Why are classic jeans always stitched with yellow thread? (5 photos)

Jeans have long been not just a work uniform, but a fashion trend loved by millions of people around the world. But why is it that gold/yellow thread is often used for the stitching (or seams) of these legendary trousers, giving them a rather vintage look?





Of course, in modern times there are various designs, but 90% of all jeans are always stitched with yellow thread.

Behind this seemingly imperceptible nuance lies a whole story related to practicality, technology and even symbolism.

1. Strength and durability



The world's first jeans, invented by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss in 1873, were made using yellow linen thread.

Initially, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis were looking for the most durable material for the seams in their jeans. But in the end they settled on two main options: silk and linen threads. Of the two materials, US-grown linen, which has a natural yellow tint, has proven to be the strongest and most durable, which is why Strauss chose to use it for all of his jeans.

Thus, the stitching of jeans at Levi's acquired a yellowish color.

2. Reduced production costs





In addition to the fact that the yellow stitching was durable and allowed the jeans to wear out for a long time, the material itself from which this thread was made was (relatively) cheap. The difference in cost was especially noticeable in comparison with silk, from which Levi's initially planned to sew threads for its jeans.

You probably know that silk, compared to other materials, is very expensive. The silk production process begins with the cultivation of caterpillars, the future silkworm butterflies, and ends with the extraction of silk threads from their cocoons. This is a rather expensive and lengthy production process to obtain silk fabric.

On the other hand, flax is a simpler material obtained from plant fibers. To produce flax, textile companies simply create large flax plantations and grow it in huge quantities. And after 100 days, flax can be harvested to make linen fabric.

As you can see, linen is much easier and cheaper to produce than silk, especially for industrial use. To reduce the cost of producing the jeans and lower their future value, Levi's was forced to use yellow linen stitching rather than any other color silk stitching.

3. Combination of thread design with copper rivets



Originally created for working men: prospectors, gold miners, farmers and cowboys, jeans were a response to the needs of the time.

The California Gold Rush spurred demand for durable clothing that could withstand harsh working conditions, heavy loads, and gold nuggets in pockets (which were easily torn).

Rivets that strengthened the pockets of jeans ensured the safety of mined gold and tools. Compared to other pants of the time, jeans were incredibly durable, making them an undeniable favorite among workers.

So another reason why the jeans have yellow stitching is because the yellow thread was designed to be combined with copper rivets. What are rivets? Essentially, rivets are small metal buttons located in the seams of jeans. They are usually found where two pieces of denim meet.



The purpose of rivets is to make the jeans more durable.

Of course, seams can come in a variety of colors, but yellow is a safe and effective color that pairs especially well with the copper rivets that have historically been present in all jeans. The yellow stitching is the same color as the copper rivets, creating a cleaner, more cohesive look. This is another reason why jeans are sewn in yellow and not others.

Today, jeans are still made with yellow stitching as a tribute to the original denim design that has become iconic over the past 100 years.