# Why Are Blue Jeans Always Blue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 20, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426 "2007-10-20T23:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/1 "2007-10-20T23:47:42Z")
So I’m a little child watching repeats of Captain Kangaroo on tv. And one of the characters on Captain Kangaroo is Mr. Green Jeans. Then it hits me, Why can’t jeans be some other color than blue? Now it is some years later and I still don’t know: Why can’t they be some other color than blue? I have never encountered jeans that weren’t blue. And they would go with more clothing if they were other colors. So what’s the answer? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/2 "2007-10-20T23:50:58Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] So I’m a little child watching repeats of Captain Kangaroo on tv. And one of the characters on Captain Kangaroo is Mr. Green Jeans. Then it hits me, Why can’t jeans be some other color than blue? Now it is some years later and I still don’t know: Why can’t they be some other color than blue? I have never encountered jeans that weren’t blue. And they would go with more clothing if they were other colors. So what’s the answer? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Are you joking? Jeans come in virtually every color of the rainbow, and are commonly sold in black, and quite often brown and beige, as well as various girly colours for the ladies. Just walk into a department store. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/3 "2007-10-20T23:53:36Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Are you joking? Jeans come in virtually every color of the rainbow, and are commonly sold in black, and quite often brown and beige, as well as various girly colours for the ladies. Just walk into a department store. [/QUOTE] Sorry about the mistake :smack: . I guess I just don’t get out enough. 🙂 Well, I guess it is my job to save this thread now, so let me rephrase the question: Why were jeans **originally** just blue? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/4 "2007-10-20T23:54:01Z")
Besides a number of pairs of blue jeans, I also have jeans in tan, black, green and gray. Back in the early 70’s, I had a pair of red Levi’s jeans, when worn with a white button down shirt, navy sleeveless sweater and my white and blue platform saddle shoes, I was quite the fashion plate. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/5 "2007-10-21T00:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] Sorry about the mistake :smack: . I guess I just don’t get out enough. 🙂 Well, I guess it is my job to save this thread now, so let me rephrase the question: Why were jeans **originally** just blue? [/QUOTE] Jeans were originally brown. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/6 "2007-10-21T00:16:46Z")
Here’s the [story](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_jeans). About blue, anyhoo. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/7 "2007-10-21T00:16:50Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Jeans were originally brown. 😃 [/QUOTE] Well, let me rephrase it again. At some point, they were primarily blue. Even now they are primarily blue, hence the name blue jeans. Why is this? (Work with me people, I’m doing the best I can to keep this thread afloat 🙂 .) ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/8 "2007-10-21T00:19:05Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Here’s the [story](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_jeans). About blue, anyhoo. [/QUOTE] Thank you **Mangeorge**. I think we double posted. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/9 "2007-10-21T00:21:13Z")
Tradition. Previous to the 19th century, dyes all came from natural sources, and the color choices suitable for a particular use were limited. The availability of synthetic dyes in all sorts of colors was one of the notable achievements of the early chemical industry. From [denim | design, art and technology news and projects](http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/denim2.html) > [@](#): > > why is denim blue? > denim is unique in it’s singular connection with one colour. the warp yarn is > traditionally dyed with the blue pigment obtained from indigo dye. > until the introduction of synthetic dyes, at the end of the 19th century, > indigo was the most significant natural dye known to mankind, > linked with pratical fabrics and work clothing. the durability of indigo as a > colour and it’s darkness of tone made it a good choice, when frequent washing was > not possible. In 1870 BASF in germany, originally suppliers of natural indigo had > started the search for a synthetic substitute, in 1894 the process was perfected. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/10 "2007-10-21T00:23:51Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] Thank you **Mangeorge**. I think we double posted. [/QUOTE] I don’t cap my name because I am of the masses. Peace, mangeorge ND ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/11 "2007-10-21T00:26:04Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I don’t cap my name because I am of the masses. Peace, mangeorge ND [/QUOTE] Sorry about that mangeorge 🙂 . Believe it or not, I wondered for a brief second or two if I should cap your name. Then I did, thoughtlessly, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/12 "2007-10-21T00:32:50Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] Sorry about that mangeorge 🙂 . Believe it or not, I wondered for a brief second or two if I should cap your name. Then I did, thoughtlessly, I guess. [/QUOTE] Just having you on. Though I do have a semi-commie streak through my soul 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/13 "2007-10-21T00:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] I don’t cap my name because I am of the masses. [/QUOTE] Some time in the gym might help with that. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/14 "2007-10-21T00:51:38Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Some time in the gym might help with that. [/QUOTE] Not massive, masses! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/15 "2007-10-21T01:02:10Z")
Didn’t Mr. Green Jeans usually wear overalls? (Dungarees for you Brits) Denim to be sure, but not what we usually called “jeans”. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/16 "2007-10-21T01:12:54Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] Didn’t Mr. Green Jeans usually wear overalls? (Dungarees for you Brits) Denim to be sure, but not what we usually called “jeans”. [/QUOTE] The Captain wore overalls, right? I think Mr. Greenjeans wore, uh, green jeans. Easy enough to prove. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/17 "2007-10-21T01:21:45Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] The Captain wore overalls, right? I think Mr. Greenjeans wore, uh, green jeans. Easy enough to prove. [/QUOTE] Wrong. Captain kangaroo wore the silly red coat. Mr. Greenjeans did indeed wear overalls. Green ones. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/18 "2007-10-21T01:31:04Z")
[QUOTE=mangeorge] Wrong. Captain kangaroo wore the silly red coat. Mr. Greenjeans did indeed wear overalls. Green ones. [/QUOTE] Which some of us had to take as an article of faith on our B&W TV sets. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/19 "2007-10-21T01:43:24Z")
[QUOTE=Jim B.] Sorry about the mistake :smack: . I guess I just don’t get out enough. 🙂 Well, I guess it is my job to save this thread now, so let me rephrase the question: Why were jeans **originally** just blue? [/QUOTE] OKay, now that your question has been answered…how old are you, and where are you from? I just can’t wrap my head around you never having seen a pair of black jeans (not that they don’t come in other colors too, but black is very popular, and has been for ages). ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426/20 "2007-10-21T01:46:20Z")
[QUOTE=Omega Glory] OKay, now that your question has been answered…how old are you, and where are you from? I just can’t wrap my head around you never having seen a pair of black jeans (not that they don’t come in other colors too, but black is very popular, and has been for ages). [/QUOTE] If you must know, I am in my thirties and I am from Michigan. That is all I care to tell. As to why I have never seen another color of jeans, I don’t know. Maybe I just never looked for them. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-blue-jeans-always-blue/423426.md?page=2)