Fades is the general term for the lighter areas and patterns that develop on jeans as the indigo dye on the surface of the yarn wears away through repeated movement, friction and washing. Because indigo is a surface dye rather than one that penetrates all the way through the yarn, abrasion gradually exposes the paler core underneath, which is why denim lightens with wear rather than staying a uniform colour.
Fades tend to concentrate where fabric rubs most, or where it creases repeatedly, producing recognisable patterns such as whiskers at the hip and thigh and honeycombs behind the knee, alongside general lightening at the pocket edges, seams and any point of frequent contact. On raw denim that has not been pre washed, these fades develop naturally and reflect the individual wearer's body and habits over months of use.
Many finished, pre washed jeans recreate the look of fades artificially during manufacturing, so a similar appearance does not always mean similar wear. See distressing for how this is done, and our raw denim guide for growing genuine fades through wear.
