For reasons that I have never quite understood distressed jeans are all the rage. Apparently the well-worn lived in look is really cool. Possibly because the look is edgy but more probably because the fashion industry decided we should wear them, distressed jeans are everywhere but I am not sure this is a cool thing at all. It is a trend I could appreciate more if the signs of wear came naturally over a period of time. That speaks of a much loved garment that is comfortable and that you do not want to throw away. It goes against the grain with me, however, to buy jeans which have already been distressed. Is there something wrong me and am I the only one who would feel slightly stupid paying for damaged goods masquerading as the height of fashion?
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Fashion Victim
I accept that I am an old fart now and many youngsters would probably view me as a coffin dodger but even in my youth I don’t think I would have fallen for this one. Ok I admit that I did have a Bay City Rollers outfit and yes I did move on to Mohawk hair styles and as for the 80’s well we best not go there! I have paid good money for some rather foolish fashions over the years but I never felt the need to age them. Perhaps one day distressed jeans will be viewed in the same light as enormous flares and jumpsuits but for the time being they are all the rage. Would this be the case if everyone knew that the process to age the jeans is distressing in more ways than one?
Health Hazard
Jeans are distressed by being sandblasted with an unfortunate cocktail of chemicals and mineral dust. The chemicals are harmful to the environment but even more troubling, they are ruining he health of millions of workers who are forced to blast the garments without adequate protective clothing and equipment. Potassium permanganate, a lightening agent, causes skin irritation and respiratory problems and respiratory disease has become something of an epidemic in China. Here a haphazard health system means that many workers have no access to treatment or simply cannot afford the charges. There is a health time bomb ticking away on the other side of the world and it has been caused by a western thirst for shabby chic.
Secrets
Many top brands have acknowledged the issue and have banned the sandblasting of their products but unfortunately the practice is the most cost effective way to produce the required look. Sand blasting continues regardless with some manufacturers subcontracting the work to conceal the fact that is happening and others have resorted to hiding the equipment.
DIY
Distressed jeans come at a high price indeed and I think it is time we stopped to think for a bit. If you really want an aged looking pair of jeans then drag them behind your car, do the gardening in them or beat the hell out of them for a bit but don’t buy them that way because this is killer fashion of the worse kind.
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Sally Stacey is a keen writer with an interest in fashion. Rumours of her imminent death due to old age are untrue!
