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Glossary · Denim

Selvedge Denim

Selvedge (self-edge) denim is woven on narrow vintage-style shuttle looms that produce a tightly finished edge that will not fray — visible as the clean, often colored line when you cuff a jean. It signals traditional construction and usually denser, more characterful fabric, which is why enthusiasts prize it. Honest caveats: selvedge is not automatically stronger or better than a good modern wide-loom denim, and the finished edge itself is mostly aesthetic. It commands a premium partly for craft and partly for cachet. Judge the whole jean — weight, cotton, construction — not just the presence of a selvedge ID.

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