RRL Low Straight One-Wash Selvedge Denim: First Wash Review, Measurements & Fit Restoration Data
Hello, this is Lislab.
For any denim enthusiast, there is always a quiet thrill in breaking in and caring for a favorite pair of jeans. Today, I’d like to share the first wash process, before-and-after measurement data, and subsequent wear updates for my RRL Low Straight One-Wash Selvedge Denim—a pair I’ve been documenting right here on my blog.
Generally, one-wash, sanforized denim carries little stress when it comes to washing. However, as wears accumulate, proper timing becomes essential to reset the fabric’s tension and restore the silhouette from inevitable wear-stretching.
Rather than aiming for drastic shrinkage or rapid fading, this first wash was focused entirely on tidying up the stretched waist, knees, and rear seat area.
While some time has passed since the actual washing took place, I’ve included both the immediate post-wash data and the real-world evolution observed after putting another 40+ wears on them since.
01. Why the First Wash Was Needed
"Addressing the Slim Fit Dilemma"
My original plan was to preserve RRL’s deep, rich indigo tone as long as possible, hitting at least 100 wears before bringing them to water.
However, after wearing them heavily through spring and summer—surpassing 80 total wears—the physical necessity for a wash became unavoidable.
The biggest factor was the silhouette distortion inherent to a slim low-straight fit. Prolonged wear led to noticeable knee bagging and the classic reproduction denim "seat pop" (where the fabric flares out at the rear seat).
Combined with the mugginess absorbed from summer humidity and sweat, I decided it was time for a cold wash to refresh the fabric fibers and reclaim the original shape.
< Check out the Denim Wash Golden Time Guide for Denim Heads >
02. Pre-Wash Measurements & Aging Progress
"Tracking the Endless Stretch of APC Denim"
Before putting them into the machine, here is how the measurements shifted after 6 months and 80+ wears:
Waist (Flat): 39.5 cm (New) ➔ 40.5 cm (After ~6 months / 80+ wears) [Total +1cm stretch]
Front Rise: 25 cm (New) ➔ 25 cm (After ~6 months / 80+ wears) [Maintained]
As the fabric molded comfortably to my body, the waist relaxed by about 1 cm, while the core structure—including the rise—remained remarkably stable.
Due to RRL’s deep indigo dyeing process, contrast fading doesn't appear quickly or sharply. However, thanks to the slim cut, areas experiencing frequent friction—such as the hip whiskers, back knee honeycombs, and leg opening leg-twist/ataris—developed subtle blue undertones and well-defined creases.
My goal before washing was to see if I could clean up the stretched areas while preserving these naturally formed fade lines and creases.
03. Machine Soaking & Washing Method
"Washing Machine Soak Routine"
Since the fabric had already undergone factory one-wash and sanforization treatments, the goal was not heavy shrinkage, but rather reshaping the knees/seat and refreshing the denim.
Buttoning up the fly and turning the jeans inside out reveals the vibrant blue lines etched along the interior where indigo has worn away.
To prevent erratic machine creasing, I folded the jeans gently without sharp creases and placed them inside a mesh laundry bag for a solo wash.
To preserve the indigo tone and set creases, I skipped detergent completely and used cold water only.
Cycle: Delicates / Wool Mode
Rinses: 1-2 Times
Spin Speed: Delicates (Lowest Setting)
Water Temp: Cold Water
Detergent: None (Cold water only)
Since no detergent was used, 1 to 2 rinses were more than enough. All settings were minimized to avoid unwanted friction or harsh creases.
After washing, I shook the jeans out gently to smooth out large folds and laid them flat on a drying rack to air dry naturally.
04. Post-Wash Measurement Comparison
"Sanforized Denim Shrinkage Results"
Once fully dried, I remeasured the key dimensions:
Waist (Flat): 40.5 cm (Pre-wash) ➔ 39.5 cm (Post-wash) [-1 cm / Restored to original]
Front Rise: 25.0 cm (Pre-wash) ➔ 25.0 cm (Post-wash) [Maintained]
As expected from a sanforized one-wash denim, there was no drastic shrinkage. Only the 1 cm of waist stretching gained from months of wear was cleanly restored back to its original brand-new measurement.
While overall color change was minimal to the naked eye, the fabric texture firmed up nicely. Both the knee bagging and rear seat pop softened significantly after drying.
Currently, I’ve put an additional 40+ wears on them since this wash, bringing the total count to over 120 wears. While color difference was subtle immediately after drying, continued wear has gradually brought out a brighter blue undertone, with key creases setting in even more sharply.
Closing: Reflections on 8 Months of Breaking In
RRL Low Straight One-Wash Selvedge Denim isn't about dramatic color shifts or sudden shrinkage; it's about the slow, satisfying process of molding rich fabric to your lifestyle over time.
This first cold wash successfully pulled the relaxed waist back by 1 cm to its original purchase state while visibly smoothing out the knees and rear seat.
If you are wearing RRL or other one-wash selvedge denim and experiencing stretched knees or a sagging seat, I highly recommend a gentle cold soak without detergent. You'll feel the fabric tension reset and watch the clean silhouette bounce right back.
As a heavy, slow-fading denim, I will continue to wear them diligently and share their ongoing aging journey right here on the blog.
RRL Low Straight One-Wash Selvedge Denim isn't about dramatic color shifts or sudden shrinkage; it's about the slow, satisfying process of molding rich fabric to your lifestyle over time.
This first cold wash successfully pulled the relaxed waist back by 1 cm to its original purchase state while visibly smoothing out the knees and rear seat.
If you are wearing RRL or other one-wash selvedge denim and experiencing stretched knees or a sagging seat, I highly recommend a gentle cold soak without detergent. You'll feel the fabric tension reset and watch the clean silhouette bounce right back.
As a heavy, slow-fading denim, I will continue to wear them diligently and share their ongoing aging journey right here on the blog.
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