Here's The Deal With Raw Denim Jeans

To the uninitiated, raw denim seems to have more drawbacks than benefits. After all, they're probably best known for the fact that, well, you can't wash them. There's more to the story, though — so preconceptions aside, should you buy raw denim jeans?

First off, what exactly is the difference between raw denim, and your typical jeans? Well, the main difference, according to the Daily Dot, is that the denim has not been processed in any way — not even washed. That in and of itself may sound like something of a drawback, but it actually allows for better fit and customization on your end.

In a nutshell, they're very stylish and of-the-moment — but they're also, for lack of a better word, a little weird. They involve all sorts of complex rituals, including (but not limited to), wearing them in the bath, sticking them in the freezer, and avoiding white leather couches. (In case you were wondering, according to Esquire, wearing them in the bath helps them form to the shape of your body while you're breaking them in, freezing them kills odor-causing bacteria in lieu of washing, and avoiding white leather couches prevents unsightly dye-bleeding). In addition to all that, Esquire reports that it can take a full six months to break them in, which represents a time period most people would be unwilling to invest in a pair of pants.

So, are they worth all the hoops you have to jump through to wear them? The answer changes depending on how committed to your personal style you are, but it is worth noting that, once broken in, there are few things more comfortable than raw denim jeans. Then, there's the fact that, if broken in correctly, they have the potential to have the best fading and creasing of all jeans ever. It basically amounts to the perfect pair of jeans that you have specially customized to fit (and flatter) your body. If you like projects, they come with a sense of accomplishment — plus, they have a covetable (and inimitable) distinctly retro look that only seeks to add to their cool factor.

Are they something you'd try out? I'm about as lazy as they come, but I'm definitely hearing the siren call of perfectly faded, ultra-comfortable raw denim jeans.

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