OUR RAW DENIM STORY

   WHY OUR DENIM  

Jeans were first introduced by American soldiers, oil and gold miners and quickly became a fashionable item. Denim made in the 1960’s created a life long legacy; ring-spun and rope-dyed yarns woven on shuttle looms. American manufacturers have since then moved toward cost-efficient methods of mass production. AKINGSNY is finding the balance between traditional and modern manufacturing. We value manufacturers who have kept the old-school tradition alive valuing quality over quantity.  With the dwindling number of machinery and skilled traditional craftsman, we push the marriage of modern technology closer to traditional denim. 

"Better a little which is well done, than a great deal imperfectly."  -Plato

Selvedge denim

Made using vintage low speed looms called shuttle looms.  A small wooden shuttle containing the weft yarns weaves the fabric as it is “shuttled” back and forth along the loom, on each pass the shuttle seals the edge of the fabric creating a “self edge”, hence Selvedge Denim. Shuttle looms are slower, louder and require the skill of master artisans to operate. The end result is a denim with a hand woven feel that cannot be mass produced. Shuttle looms are also woven on 32" rolls versus the 64" mass production roll of fabric. 

Rope Dying

Japanese raw denim highly sought after for its fading properties. The process starts with cotton yarns bundled into a rope and then dipped in a sequence of indigo dye baths. Between dips the yarns are exposed to the air and the absorbed indigo slowly oxidizes turning the yarns blue. This process is then repeated multiple times in order to obtain the desired shade of blue.  The yarns are never left in the indigo dye long enough for the dye to penetrate to the core of the yarn. The outer circumference of the yarn is dyed with multiple layers of indigo dye, while the core remains white. Denim crafted from rope dyed yarns will gradually shed "break - in" layers of indigo and slowly revealing the white core yarn underneath the result is a jean with characteristics and personality unique to the wearer. 

SO YOU'VE DECIDED THAT YOUR JEANS ARE READY FOR A WASH.

Turn the jeans inside out, and fasten the front buttons or zippers (This avoids abrasion to the denim while washing) soak the jeans in a tub using cold water to minimize indigo loss. (If the jeans are very dirty you can use a small amount of detergent) Gently scrub the jeans and let them soak for about an hour. Remove the jeans from the tub, and rinse the jeans with water to remove any leftover dirty, dye or detergent. Ring out any excess water, and finally hang them to dry. The jeans may feel a bit tight after wash, but will soon stretch back out to normal with wear.

THE EXTREME WAY

Let your jeans get dirty for as long as possible - 2 years+

First wash: Dry clean.

Following washes: soak your jeans for about an hour in water with a little

Woolite black added, rinse, hang up to dry. 

THE SIMPLE WAY

Soak your jeans for about an hour in water, rinse, wring and hang up to dry.

THE MACHINE WAY

Machine wash at 30°C (90°F), delicate cycle, no spin cycle. 

THE SEAWATER WAY

Go swimming in the ocean wearing your jeans, rub them with dry sand and repeat several times. Rinse in fresh (not salt) water and dry out in the sun.

Maintenance

Jeans are not indestructible; no other garment is worn as frequently or as hard as a pair of raw denim jeans. The longer you wear your jeans between washing, sweat, oil and dirt build weakening the cotton fibers and holes can form.

Regular maintenance, not only will it prolong the life of your jeans, it also adds great deal of character. 

Patch up any small holes using a small piece of denim from our repair kit.

-An inside patch is recommended for a cleaner look.

-A patch on from the outside for a more vintage look.

-Try using a contrasting patterned fabric to add personality.