Treat your denim wellTips to make your pieces last longer

In our first episode of Closet Care, we link up with Iffy Studio’s founder Alima Darouiche to talk all things denim. From stain removal and washing to perfecting your patchwork, we’re here to help you give your denim a little love.

By Heather Snowden

26 March 2025 · 4 min read

Closet Care is a part of our series to help you to wear your wardrobe better. For more on how to care for your closet and make the most of your clothes, visit Stories on Zalando.

“I love denim for its timelessness, versatility and durability,” says jean queen Alima Darouiche, founder of Iffy Studios, an upcycling brand that’s all about giving used denim a new lease of life. Over the years, she’s flipped pairs of worn denims into everything you can think of, from an incredible floor-length patchwork coat and formal(ish) suit ties, to mini skirts, shoulder bags and bomber jackets. When it comes to reworking denim, you name it, she’s sewn it.

“When I started sewing I always used my grandma's leftovers—she was a tailor as well,” Alima says, which explains her natural pull towards the craft. “Then I once worked on a project with a friend, where we cut up [separate pairs of] blue and black denims to create two completely new pairs. While doing that, I had so many ideas of other ways to put the denim pieces together, so I [continued] trying out different things and got stuck on the material.”

It’s the ubiquity of denim that really inspires Alima; because the material is everywhere, the possibilities are endless. “[Denim] will always exist, which accelerates the process and offers me that creative freedom where I can let my ideas truly thrive.”

A hand presses a yellow sponge onto a pair of denim jeans, producing bubbles, with rings visible on the fingers.

It’s the topic of denim and existence that unites Alima with Zalando. Or, more specifically, we’ve turned to her for some top tips on how to make our existing denim last longer and wear better.

We’re here to learn how to look after our jeans, how to get more wears out of them, extend their lifelines if we can, and perhaps even get some upcycling tricks so we can attempt to DIY ourselves into being better denim parents.

Two spinning fans blow strands of frayed denim towards a stack of folded jeans on a blue table, with hangers displaying more denim in the background.

CLEANING

What are your 3 golden rules for caring for denim?

Wash less, wear more. Overwashing fades the color and weakens the fabric. Denim is designed to mold to your body and frequent washes disrupt this process. Each wash breaks down the fibers, fades color and reduces durability.
Cold wash with gentle detergent. Washing at a low temperature (30°C or lower) preserves the dye and fabric structure. A cold or lukewarm wash helps maintain color and shape for longer [whereas] high temperatures fade dye, cause shrinkage and weaken the fabric.
Store smartly. Fold your jeans instead of hanging to maintain shape or roll them to prevent unwanted creases.

How often should we be washing our jeans?

Aim to wash jeans every 10-15 wears, unless they are visibly dirty or smelly.

What can I do to keep them fresh between washes?

Spot cleaning stains instead of washing the whole denim.
Hang outside for fresh air circulation.
Put them in a bag in the freezer to kill bacteria.
Hang them in the bathroom while you take a shower.
Store properly to prevent wrinkles.

How can we remove annoying but common stains like grass and oil?

For grass, rub with white vinegar or a mix of baking soda and water before washing. For oil, sprinkle baby powder to absorb the grease, then wash with dish soap and cloth.

MENDING

What does well-aged denim look like?

In my opinion, a well-aged denim should have authentic fades, a naturally distressed look and a softened but fitted feel.

How can we help our denim age well?

Wear them often and wash rarely to develop a unique fade pattern and make the pants flatter your body shape.
Repair little holes or frayings to prevent bigger holes or rips.
Store (fold or hang) them properly to prevent permanent creases.

What denim repair techniques should everyone know?

Darning because it reinforces worn-out areas.
Patchworking adds durability and a unique style.
Hand-stitching as it’s quick and effective for small rips.

What if I’m useless with a sewing machine? Are there easy ways to repair that don’t require big skills or proper equipment?

There is fabric glue to reinforce small rips or iron-on patches to quickly cover something up.

A person carefully guides denim fabric under a sewing machine needle, focused on sewing a seam, with hands adorned in rings.

UPCYCLING

Beyond turning jeans into shorts, what are your favourite ways to give a new life to old denim?

My favourite way of upcycling denim is creating a new fabric out of your jeans by cutting them and assembling the pieces to your desire. After that, you can sew anything: a jacket, a pair of pants, a tote bag, a laptop case, etc.

Where do you get inspiration for upcycling projects?

I mostly get my inspiration during the process of working on something. As soon as I lay out the fabric, ideas come to my head. The ideas are shaped by my surroundings—my friends and family, random people that walk past me, nature and its shapes and structures, and many more things.

Why is extending the lifespan of denim important?

Denim production is resource-intensive. It takes thousands of litres of water to make just one pair. Extending the lifespan of denim saves water and reduces waste because you lessen the need for new production and raw materials like cotton. This way you can lower your environmental impact while keeping your favorite pair of denims in rotation longer.