BLAST FROM THE PAST: Acid Washed Jeans

 

Raise your hand if you owned a pair of acid washed jeans, jacket, or skirt? We all did. Mine were black like the photo above. During the 1980's the acid washed look was all the rage. 

Acid washed jeans (denim) had it humble beginning during the 1960s with the surfer sub-culture (who also gave us wine coolers). Back then, surfers would hang their jeans on a clothesline to fade them - which was helped with sand and saltwater. But the process to achieve the weathered look took a long time. To speed up the process, stones were used in a tumbler, which was referred to as stone washing. Stones gave denim the worn appearance that people were looking for. However, it was discovered that stone washing was bad for the environment because of the grit it created in the process. The fabric grit can clog plumbing and end up polluting waterways. Plus, the HUGE stones that were used damaged the equipment resulting in massive repair bills.

As a result, manufacturers had to create an alternative. This lead to using pumice with either chlorine or muriatic acid to achieve a similar effect. This process was used during the 1970's. However, it too became problematic. Then, a new process was created that used cellulase enzymes. These enzymes accelerate color and fiber removal that achieves the distressed look consumers wanted. While the process still uses a small quantity of stones, it's more efficient and less abrasive to the equipment. Success!

Acid wash denim gain popularity in the 1980s as an underground rebellious trend adopted bythe punk movement. From there it gained traction with mainstream consumers as an alternative to the bright, blinding neon colors people were wearing at the time. Jordache, Levis, Wrangler, and Guess took notice and capitalized it by cranking out not only acid washed jeans but jackets and skirts. Color variations became popular with black and gray joining blue in the holy trinity of acid wash garments.  Celebs jumped on the acid washed trend, further solidifying it's place in everyone's wardrobe. Here's Dolly Parton showing true 1980's glam with acid washed jeans, jacket, and big hair.

Dolly Parton / Twitter

Because fashion trends come and go, the popularity of acid washed jeans began to fade around 1997-1999.  People kicked it to the back of the closet in favor of athleisure (which I despised because it's morphed into sluttyleisure - but that's another story). 

In 2017, acid washed denim made an appearance in a few runway shows including Gucci; and some celebs including Katie Perry, Hailey (Baldwin) Bieber, and Gigi Hadid were seen wearing it. But consumers didn't warm up to it. So, it's back to the closet for this trend.

 

Photos: Stylight; Medium; 80s Fashion.com; Dolly Parton Twitter