When Elvis Presley crooned to Jail House Rock, he was clad in a modified denim prison uniform. Believed to be manufactured in the small touristy French town of Nimes, from where de Nimes gets its name, the word "jean" comes from Genoa, the seaport city Christopher Columbus sailed from.

It was here in the 1600s that the first denim material was used to make trousers for sailors of the Genoese navy, who needed all-purpose, sturdy pants that could be worn while swabbing decks.

Timeless fabric

Some historians argue denim was manufactured in India, where denim pants were worn by sailors in a place called Dongari Killa, and hence the name dungarees.

Dongari Killa, or Fort George, is located near Mumbai city. Arguments aside, the undisputed fact is that denim is timeless. It is a global fabric, available everywhere. Almost a metaphor for modern life, it is a common thread that unifies people; blue or white collar, metro or village, male or female, kid or geriatric, couture-conscious or street-smart, everyone owns an item made of the denim fabric.

What is the charm of this almost-500-year-old fabric? According to award-winning personal stylist Kelly Lundberg (www.divine.ae) "denim is something that never goes out of fashion. It is a statement piece in the wardrobe that can be dressed up or down."

"The best thing about denim is its infinite use," says Rana Saab (www.ranasaab.com), an image consultant certified by the Association of Image Consultants International. "We work around denim to create multiple outfits for all use."

"For example, someone working in the creative field can wear denim to the office. The same pair, teamed with a funkier top and the right style accessories will create a look for ‘lunch with the girls'. Mix with a dressier top, add some sparkle with the right earrings, shoes and a clutch and you're ready for an ‘after-9 outing'."

But how did this serge de Nimes (material of Nimes) become synonymous with jeans?

There is this interesting story: In 1870, in the American town of Reno, Nevada, tailor Jacob Davis is having problems with one of his customers. The man keeps ripping his pant pockets. One day, Davis, who regularly bought cloth from the wholesale house of Levi Strauss & Co, decides to put metal rivets at the points of strain on the pant pockets.

An instant hit

The rest, as they say, is history. The riveted pants were an instant hit. Davis applies for a patent but does not have the $68 (Dh250) required to file the papers.

He asks businessman Levi Strauss to help him out and on May 20, 1873, the two men receive patent No 139,121. This day is considered the official "birthday" of jeans. That is why Levi Strauss is credited with creating the world's first blue jeans.

Initially woven with fine white warp-threads and slightly heavier blue weft-threads, denim is nowadays intermixed with stretch threads to get the elastic texture. It does not require frequent washing and is available in almost all hues, with indigo-blue topping the charts.

Dubai-based stylist Kelly, who wrote Success in the City, says: "Lighter denims tend to give a more casual look while a more indigo colour will give a smarter look." She should know; she has 14 years of experience in the fashion field.

Yves Saint Laurent, one of the most celebrated and influential French designers of the 20th century, once lamented: "I have often said that I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and non-chalant. They have expression, modesty, simplicity — all I hope for in my clothes."

The fabric of denim carries through the year. Regardless of the season, stores are filled with various styles of jeans — low-waist, high-waist, spray on, skinny, wide-legged, distressed, boot-cut, tattered, the list is endless.

People can't get enough of denim pants — and they are super-affordable. Apart from jeans, the fabric of denim is used to make jackets, shirts, skirts, handbags, accessories, shoes and even sneakers.

For the fashion-conscious

French couture giant Chanel recently launched its quilted denim sneaker. Meant solely for high-end shoppers, the sneakers retailed at $650 (Dh2,388).

In keeping with style as priority, Huggies introduced its Little Movers Jeans Diapers. Keeping babies cool during summer often involves making them wear just a diaper.

But why a plain white one? Armed with an awesome denim print, this limited-edition "faux baby denim pants" hit US markets with the tagline "stay trendy while keeping dry". Fashion-conscious mothers couldn't get enough. Such is the power of denim.

— Shahana Raza is aUAE-based freelance writer