Some people are made for distressed denim jackets, but there are a few simple tricks you can use to make your own. Here’s what you need to know.

Keeping up with the latest fashions is not always easy, especially when those styles require money and time that isn’t always in ample supply. A distressed denim jacket is a priceless investment if you’re looking for a unique style statement, but sometimes we can go through more than one in less than a year. There are jeans that take on a look similar to distressed denim jackets, but they might not last you as long. With these tips, keep your distressed denim jacket looking good for years to come.

What Is Denim?

Denim is a cotton fabric that takes on its color from indigo dye. It is made from yarns in a twill weave pattern and is generally lighter weight than other fabrics.

How to Distress Denim

You can successfully distress your denim jacket in several ways, including washing it in cold water and drying it in high heat, wearing it a lot, and exposing it to the elements, or you can use bleach. Although washing a typical denim jacket is a natural way to create that look, you could achieve the same results by using a spray-on dye. Any of these methods should work just fine. However, if you want to avoid fading immediately after washing, turn your jeans inside out before laundering.

How to Care for Your Distressed Denim Jacket

You should always wash your denim jacket before wearing it, but do not wash it again after the first washes. If you want to preserve the distressed look, hand-wash your jacket with lukewarm water and a mild detergent. The best way to keep a denim jacket looking showroom-new is to dry it flat in the dryer. You should also be sure to keep it away from heat and sunlight, especially if you’re using bleach on your fabric. Some denim jackets have a coating on the inside of them to keep them from fading, but this is unnecessary if you’re using bleach.

If you are going to bleach your denim jacket, you should always test an unseen area of the jacket first. Although you can use bleach inside a garment and never see a difference, it still might not look good once the surrounding areas lose their color.