JEANS ANATOMY
Many of the features that have come to define blue jeans started as pragmatic solutions to the problems faced by wearers or manufacturers.
On this page, you’ll find answers to questions about the features and details of jeans as well as how they’re made.
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Defining Features
Rivets – pieces of metal found at the pocket corners of jeans with the purpose of strengthening these stress point
Hidden rivets – rivets on the back pockets of jeans that are covered by denim fabric
Arcuates – patterns of stitching on the back pockets of jeans, also known as back pocket signatures
Back cinch – a feature that can tighten the waistband of jeans
Bartack – stitches that reinforce stress points of jeans
Belt loops – features that help wearers keep a belt in place at the waistband of jeans
Coin pocket – a small pocket that’s half-tucked into the left front pocket of jeans
Suspender buttons – buttons that are used to ‘anchor’ suspenders to jeans
Cut and Sew
Five-pocket jeans – the quintessential jean has two pockets on the back and three on the front
Chain stitch – a type of stitching with one continuous thread that is looped back on itself
Roping effect – the abrasion on jeans hems sewn with chain stitching
Fly – the front opening on jeans, either with buttons or a zipper
Yoke – the V-shaped section at the back of jeans that give them a curved seat
Anti-fit – jeans with the rise cut in a straight line (as opposed to a curve)
Pre-washing – industrial processes and abrasive techniques that imitate the fading on naturally worn-in raw denim
Branding
Red tab – a small, red branding label with the name ‘Levi’s’ on it
Brand patch – a label found at the waistband of jeans above the right back pocket
Back pocket flasher – a removable tag, usually placed on the right back pocket of jeans
Levi’s XX – the name of the Levi’s jeans before they were named 501
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