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The History and Future of Denim

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Introduction As the world revolves, there are a lot of changes that happens in the world. For example, in terms of technology, there are a lot of improvements already. Back then, for example, features of mobile phones were only call and text. But more ideas have been developed and people have started to think about how to improve some things so that they can attract more consumers. The result is there are now more, in this case, high-tech phones with carious incredible features such as access to social media, hi-quality camera’s ability to upload to and download from the Internet, e-readers, and video calls for quicker and easier communication. In the world of fashion, there is denim. It is one of the world’s oldest fabrics, and has …show more content…

Figure 1.4 Illustration of indigo cultivation in Bengal, 1881. [Courtesy of “Views from the Illustrated London News and The Graphic,” South Asia study resources compiled by Fances Pritchet]

Figure 1.5 Indigofera tinctoria or indigo was packaged into small cakes to be sold easily to Baghdad markets. [Courtesy of www.indianoceanhistory.com]

The demand for indigo cake increased as many wanted to use the cake for various purposes, such as using it as a blue dye for their painting. However, the supply of indigo cake was decreasing due to the hard production method, resulting a fluctuation in its price. But, a German chemist, Johann Friedrich Willhelm Adolf von Baeyer, developed a cheaper alternative method by making synthetic indigo. He started working with indigo in 1865. His work resulted in the first chemical synthesis of indigo, in 1880. And then, three years later, he announced the chemical structure of synthetic indigo. He then sold this invention to BASF (Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik), an international chemical company, for $100,000. Synthetic indigo, by 1913, had almost completely replaced natural indigo, and by 2002, 17000 tons of synthetic indigo were produced worldwide.

Figure 1.6 Adolf von Baeyer, a German chemist, who invented synthetic indigo. [Courtesy of

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