Best non-cotton pants material that look like blue denmin?

September 12, 2024 10:54 AM

I am sensitive and allergic to cotton material, and cannot wear cotton made jeans for long. I am wondering what would be the best non-cotton material that minimcs and looks like blue denim in jeans? I am have been told Lyocell works and looks somewhat similar?

I’m hoping to find non-cotton material that looks like blue denim jeans for women. I have been told if I like a certain material(s) I can then have pants/jeans specially made somewhere.

posted by RearWindow to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total)

Naked and Famous makes 100% linen jeans that looks pretty good?
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 11:01 AM on September 12

Lyocell /Tencel is most likely to be part of a fabric blend involving cotton so possibly not a great option.

I would look for 100% linen or hemp denim fabrics and buy smaller swatches (pieces of fabric) that you can test on your skin for sensitivity tests before investing in ready made or custom jeans.

Have you ruled out organic cotton as an option? Dyes and finishing products might also contribute to dermatitis issues, I say that with the experience of getting all over body rashes from industrial laundry treatments used by hotels and hospitals. I can imagine that jeans related issues are similarly The Worst.

Custom jeans are a _thing_ with the benefit that your fit can be customised too so that your hip / waist ratio is taken into consideration.

Good luck on your hunt!
posted by pipstar at 11:47 AM on September 12

Linen and hemp are the way to go. Linen was already linked above but here's a nice hemp option as well.
posted by saladin at 12:06 PM on September 12

If you search for twill or canvas weave fabrics, that might help locate some denim-like options. Core Fabrics has a 100% Lyocell/Tencel twill in a denim-like blue that may work.

If you don't mind a more utilitarian aesthetic, you could also look in workwear or camping gear stores for their "performance" fabric items, which are usually synthetics. That would be things like Duluth Trading Co's nylon/spandex Flexpedition line or these nylon/poly/spandex REI hiking pants.
posted by fifthpocket at 12:11 PM on September 12

Denim is a type of twill weave but many twill fabrics are much softer and drapier. Tencel/lyocell and other rayons tend to be softer, although I think it's possible for them to be made harder/stiffer. I do not think the Core Fabrics twill linked above would make anything like jeans - it looks like more of a blouse/dress fabric.

Wrangler does make a "dress jean" from 100% polyester twill but they seem to only be in men's sizes and they're a very specific look, with permanent creases front and back (kind of "old man Western wear"). But the fabric exists, somewhere!
posted by mskyle at 1:58 PM on September 12

Outlier makes non-cotton jeans-type pants. I found them via a recommendation here. Expensive, but not compared to something custom-made.
posted by hovey at 3:17 PM on September 12

...Missed the edit window, sorry: Outlier seems only to offer typical mens cuts in jeans, but maybe it's still a helpful lead for research...
posted by hovey at 3:24 PM on September 12

I like the feel of lyocell (and it performs well) so that’s what I’d look for. Here’s an example of an 100% lyocell shirt that looks just like denim, I bet you could find something similar. The brand does have lyocell pants but the color and cut aren’t very denim-like.
posted by maleficent at 5:30 PM on September 12

I find most linen, hemp, and wool fabrics to be SUPER intolerably itchy. I can't feel the itchiness with my hand, but if certain fabrics rub against the softest skin on my body (neck, inner thighs, inner biceps, or upper chest), it's unbearable. So if you're thinking of getting pants made, maybe get a small swatch of each fabric you're considering, about the size of your hand, and try pinning it inside your pants all day, at inner thigh level. This way you can see if you find it itchy too, before paying for a big piece of fabric or custom pants!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 7:10 PM on September 12

Generally, hemp or linen (durable, coarse) blended with Tencel/modal (soft).
Hemp denim fabric solo, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 examples.
Hemp Fortex blended denim fabrics (hemp/Tencel, heavyweight; hemp/Tencel, lightweight; midweight hemp/Tencel/2% spandex; lightweight hemp/Tencel/8% spandex; hemp/Tencel/ recycled poly with stretch knit denim).
Linen. Heathered Denim Stretch Linen and Rayon Fabric.
Italian Blue Topweight Viscose Denim (light, thin)
Lightweight Tencel Denim / Medium-weight Tencel chambray fabric
"Advance Denim" made with "Modal, Lyocell, hemp or recycled polyester, in different weights and finishes," via Cotton-free Denim 101 (The Textile Think Tank).
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:48 PM on September 12

Bamboo is also an option for jeans and bamboo fabrics tend to be really soft and lovely. If you're into the 'will stand up on their own' raw denim deal, they probably aren't for you, but if you like stretchy, comfy jeans, they might work.
posted by jacquilynne at 6:59 AM on September 13