IH-777S-21 - 21oz Selvedge Denim Slim Tapered Jeans - Indigo

[nurlank]

Hello @Giles @Alex and other folks.

Would you mind to share how do you machine wash your jeans: regular/cold, delicate wash or something else?
After machine wash pics would be awesome.

1. @Giles and @Alex your after-wash fades are a masterpiece! Have seen some of the pics you guys posted. Especially liked 18 oz vintage and natural indigo after wash. This became kind of benchmark for me and I'd like to follow your footsteps. It seems to me you guys wash your jeans frequently, like every 1-2 month, if assuming correctly.
2. The reason I am asking is that it's time to wash mine. It's been 14 months since I bought my IH-777S-21. But finishing up another pair I kept the IH-777S-21 just in rotation for the first 6 months, but then accelerated wear ratio in favor of 777. The net wear time should be around 3-4 months with a couple of initial soaks.
3. Some fades are there. Not badly dirty, but some wash would be OK; up until now just used a brush to shake off dust and dry dirt. I also normally "bathe" my jeans to prevent crotch blow-outs. But with IH don't want to screw it up and looking for an advice from the old fade wolves

If other folks can contribute their washing methods and experiences, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all in advance

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As overall I cannot be more happier then I currently am with my IH-777S-21 experience (14 months). I literally caught the IH bug too

Now I cannot do my willpower and finish up my previous half faded pair (another brand). Which is sadly sitting now in the closet and I am so sorry about those good jeans too.

1. Special thanks to @Alex who took his time to measure and pick the right pair for me. It's not even a little snug, but just right. I still can pinch out a 0.5 mm of fabric off my thigh area. But in general sits like a glove.

2. I unfairly expected it to get stretched and become baggy in the butt and, maybe, knees areas. But not at all. It stretches a bit in waste and thigh area (like 1-1.5 cm) when on and takes my body shape. But, when off, after spending a day or two on a hanger, it gets back to its default size.

3. Though having a mostly sedentary job (mostly from home), I walk a lot everyday, up to 8 km. So, IH-777s-21 are walker approved When walking it gets adapted to my moves. Very comfortable, I can easily squat to do my shoe laces, bend over or lift my leg to scratch my ankle, walk up the hill or staircase. Nothing restricting.

4. Interestingly, when walking on a flat surface, changes with honeycombs and whiskers are regularly mild. But when walking up the hill (relatively steep, 25-35 degree), fades really kick in and become sort of 3D Honeycombs, whiskers, front and back of thighs, watch pocket fades pop up almost immediately. More than after bike ride, which I did several times too.

[nurlank]

@Ikeaparty
Nice work.
Have you only soaked this pair or gave it a machine wash too?
The honeycombs seem to be very pronounced

[Giles]

In my opinion, the majority of people overthink this mysterious washing thing. Probably because a couple of well known jean manufacturers, for unknown marketing reasons, suggested that not washing was a good thing, and that has been messing with peoples brains ever since.

My mother taught me to wash my jeans when they are dirty. So I do. If that is in one week, or in 6 months, they get washed. 30 degrees C, 400 rpm spin, no tumble dry. Repeat as necessary.

When I was a teenager, I used to by old Levi 501's from a guy in the mid west who got his stock from cowboys. They were some of the best faded jeans I have ever seen, and I don't suppose those cowboys sat around the camp fire talking about how best to fade jeans, they wore them and washed them when they were dirty. End of.

It's actually very easy. Wear, wash, repeat.....

[chrisjohnnick]

I keep my washing of jeans very straight forward.

1. Turn the jean inside out
2. Presoak the jeans in a sink or tub and get them nice and saturated
3. Wash on a regular cycle with cool or cold water (Same detergent and everything as I wash anything else)
4. after cycle turn right side out and hang to dry, smoothing any creases
5. wear again when dry

The only time I really stray from this cycle is I may put off doing an initial wash if the jeans are brand new, or if I want to get some real creases and such set in. Also, sometimes I find if I had to do a wash after only a handful of times wearing beforehand, I may do everything listed above, but then put them on and wear around when they are about 75% dry, just to set the creases a bit more.

[Ikeaparty]

@nurlank they've been hand washed a few times in the tub, I don't tend to machine wash jeans because I've ended up with lines on them before but instead just a warm soak in the tub and like Giles said, when they are dirty. The first like six months of these jeans they didn't really leave the house because COVID so they had a good stretch without seeing water but I've probably warm soaked them five or six times now. Just did a good thorough washing in the tub as I sent them in for repairs just before Christmas!

I would have to assume the reason the fading in some spots is so pronounced is because we walk a lot, like 20-25km every Sunday and then at least 10,000 steps a day during the week, rain or shine, so all my jeans seem to end up with nice fading behind the knees and on the front of my hips!

[nurlank]

@Giles @Ikeaparty @chrisjohnnick
Thank you guys so much.
I'll probably take a risk - presoak them and wash them on a regular cycle

[Alex]

Not much to add, I am afraid @nurlank

[Denimhead 0]

Cross post from today’s activities

[nurlank]

@Denimhead-0 awesome, nice look

[nurlank]

I wear my pair for only my daily 2 to 3-hour evening walks and grocery shopping trips. Around 15-20 hours per week. My estimate is that the net wear time is around 3-4 months.
Gave it a tub wash. Tons of indigo dye went off. The color changed drastically. Fades are becoming 3D: whiskers, honeycombs... even the front pocket bags' fades started protruding from the inside.
The fabric became more dense and thicker. As overall I am happy with the result and going to wash it more frequently, probably once a month.
P.S. Decided also to have some fun. I don't have a leather conditioner. Just of curiosity I applied a thick 1-mm layer of unsalted butter onto the leather patch in the evening. In the morning the whole layer disappeared, not even oily residues. The leather patch ate it all

[goosehd]

@nurlank I think using butter will make it go rancid and start to stink…

@seawolf need your expertise here.

[nurlank]

@goosehd thank you. Then I will get a leather conditioner. Need it in anyway for my belts
Can you guys recommend some?
Thank you

[goosehd]

@nurlank Ironheart sells some great care products:

https://www.ironheart.co.uk/leather-care/

[nurlank]

@goosehd thank you, will look into

[Giles]

The Olive Oil did not smell rancid....

https://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/topic/1037/leather-preservative-experiment?_=1736679690517

[nurlank]

This post is deleted!

[Domi]

Hey guys!

I'm now a proud owner of an IH-777S-21 and it's simply the best jeans I've ever had in my life. Cut, shape and fabric is amazing and fits perfectly to me.

Unfortunately I have an issue: from the first day of wearing I got some lined stains at the edge of the cuff:

As recommended I soaked them before first wearing for 15 min in my bathtub. I'm not a great expert since it's only my third selvedge jeans yet. But never experienced this with my other jeans before.

Is this normal for this fabric? Does it disappear with wearing and washing? Or what can I do to prevent this?

Thanks for your help!

[bluemantra]

@Domi looks like normal indigo fading to me.

[Kasi]

You can’t prevent this it’s normal.. all my jeans do it

[Chap]

@Domi Nothing to worry about. with some weartime, washings and more fading it won't be that visible anymore. Congrats, perfect choice to start with 21 oz into the world of IH denim!