Our denim is raw. For environmental reasons, it never undergoes factory washing: no chemical washing, no bleaching, and thousands of liters of water saved. Discover why our denim is raw
This choice has a happy consequence. Your jeans arrive at your home just as they left the workshop, and you decide what happens next. You can keep them as they are, or let them evolve over the months. Here is how to do either without ever damaging them.
Why raw jeans require different care
Raw jeans have never been washed after dyeing. The indigo is still very much present on the surface of the fabric. Each wash takes a little away, and every rub lightens it in the exact places where you move: the hip creases, the backs of the knees, the pocket edges.
That is also why raw jeans can bleed color during the first few weeks. Nothing unusual. Just be careful with light-colored sofas and pale leather bags until the fabric settles.
Option 1: keep them as they are
Do you love their deep color, structured fabric, and clean drape? To preserve the raw natural look, structure, and original color of your jeans, opt for dry cleaning.
Dry cleaning cleans without water, so it doesn't cause the indigo to bleed. Your jeans keep their color and shape, wash after wash. This is the ideal option for the most structured styles, such as the Jeanne and its thick piped hem, or the Amy Safari Jacket.
Option 2: let them fade over time
Do you dream of jeans that reflect you, with a patina exactly where you live? Then you need to give them time.
- Wear them for a long time without washing them. As long as possible. It is during these weeks that the fabric takes the shape of your body and the first nuances appear.
- When they need it, soak them for about 1 hour in a basin of cool water mixed with a dark fabric detergent, such as Woolite Black. Turn them inside out before submerging them.
- Rinse them gently, without wringing them.
- Hang them to air dry naturally, in the shade.
With each soak, the indigo gradually lightens without ever losing its depth. Every pair of jeans eventually becomes unique, because no one wears them like you.
What your raw jeans dislike
- The dryer, which damages the cotton fibers and stiffens the fabric.
- Hot water and intensive cycles, which strip the indigo in patches instead of letting it fade gradually.
- Bleach and harsh stain removers, which leave halos that are impossible to fix.
Between treatments: the right habits
Raw jeans need refreshing more than washing. Hang them on a hanger, outdoors, so they can breathe after a day. For a small stain, dab it with a damp cloth without rubbing. And if you alternate between two pairs of jeans, each will wear out more slowly.
Jeans that reflect you
At Nathalie Dumeix, each pair of jeans is designed like a couture piece: months of pattern making, 100% organic cotton, small-batch production in a Parisian workshop less than 5 km from the boutique. Well cared for, they will accompany you for years.
Discover the Joey and its fluid cut, the June with its more understated silhouette, the Vito, designed for all body types, the Joplin, or our Françoise, Joan and Moon skirts.
Your questions
How often should I wash raw jeans?
As infrequently as possible. If you want to keep them intact, take them to the dry cleaner when they really need it. If you want them to develop a patina, wait several weeks of wear before the first soak.
Should I wash raw jeans before wearing them?
No. Wear them first: that is how they take the shape of your silhouette.
My raw jeans are bleeding color, is that normal?
Yes, it is a sign of indigo that has never been chemically washed. The phenomenon subsides over time.
Can I put raw jeans in the washing machine?
We recommend soaking them by hand instead, which is gentler on the fabric and the color.
