Stepping into the world of 'Shrink-To-Fit' Denim can seem somewhat of a minefield at first glance; there are countless opinions and processes, blogs and forum-threads, all with their own sets of rules, pitfalls and contradictions which can send even the most enthusiastic of denim enthusiasts cross-eyed and green in front of their screens. 

If one thing is true about shrink-to-fit denim (as with many other things), there are no specific rights or wrongs, just a few rules and differences in taste.

In this short piece, we hope to visually show our simple and straightforward process for achieving that shrink-to-fit silhouette with the minimum of hassle. 

The pair of jeans chosen to break down this process is the Full Count 0105 model, the last stock we have of the original pattern. The 0105 is  a modern classic and favourite style for many across the world due to their incredible comfort and unique fading, both due to the hand-picked Zimbabwean cotton used to weave all of Full Count's denim; not to mention the superb cut and all round fit.

The development of Full Count's denim by Mikiharu Tsujita and his devotion to pursuing exactly the denim he wanted is a story within itself and worth reading...

We started this blog before the world ground to a halt for many people, but what better time (now you have the time) to think about a fun little project like a new pair of jeans!

You've already re-painted the hallway, grouted the bathroom, sorted through the DVD collection and old magazines gathering dust and decided to sell a few things on eBay; now with that list of achievements completed, back to the blog post...

One of the reasons for choosing Full Count as our example is because of the noticeable change for the better their raw denim goes through after seeing a bit of water. When trying them on at first, the fit is quite a long way off their 'true' shape, which can leave you unsure about the end result and nervous about the investment. It can seem like a leap of faith and a little daunting. 

This will hopefully alleviate some of the worries about shrink-to-fit as a side note to denim itself and not the overbearing focus. 

Raw Denim Fit & Sizing

When choosing the cut it is widely accepted that you buy your regular size. There is no need to size up (unless you want a very loose cut) and some people size down to get the most out of the Zimbabwean cottons natural elasticity, which moulds to you and fits like second skin. 

One of the key features to the uniqueness of Full Count denim is the cotton used. Hand-picked to protect the natural 'long-staple' fibres which gives the woven denim its softness while still being durable and why Zimbabwean cotton is renowned for its quality.  

Once your denim has been washed and dried you can start thinking about length. This is always a matter of taste and personal preference, which will probably change over the years of wearing them. 

We always recommend leaving the length a little longer for the first hemming and as you wear into them, to allow the denim to mould and change on the body.