What Is Selvedge Denim Anyways?

At Naked & Famous Denim, we’re obsessed with selvedge denim. — Yet, it can still be surprising when we meet someone who has no idea what it is. So we sat down along with Stridewise in our New York City flagship store to answer that question, and then all the most common questions that follow. Even those of us who have loved the stuff for decades are susceptible to certain myths and misconceptions, we covered those topics too.

Selvedge denim (n): denim woven on antique shuttle looms.

Selvedge denim is simply denim woven on antique shuttle looms. Contrary to some beliefs, the term 'selvedge' doesn't imply that the fabric is necessarily thicker, slubbier, or more intricate than its counterpart—denim woven on projectile looms.

However, it's worth noting that shuttle loomed denim is produced at a pace nearly ten times slower than conventional denim, these machines operate very slowly, they rattle and shake and as a result produce a denim that is technically less uniform than modern projectile loomed denim.

While selvedge denim is often favored by traditionalists and fabric connoisseurs, it does frequently exhibit qualities like greater thickness, slubbiness, and complexity. This is because shuttle-loomed denim is typically tailored to those who appreciate these specific attributes in their clothing.

But does selvedge really fade better? Is it the same thing as raw denim? What does sanforization mean? Are you really meant to not wash your jeans?

Whether you’re new or old to the world of selvedge, watch the video above to learn answers to questions you might be surprised you didn’t know the truth about — or you can read the whole article on Stridewise: What Is Selvedge Denim?