Good news from the experts: You don't need to wash your jeans! (5 photos)

It's common knowledge that tossing jeans in the washing machine is a bad idea—and washing them by hand is hardly a joy, either. But now, you can comfortably wear unwashed denim for months on end and claim you're just following expert advice. That's right: some of the world's leading denim manufacturers are insisting their clothes don't actually need washing at all.





As the CEO of Levi’s, Chip Berg certainly knows a thing or two about denim, making his opinion worth listening to. Recently, he declared that machine-washing jeans is an absolute no-go because it damages the fabric. What's more, Berg believes washing denim at all is just a waste of water. The chief executive of the world's oldest and most iconic denim brand claims he tackles spots and stains on his own clothes using nothing more than... a toothbrush.



For a man who never washes his jeans, Chip Berg looks surprisingly sharp

We'll leave this trick to someone who likely views the world from the back of a limousine and could easily swap into fresh clothes twice a day without ever doing laundry. For the average person, however, leaving a pair of jeans unwashed for a year or two would probably mean scrubbing them with a wire brush.

Ditching the wash cycle is also championed by another well-known label: British company Hiut Denim. Their experts maintain that a good pair of jeans shouldn't see water more than once every six months. For the British brand, it's less about making the fabric last and more about preserving the way it looks.





According to Hiut's specialists, the natural creases that form as denim breaks in give each pair unique character. Washing them—especially with harsh detergents—strips away the charm of these custom patterns created by everyday wear, sitting down, or sliding a smartphone into your pocket.

Hiut claims that after a few washes, faded areas start to look scruffy. It's tough to say what looks worse: faded creases around the pockets, or a pair of pants that hasn't seen water in six months. Then again, maybe this advice only applies to Hiut products, assuming they're crafted with some secret dirt-repelling, odor-resistant technology?



Speaking of odors, Nudie Jeans couldn't resist weighing in when they heard the industry leaders' recommendations, throwing their full support behind the idea. However, the brand offered its own unique take on why you shouldn't wash your jeans:

“The ‘aroma’ of well-worn, unwashed pants is a world away from the smell of a new pair. It could probably raise the dead, but it's definitely the smell of a winner.”

It's clear Nudie Jeans was being tongue-in-cheek and didn't quite buy into the hype from denim veterans. But there are plenty of other unconventional tricks floating around. Some companies suggest tossing your jeans in the freezer overnight to kill off bacteria, fungi, and unpleasant smells, while others recommend simply hanging them out in the sun to air out.



Actor Dmitry Nagiyev clearly knows a thing or two about taking care of his denim

To anyone neat or squeamish, these tips might sound utterly bizarre. Then again, if we're talking about those trendy "barely-there" jeans, maybe the logic holds up. After all, why wash something that barely exists?