Great fabrics should not be taken for granted

Doug Coats

Opinions editor

Thank goodness we do not go to school in Florida.

The time of year has come in North Carolina where we start wearing jeans and long sleeve shirts more and wear flip flops and khaki shorts less. Recently there really has not been a tough decision regarding what to wear because of the monsoon type pattern the region experienced.

Notice that the term “khaki” was used rather than “denim.” More on this later.

We are going to further discuss denim—one of the most important fabrics known to man. On a typical day, you will see many people sporting denim of some kind.

The popularity of denim stems from its multi-purpose use and durability, as it take several years for a well-constructed piece of denim clothing to wear down. In addition, its versatility makes it a viable option for any kind of outfit.

What exactly is this material made of? The basic denim composition is 100% cotton, which is woven with the weft passing under two or more fibers. Weft is the yarn that is placed over and under the parallel yarns creating the rugged and comfortable denim fabric.

This idea of ground-braeking textiles was created by Levi Strauss and NV tailor Jacob Davis. These men created the San Francisco-based Levi Strauss Company in 1873. Many of us can thank them for providing an essential part of the wardrobe for all these years.

Denim has many uses. Not only is it used for leg coverings, but also for home décor, such as curtains or furniture upholstery.

Of course, the most common use is through leg garments. Denim pants, often called “jeans” can be found in pretty much every retail store in existence. This is evident through the vast amount of jeans worn everywhere you go.

When watching your favorite college team play in person, find the edge of the student section. There should be a solid blue line goin up the final row of students. This of course, is the mass of denim. The line to get in a rock concert should produce a similar bearing.

While denim jeans, are viewed as commonplace in many societies, denim shorts are often seen as a fashion faux paw. The urban dictionary describes jorts as garments mostly worn by children and men over 40.

However, Florida gator fans are famous, or in this case, infamous for sporting the denim product. They probably believe jorts are fine, though, since football savior Tim Tebow has been documented wearing them.

Swamp (Ben H. Griffin Stadium)-flocking fans are not the only demographic who wear jorts, however. Denizens of New York and New Jersey are also known for sporting denim shorts.

Another use of denim clothing is the Canadian tuxedo. Jeans and a denim long sleeve button-up shirt make up this outfit. If you’re familiar with 80’s pop music, then you may know that Rick Astley wears the tuxedo during the “never Gonna give you up” music video.

These examples should make you think twice when possibly buying such articles. Just choose wisely next time you find yourself shopping for some warm weather clothes.