Guide: Why do denim heads cuff their jeans? Why is it stylish?

You've probably noticed that some people always cuff their jeans – whether it's in fashion or not. Those of us who do often look at others' cuffs, because that cuff holds a lot of information. Talking about the cuff is a perfect icebreaker for a denim enthusiast (unless it's not selvedge, then...).

Selvedge ID on the cuff

The cuff of the jeans, or cuff as it's called in English, displays the selvedge edge of the fabric. This edge, selvedge, often has a color code that we denim enthusiasts are very keen on.

Originally, the color codes on the selvedge edge were used to distinguish different rolls of denim fabric, so each manufacturer had their own color code. Now it has become much more than that. A Selvedge ID can tell something about the manufacturer, fabric type, and it often contains both artistic and aesthetic choices.

Selvedge ID as artistic expression

Naked & Famous Denim is known for being the world's most playful brand, and they experiment a lot with both the color of the weft and the selvedge edge itself when designing jeans. Their collections tell stories ranging from pop culture to Japanese mythology. Therefore, the color they choose for their Selvedge ID is never arbitrary.

Cuff, stack or hem?

This is not just a fashion choice, but a conscious decision about what you want to get out of your raw denim. If you want to show the world that you are quality-conscious and buy Japanese denim, you can signal this with a cuff. It's fascinating how many people you otherwise wouldn't talk to, you can meet with this simple little icebreaker.

Fades and heel bites

Are you mostly concerned with fades, and perhaps a little fond of heel bites? Then you can stack. That means letting the jeans wrinkle over your shoes. With narrower jeans, you will then get honeycombs all the way down. If it's baggy jeans, you'll get heel bites (wear at the bottom near the heel). These can later be repaired with exciting sashiko patterns that give the pants a unique character.

Hemming

Perhaps you are more concerned with how you feel than how others perceive you? Do you just want pants that work and aren't in the way? Then you might not need a marker to connect with other "denim heads." There's no problem with hemming raw denim (we do it for free), because it won't look strange at the bottom edge like manufacturer-washed jeans often do.

To each their own preference and need. Whether you cuff, stack, or hem, you will appreciate the experience of breaking in a true quality pair of jeans made on old-fashioned looms in Japan.