Yoga Jeans - Beneath The Threads

Jeans have been the staple of North American culture for over five decades, but does anybody really know much about what jeans are made of?

Well I got a crash course on the latest initiative in jean manufacturing at Second Clothing, a Montreal-based company that specializes in denim for the past 7 years. I met up with Dara, a bright and cheerful individual who works with designer Eric Wazana, and was eager to give me the lowdown of a new line that I personally have never heard of: the Yoga Jean.

Butt-crack safe. Guaranteed.

Now most jeans are made of usually stiff texture out of cotton, but the Yoga Jeans are 97% organic cotton and 3% elastic (made of elastane). I gave a pair a stretching test and they did stretch considerably to be noticeable…cool. Then Dara explained to me that the waistband is made up of 6 parts instead of 2. In other words, ladies can rejoice that this a butt-crack safe jean (even the lowrises). Unlike most pairs where you get that annoying little U-shaped hole in the back, the new line will hide your bum and hug your waist when sitting down.

But are Yoga Jeans made for yoga? Yes and no. Mainly because they still are jeans, not made for physical activities, but they are yoga trainer and fitness trainers-approved for their flexible capabilities. These jeans retain a 92% “shape memory” which is a fancier term for minimal shrinkage in the washer. They also give a slimmer, longer look to the legs even giving that space “between the thighs.” From what I gather, I believe this is a good thing, but I’ve always had that space, I just didn’t know it was factor in wearing jeans, lol.

Style wise they’re gearing up towards wider legs and higher waists while still offering the regular boot cuts and skinnies. But some pairs have small details that make them a little more special. Like the Oblique-Frenchy had its cuffs rounded in U-shape in the front instead, so that when you wear heels you don’t have to scrunch your jeans just right or be afraid of having your heel caught in the back.

Second clothing also experiments weaving in elastane with other materials like linen, and will soon release their eco-line that features more organic fabrics like bamboo. They’re so eco-conscious to the point that requesting a media kit or catalog can only be found online. They try to be a paperless company too…and I felt guilty whipping out my notebook and pen! They’re also keen on keeping the lines within the local economy and encouraging support for local designers.

Christina from Second had on the “Jennifer” bustier jean, very cute.

You can find Second in several locations including Rocco (4321 St-Denis), Homogene (1486 Ste-Catherine West), and Charlie Sattva (260 Bernard West). Lucky for us, we don’t have to pay that much for so much quality going into these jeans, $110-$120 a pop. 100% made in Canada.