Yes, you can, but it is not recommended for maximum longevity. High heat and continuous tumbling will shrink your jeans, fade the color, and damage the fabric fibers—especially the elastic in stretch denim.
Exposing your jeans to direct heat in the dryer can shrink, fade or yellow denim, and it can also cause damage to stretch denim fabrics that contain spandex or Lycra. If you need to use a dryer, select a low or no heat cycle and use dryer balls to help keep your jeans tumbling.
Jeans typically shrink by 𝟑% to 𝟒% (about 1 to 1.25 inches in length for a 32-inch inseam). While length shrinks easily, width stretches back out with wear. Exceptions apply to "Shrink-To-Fit" or raw denim, which can shrink up to 10% when first washed.
The best way to dry jeans is to air dry them. Tumble drying exposes denim to excess heat and friction, which can shrink the fabric, fade the color, and break down spandex blends.
Japan is globally recognized as the producer of the absolute highest-quality, most coveted denim in the world. Famous for their "selvedge" denim, Japanese manufacturers treat weaving like an art form, relying on vintage shuttle looms, deep natural indigo dyeing, and meticulous attention to craftsmanship.
Finding authentic, 100% American-made jeans means supporting domestic agriculture, milling, and garment manufacturing. From heritage raw selvedge to everyday workwear, several standout brands fully construct their jeans in the USA.
Of course, there're way more important years and facts than just 10 about Levi's, Lee and Wrangler, but let's start highlighting just 10 of them. 10 important years of the three American denim brands that are also known as the Big 3.
Amish people primarily dry clothes in the winter by hanging them outside, allowing them to "freeze-dry" through a process called sublimation, where ice turns directly into water vapor. Even when temperatures are below freezing, cold wind and sunshine dry the clothes, which are then brought inside to thaw and finish drying.
They felt good initially, but I know from experience they'll stretch out too much. So, in the dressing room, aim for a slightly snug fit. Not painfully tight, but definitely not loose. This will help ensure they maintain a flattering shape throughout the day.
Steps
High-quality jeans typically cost more than low-quality jeans, but you have to think about their long-term value. If a pair of jeans is made with high-quality denim, as well as a high-quality construction, they'll last longer and be better protected against shrinkage.
First and foremost, fill your bathtub with lukewarm (not hot) water and place a small amount of baby shampoo inside. Next, press your jeans down into the soapy water, keeping them submerged for at least 20-25 minutes. After this time has passed, remove the jeans and squeeze the excess water out.
For those who haven't, it's simple: just toss your jeans in the washing machine using hot water, and then the dryer until they're completely dry. The heat from the dryer will shrink them well.
Go ahead and use the medium heat setting for regular old jeans, or for jeans that you want to shrink up a bit to counteract the stretching that happens during regular wear. If you want to avoid shrinkage, or prevent fading, use a low heat setting or air dry by hanging or laying flat.
The most expensive jeans globally are one-off diamond-studded pieces like the Secret Circus $1.3 million denim. Among traditional designer fashion houses, Versace leads with heavily embellished, crystal-stitched jeans regularly priced near $19,900.
Whether Lee is "better" than Levi's depends entirely on your priorities. Both are historic brands, but they target different needs.
The brands were Lee Jeans, Levi Strauss & Co. and Wrangler. Lee Jeans were first manufactured in 1889 in Kansas, Levi's were first manufactured in 1873, and Wrangler came on to the scene in the year 1940.
A 60-year-old man should look for mid-rise, straight-leg jeans in a dark indigo or mid-blue wash. This combination offers the most flattering, age-appropriate silhouette by providing comfort where needed while keeping the look clean, sharp, and timeless.
A low-rise can easily look dated and “rounds you out at the hip” in an unflattering way, Epstein explains. New York stylist Liz Teich advises her clients to follow one rule when it comes to the rise. The zipper should never be shorter “than a toothpick,” she said.
The rule is pretty simple. It says that once you have your bra on, you should be able to slide two fingers under the back band. If you can fit more than two fingers easily, the band is too loose. This means your bra isn't giving you any support (did you know the band does about 80 per cent of the heavy lifting?).
8 most popular jean brands
Blue Delta jeans are expensive because each pair is entirely bespoke, handmade in the USA, and crafted from premium, raw denim. Rather than mass-producing, they use a tailored "One Size Fits One" model that drives up material and labor costs.
To determine if a pair of jeans features a high-quality construction, look for the following eight signs.