Years ago jeans were the main clothing that not only cowboys wore but motorcycle riders wore as well. The main difference between these two groups of people was that cowboys worked on ranches and rode horses. Motorcycle riders were mainly in gangs. That is not to say that all motorcycle riders are gang members. Many of them are family men and women who just enjoy riding a motorcycle.

Yet, back in the late 40s and early 50s “bikers” were categorized as gangs. Their main article of clothing was jeans and vests. The vests were nothing more than a jean jacket with the sleeves cut-off. Commonly referred to as a cutoff jacket. No biker in his right mind would be caught dead in a pair of brand-new jeans or a brand-new cutoff. It just wasn’t done.

So, how did they get that dirty, grungy look? Or as they say today distressed look? Very simple, they took those jeans threw them on the ground then drive over them, stomped on them with muddy boots and some would even urinate on them. Others would take a piece of broken glass or bottle and cut holes in them giving them that ripped look. This way they looked like everybody else riding a motorcycle.

Well, young teenage boys thought these were “cool” looking so they started wearing them in defiance. At the same time teenage girls started wearing daddy’s or brother’s jeans. Before you knew it, everybody loved wearing these old, grungy, destroyed or ripped jeans.

Today, they are high fashion. So when you think back and remember your mother telling you take off those ripped and torn jeans you can have a good laugh. Today you would be able to save, “Mom, everybody’s wearing them.”.