The term "selvedge" refers to a know-how intrinsic to A.P.C. since its beginnings. Contributing to the quality and longevity of our designs, selvedge is truly part of the A.P.C. identity.
Selvedge fabric: origin, weaving and manufacture
Weaving of selvedge denim fabric
The word "selvedge" is derived from the English expression "self-finished edge". A selvedge fabric is therefore denim with a finished edge that is an integral part of the weave, unlike a standard fabric.
History of selvedge
Selvedge denim first appeared in the United States at the end of the 19th century. At the time, each denim manufacturer decided to use a specific thread colour for the piping on its jeans to identify its customers.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the original looms were modernised as demand for jeans exploded.
The period after the Second World War saw a selvedge revival in Japan, where it was manufactured on 70 cm-wide looms previously used to make kimonos. While methods of producing selvedge have changed since the 19th century, its qualityand the legacy of genuine know-how remain exceptional.
Selvedge jeans and raw denim: what's the difference?
Selvedge denim is sometimes confused with raw denim. “Raw” denim refers to its colour and the fact that it has not been processed; a material using indigo-dyed yarn that has not been transformed. Selvedge, on the other hand, corresponds to a type of weave: a generally denser fabric, made on a small-width loom, which therefore required particular time and care during manufacture.
A.P.C. and selvedge jeans
A.P.C. jeans: a reference for denim purists
By the 1950s, jeans had become essential. Many manufacturers had equipped themselves with machines for wider-scale and faster production. At the same time, Japanese fabric manufacturers had begun to bring traditional selvedge and edged fabrics up to date.
Jean Touitou, the founder of A.P.C., was one of the first designers to find inspiration here. In the 1980s, while freelancing for various ready-to-wear brands, he met a vintage loom expert in Hiroshima. Together, they created a secret formula that only the two of them knew and the inimitable A.P.C. denim was born.
Today, the raw A.P.C. selvedge fabric is still made in the same Japanese factories.
Selvedge jeans for women, men or unisex
Five styles in raw Japanese selvedge denim are part of the timeless A.P.C. denim range:
- A.P.C.'s iconic Standard Jean in raw denim: straight-cut jeans for men and women with a fairly wide leg and a rather high waist.
- The New Standard in raw denim: classic, unisex straight jeans with a mid-rise waist.
- The Petit New Standard in raw denim: unisex jeans with a slim leg and a mid-rise waist.
- The Petit Standard in raw denim: low-rise jeans with a fitted leg.
- The straight-cut Work jacket in raw denim.
Caring for A.P.C. selvedge jeans: how do I look after them?
Since the brand was founded in 1987, the Standard jean and its variations have established themselves as key pieces in A.P.C. collections which are particularly prized by denim connoisseurs around the world.
The more you wear them, the more A.P.C. raw denim jeans gain character. The garment transforms, evolves and adapts to the body of the wearer. Thanks to its durability, selvedge denim won't tear or become damaged until after many years of intensive use.
To achieve that patina that makes it unique to you - you have to take care of it. Wear it often, but wash it as little as possible. After 3 to 6 months, dry-clean the reverse side.
Washing instructions for all denim
A.P.C. jeans can still be washed in water, but a few precautions must be taken. There are various washing "instructions" to help preserve your denim for as long as possible. These A.P.C. washing tips are specially formulated to ensure that your denim retains its characteristics - yours.
By following the correct washing instructions, you allow your jeans to soften, develop a patina and reveal distinctive signs of wear. That's how you can ensure your denim stays with you for a long time, expressing your own story in an original way.
