“Denim is present in practically every country in the world and is widely adopted as one of the most common forms of everyday attire.”

“Although denim has been produced since the 16th century, its association with American culture and durable workwear emerged during the Californian gold rush of the 1850s.”

“Levi Strauss, an immigrant entrepreneur who arrived in California from Bavaria in the 1850s, opened a dry goods business catering to miners.”

“One of his customers, the tailor Jacob Davis, developed the innovative use of metal rivets to reinforce stress points in work trousers, making them more durable.”

“Strauss and Davis jointly patented this technique, and the Levi’s brand was born.”

“Blue jeans were originally a seen as symbol of labourers (like the miners) and they also gained a strong association with cowboys.”

“In the decades that followed, denim jeans evolved from practical workwear into one of the most iconic and enduring symbols of global fashion and culture.”

“Film stars such as Marlon Brando and James Dean popularised the jeans and t-shirt look to a young generation in the 1950s.”

“These films personified motorcycle-loving nonconformists, and 1950s Hollywood embraced denim as the garment of rebellion.”

“Today, the cultural significance of denim jeans has moved beyond early associations with workwear, the cowboy and the teenage rebel, to become a staple worn by people of all ages and backgrounds.”

“Jeans are often not made from single fibre materials and therefore cannot be recycled.”

“Previous reports have focused on women’s struggle to find jeans that fit and are flattering.”

“Retailers struggle to produce jeans in a wide range of sizes and styles due to cost-effectiveness concerns.”

“The inability to find the perfect pair of jeans may encourage overconsumption, due to repeated purchasing based on poor fit.”

“The production of one pair of jeans uses approximately 7,500 litres of water.”

“Men resented paying a higher price for brands like Levi’s, so spent less by purchasing cheap, high street alternatives.”

“Technology such as 3D human shape recognition could improve the accuracy of fit for jeans, though it remains in its infancy and is not yet widely adopted by major online fashion retailers.”

“The perfect pair of jeans is elusive for a reason. Jeans have to be correct for the individual wearer in terms of comfort, social and personal identity, and also the complexity of fit.”

“Different components involved in the making of a single pair of jeans, such as denim, thread, cotton and buttons, can originate from different countries all over the world.”

“The fast fashion cycle driven by cheap, low-quality production contradicts the original purpose of jeans of being highly durable and having longevity.”