Wash is the general term for how a pair of jeans looks and feels after the fabric has gone through colouring and finishing treatments, as distinct from the weave or weight of the denim itself. A wash can range from a very dark, almost unworn looking indigo, through medium blue tones, to heavily faded or whitened finishes, and it may include added texture such as fading or distressing.
When shopping, the wash is usually one of the first things described alongside the fit, since two jeans in the same cut can look completely different depending on how dark or light, and how worn or clean, the finish is. A darker wash tends to read as more formal or versatile, working well for smarter casual outfits, while lighter and more distressed washes lean toward a relaxed, casual look.
Specific wash techniques each create their own effect, see stonewashing and acid wash for two common examples, and fades for how wear patterns develop over time. Our guide to jeans washes and finishes covers the full range.
