How Acid Wash Jeans Became the Look of the 80s
The story of an accidental creation that defined an era
There are a few clothing items and accessories that stick out as one of the definitive looks of the 1980s.
Acid wash jeans were a style that originated in the early 80s and has roots going back to the 1960s surfer culture. The modern version was patented 1986 in Italy by the Rifle Jeans Company and uses pumice stone and chlorine to achieve the look.
Turns out acid wash jeans — and everything to do with acid wash — goes back way further than the 80s. The style is based on stone washing and the original modern production of them was discovered by accident.
Spoiler alert: there isn’t even any acid…
Setting the Stage For Acid Wash Jeans
Our story actually starts with stone washing — which sets the stage for acid washing. There are various versions of who actually invented this style of washing. As early as 1950, Levi’s said that a guy named Donald Freeland first invented stone washing while working for the Great Western Garment Company.
Levi’s would eventually take over GWGC and with that, they took on the story of the creation of stone washing.
