“It is speculated that on any given day, more than half the world’s population is wearing jeans.” (FIT)
Perhaps no other fabric epitomizes modernity like denim. What started as the ideal textile to use when making work clothes is now incorporated into haute couture garments. The Fashion Institute of Technology’s new exhibit will explore the relationship between denim and its rise in popularity in the 19th century.
“The exhibition opens with an example of Levi Strauss & Co.’s most famous style of jeans—the 501®—positioning its importance as the original template for the five-pocket, riveted jean that continues to dominate the market today.”
What started as a material for only men in the early 1800s became fashionable for women in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The exhibit will feature exclusive denim pieces dating back to the 19th century.
Denim as “western wear” and “play clothes” will also be on display. The denim jumpsuit famously personified by the iconic figure Rosie the Riveter, denim associated with the hippie culture of the ’60s, and even a pair of the original Calvin Klein jeans will also be among the featured items.
After seeing the exhibit, you may find yourself appreciating your favorite pair of blue jeans and the history behind them a little more.
Denim: Fashion’s Frontier will run from December 1, 2015, to May 7, 2016, at the Fashion and Textile History Gallery at FIT.
Image via Imaxtree
