For this reason, denim heads have discussions about acceptable ways to wash jeans (including laying down in your jeans in the bathtub) and how often they can be washed (some say weeks, months, or even a year before the first wash and between washings).

By starting with raw jeans, the wear patterns tell the story of a person’s life – the way they move and the type of work they do.

Buying and wearing raw denim does have a couple of drawbacks. Since the denim hasn’t been pre-washed (sanfordized), the fabric isn’t pre-shrunk.

You need to be aware that they will shrink as much as 10% with the first wash. You may need to purchase your jeans slightly large so you will eventually have the perfect fit.

Also, the indigo color will transfer to your skin, furniture, and other clothing until the excess dye has been either washed or worn away.

What is slub?

Slub is a lump or thicker place in the yarn/thread. You will usually find this in the warp threads, and it leads to a slightly irregular appearance (which is often desirable).

Slubby denim is denim fabric in which the warp yarn is inconsistently thick, which leads to an irregular texture (think vertical dotted lines, like Matrix code viewed from far away, but Indigo and white instead of green and black).

Slubby denim will produce more unique fades than non-slubby denim, which is why many raw denim enthusiasts seek it out.

What is nep?

Nep refers to fabric that has a texture or pile that goes in one direction. The fibers are purposely raised when the cloth is produced. An extreme example would be velvet.

Neppy denim has a dotted or “snowy” appearance. People who aren’t in the know may just think your neppy jeans are pilling.

Denimheads love nep denim because of its unique look and the way it fades over time.