Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Men’s Jeans?

What's the difference between cheap and expensive men's jeans? What makes one pair more valuable than another? Is expensive denim worth it? 

In this article, we explain the difference between cheap and expensive men's jeans. Use this knowledge to find the perfect pair of jeans for you. 

Price vs. Value – Is Expensive Denim Worth It?

The price you pay for a pair of denim jeans doesn't always equal value. You can pay $500 for jeans but if they don't fit you properly or they won't last for a reasonable amount of time, then they're a waste of money. 

True value is when you buy a pair of men's jeans that look great and last for an extended period. But a pair of denim jeans that perfectly fits your body and made from high-quality denim will be more expensive.

Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Men's Jeans – What Is The Best Type Of Denim?

For many years, blue denim was made from all cotton fibers. In the last 10 -15 years, blended fibers have been used to create a more comfortable garment.

The yarn used determines the weight of the fabric. The average weight hovers between 10 and 24 oz but the more expensive materials can go as high as 24 oz.

The heavier the weight of the fabric, the more expensive the jeans are. 

Denim fabrics come in a variety of widths which also affect the price. The narrow widths use more material, and therefore the cost of production increases, followed by the price. 

On some narrower-width denim fabrics, you can find a contrast thread interwoven along the hem, adding value to the garment through a unique feature. 

Let's break that out into more detail…

What Are The Characteristics Of Denim?

Denim is durable and made from a unique twill weaving process where the dyed yarns run the length of the fabric (called the warp), and the white or undyed yarns run across the width direction (called the weft). 

The weft threads are a thicker and coarser yarn that may contain slub fibers. Slubs will cause natural variations in the weave, making the blue denim fabric more unique when it's washed down. 

Slubs create more significant highs and lows in the fabric, which cause more abrasion during the washing process to the highs and minor abrasion to the lows allowing a more considerable contrast within the blue jean garment. The value comes from the unique characteristics this process creates. 

Unique characteristics like this have a similar effect to the price tag as a label. Specific trademarks and other notable features will elevate the price of a garment, but not always the value. 

Denim – Left Hand Twill vs Right Hand Twill

A feature that will impact the value (and the cost) of a pair of jeans is the direction of the twill in the weave – called a left or right-hand twill. These are recognized by the upward direction of the diagonal twill on the face of the fabric. The right-hand twill goes up from the lower left toward the upper right. And vice-versa for the Left-hand twill. 

Left-hand twills are more desirable due to the strength and durability of the finished goods. Right-hand twills tend to stretch out and stay baggy until washed. Washing acts as a reset of the fit but also can lessen the longevity of the jean. 

The fabric of a right-hand twill is more forgiving. It makes up a more comfortable garment that will more easily conform to the wearer's shape but will have a more insufficient recovery to the garment's original shape. 

A left-hand twill naturally can lock the weave in place, allowing the yarns to have more of a north and south-east to west directional weave. Since the threads twist to the right and the fabric weaves to the left, it creates a more securely woven fabric. 

How Is Denim Usually Dyed?

The yarns in denim fabric are colored with a natural dye made from the indigo plant, which gives us the purplish-blue hue that is most common. The color doesn't always penetrate the yarn's core, which can create some of the more dramatic fadings in the prewashing process. 

Today, there are fewer denim fabrics woven with yarns using the natural dye process. More and more synthetic or artificial dyes became popular to color the fibers, making the dyeing process more cost-effective, reflecting in the price. 

What Is Pre Washed Denim?

Cheaper men's jeans may not go through any of the specialty wash processes. They may only have a rinse or bleach. In some extreme cases, over-processing can cause flaws, and sellers will discount jeans with obvious flaws for quick sales.

A designer pair of jeans may include a specialty wash or multiple processes that require trained personnel and additional equipment or chemicals to complete. More time, more care, and more precision go into the prewashing of a designer pair of jeans, causing the production cost of each garment to increase. 

Difference Between Cheap And Expensive Men's Jeans – Are Expensive Jeans Better?

The quality of the fabric and the precision construction often determine the price of jeans. The more expensive the material and the more in-depth the process of producing the jean, the more expensive it has to be to recoup the cost. However, the value of the jean comes in your wear. Does it fit the way you want? Are you able to care for them the way they need to ensure a more long-lasting pair? 

A $50 pair of jeans that fit your body the way they are supposed to and look good paired with a sport coat or casual ensemble is better than the $500 pair of jeans that are ill-fitting and don't compliment your wardrobe.

The actual value of the expensive jean is only there if you get them in the right fit and keep them for years to come. 

What do read next? How to buy the perfect pair of jeans.