Sometimes I think the popularity of ripped jeans in the late '80s and '90s is overstated, and that they're actually at their peak of popularity given how I see so many people at my college campus alone wearing them.

I know a lot of TV shows and movies from the '90s feature people wearing ripped jeans, but whenever I look at pictures of actual people from the '90s, I don't see them worn as much, if ever

I asked a former college professor, who finished high school in '93 and was a college student in the '90s, how popular ripped jeans were. She said from what she could recall they were only popular among a certain demographic of people, e.g. metalheads and bad-asses, and they peaked in popularity around the early '90s. Granted, she grew up in a rural town in North Dakota.

So does anybody know exactly how popular or not they were?  ::)

Yes.

From: https://www.apparelsearch.com/terms/r/ripped-jeans-history.html

"They were popular in the late 1980s during the hard rock/heavy metal era and in the 1990s and 2000s during the grunge era.  The punk culture also have been known to be fans of fabrics with various blemishes."

"Not all distressed jeans are worn as a fashion statement.  Ripped jeans were simply a result of over-wearing.  Prior to the 1970's, ripped jeans were mainly associated with the less fortunate.  The lower end of the working class  could not afford to part with their denim."

Thanks. I was also hoping to hear from people who were old enough to remember, too.  :D

Yes, they were popular then.  I may have purchased them (or at least considered it; they were a bit pricey).  :o

I think the manner of ripping in today's ripped jeans is slightly different from the ones from the late 80's/90's.  But the idea is the same.

Prior to when ripped jeans were popular, I recall at times patching favorite jeans when they ripped to extend their life.  For one favorite pair I patched them with a decorative applique, in a heart shape.  (I sew.)  It was in the 70's.  That was a cute effect - but I didn't prefer my jeans ripped at that point in time.

Prior to when ripped jeans were popular, I recall at times patching favorite jeans when they ripped to extend their life.  For one favorite pair I patched them with a decorative applique, in a heart shape.  (I sew.)  It was in the 70's.  That was a cute effect - but I didn't prefer my jeans ripped at that point in time.


Yes, patched jeans were all the rage in the early 70s. In fact they were so popular, people didn't wait for their jeans to rip to put patches on, they just put them on anyway. One would buy new jeans and patches to go along with them. Patches even started being sold with adhesive backs so they could be applied without having to be sewn on. One rock star that did a lot to popularize patched up jeans was Neil Young. He wore them all the time and they became somewhat of a trademark. The back cover of his classic "After The Goldrush" album (from 1970) shows the back of his patched jeans in all their glory.

The photo can be seen here:

http://backcovers.blogspot.com/2012/09/after-gold-rush-by-neil-young.html

And yes, ripped jeans were very popular in the 90s. I knew a lot of musicians who wore them, as well as denizens of rock clubs. Funny how the style went from patches with no holes to holes with no patches.

Interesting.

Were they as popular as they are now?  :D

Interesting.

Were they as popular as they are now?  :D


Yes, maybe even more.

When I started high school in '96, I remember quite a few people wearing ripped 501's. I had ripped pants too but the only reason for that was because I was skating in them, it was never on purpose. In general, I've always worn Dickies more than jeans but I still have some Silvertab jeans from the 90's that I put on from time to time. And yes, some of them do have rips. :P

Thanks. I was also hoping to hear from people who were old enough to remember, too.  :D
I am old enough to remember!

I am old enough to remember!


I'm old enough to remember.

When I started high school in '96, I remember quite a few people wearing ripped 501's. I had ripped pants too but the only reason for that was because I was skating in them, it was never on purpose. In general, I've always worn Dickies more than jeans but I still have some Silvertab jeans from the 90's that I put on from time to time. And yes, some of them do have rips. :P


I once posted a picture of my own ripped jeans.

I was going for the 'dark' and 'edgy' look, the cool kidz were wearing in the hot school dayz!

Sometimes I think the popularity of ripped jeans in the late '80s and '90s is overstated, and that they're actually at their peak of popularity given how I see so many people at my college campus alone wearing them.

I know a lot of TV shows and movies from the '90s feature people wearing ripped jeans, but whenever I look at pictures of actual people from the '90s, I don't see them worn as much, if ever

I asked a former college professor, who finished high school in '93 and was a college student in the '90s, how popular ripped jeans were. She said from what she could recall they were only popular among a certain demographic of people, e.g. metalheads and bad-asses, and they peaked in popularity around the early '90s. Granted, she grew up in a rural town in North Dakota.

So does anybody know exactly how popular or not they were?  ::)


They were extremely popular from the very late '80s (the fall of '88 or the start of '89) into the '90s.

Here are some photos for you:

https://youlifeisnotsogreat.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/donnie-wahlberg-super-cheesy-pose-torn-jeans.jpg

http://images1.cliqueclack.com/tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ne102_215-425x318.jpg

http://images.eil.com/large_image/JOEY_LAWRENCE_NOTHIN%2BMY%2BLOVE%2BCANT%2BFIX-168009.jpg

They were extremely popular from the very late '80s (the fall of '88 or the start of '89) into the '90s.

Here are some photos for you:

https://youlifeisnotsogreat.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/donnie-wahlberg-super-cheesy-pose-torn-jeans.jpg

http://images1.cliqueclack.com/tv/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/ne102_215-425x318.jpg

http://images.eil.com/large_image/JOEY_LAWRENCE_NOTHIN%2BMY%2BLOVE%2BCANT%2BFIX-168009.jpg


I kind of wonder if the ripped jeans were store bought or they designed it themselves?

I kind of wonder if the ripped jeans were store bought or they designed it themselves?


They ripped the jeans themselves.

The late '90s were all about JNCO jeans (the baggier the better) and sloppy, hip-hop inspired fashion.

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-02/19/13/enhanced/webdr09/enhanced-2218-1424369579-1.jpg?downsize=715:*&output-format=auto&output-quality=auto

Ripped jeans became more popular, from my memory, in the mid aughts, after cargo khakis went out of style but before skinny jeans became the thing.  It may have been a revival of a late '80s/early '90s fad but I was too young to be fashion conscious at that time so for me, I associate ripped jeans primarily with the mid aughts.

The late '90s were all about JNCO jeans (the baggier the better) and sloppy, hip-hop inspired fashion.

https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2015-02/19/13/enhanced/webdr09/enhanced-2218-1424369579-1.jpg?downsize=715:*&output-format=auto&output-quality=auto

Ripped jeans became more popular, from my memory, in the mid aughts, after cargo khakis went out of style but before skinny jeans became the thing.  It may have been a revival of a late '80s/early '90s fad but I was too young to be fashion conscious at that time so for me, I associate ripped jeans primarily with the mid aughts.
These trousers look to be a health and safety issue?