Where do jeans get their blue color?

Originally, the blue color came from a natural indigo dye. The dye was chosen for the way it interacted with cotton. When heated, most dyes penetrate the cotton fibers but indigo dye attaches to the fiber’s surface, instead.

Is denim actually blue?

Denim is usually colored with indigo dye, resulting in its characteristic blue-cotton color. After denim is colored, manufacturers can wash, rinse, or distress the fabric to produce a wide array of denim, from dark-wash to light. Manufacturers use a different dyeing process to create black or white cotton denim.

Who decided jeans should be blue?

One of the people inspired to use that fabric to make trousers in America was Levi Strauss, a Bavarian immigrant. He and Jacob Davis created what we now recognize as the first American blue jeans and received a patent for their invention in 1873.

What color are jeans before they are dyed?

Ecru refers to the color of undyed denim and is the natural hue of cotton. Jeans that have not been dyed with indigo are called ecru jeans; however, they are more difficult to find.