Ahh, the Glam Rock trend.
I’m on board with ponying up the dough for legit leather, but I’m not about to blow upwards of $200 on ripped, beat-up jeans.
There’s gotta be another way.
While there’s no shortage of tips for DIY-ed distressed denim, I knew my stellar scissoring skills alone couldn’t achieve the badass super shred style so currently in vogue. Craft Junkie proposed a cheese grater as a shredding alternative – an interesting solution. Also a really effing time-consuming one.
The denim fairy’s been good to me this month, and a sudden surplus means I’ve got a few pairs ripe for experimentation.
First up: A pair of white AGs, snagged for $5 at Housing Works’ Moving Sale in TriBeca.
Fifteen minutes into poking and scissoring, I grew disheartened. The horizontal cuts looked amateur at best; the super shred wasn’t happening; my kitchen knives proved a subpar alternative; using only fabric scissors was going to take HOURS; meh.
If only I had a tool sharp enough to slice and dice the material into the frayed, trendy goodness I yearned for…
Then, suddenly, a flash of genius. I owned a Stanley Utility Knife! Where the eff was it?! I tore through my apartment in a frenzy, desperate. This was my last hope for DIY distressed denim salvation.
I eventually found it lurking in a trunk, and immediately tried it on the AGs.
SUCCESS.
I’m pretty sure my final product will look identical to its irritatingly overpriced inspiration. I’m also pretty sure the designers behind the super shred use the same lethal knife.
$200 ripped jeans? Bitch PUHLEASE!
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I am headed straight out to thrift for jeans to destroy! I love your DIY, they are easy enough for normal, impatient people like me to accomplish, and still be happy with the results.
Very nice. They’ll look even better once they’ve been washed and dried. We’re going to need to see the final styled pics!
Ooh! please so a little tutorial for the not so crafty rest of us >_>
I made some similar light jeans a while back and just used some scissors. It worked well after washing (when they frayed nicely). I actually doubled the cuts after the first washing. Your method seems great as well, it seems less perfect which looks better.
I referenced you in a post I made today, It’s about a great score at my local thrift.
here is the post, if you are interested!
http://prettyprettypirate.blogspot.com/2009/08/great-deal-of-day.html
Thank you! Because I seriously considered buying a pair of these.