Traditionally, the denim that jeans are made from was not pre-shrunk. Once washed, the denim would shrink about 10% or so. It was ‘shrink to fit.’
That meant you’d have to buy your jeans too long. And until they’d shrunken to the proper length, you’d fold or roll up the extra fabric at the end of the legs. In other words, you would cuff your jeans.
In the 1950s, cuffing your jeans became a big trend when jeans started transitioning into the world of fashion. It wasn’t just for practical reasons, it was something you did to add a touch of coolness to your look. And now, cuffs are in fashion once again.
If fold or roll up the fabric at the end of the legs, you’re creating a cuff. You might also see it referred to as a ‘turn-up’ but we’ll call it the cuff from here on.
Learn how to cuff your jeans here.
