.
Whether Levi’s created the red edge or the red edge created Levi’s, the relationship between the two is inseparable anyway.
Lots of People love selvedge denim.WingFly is here just for you.No matter what colors of the selvedge or what weight of the selvedge denim fabric,weight could be 33oz heaviest one till now,500yards order accepted to newly produce for different colors of selvedge.Also,there is 1000yards stock available for the buyers who do not care the colors of the selvedge.
