How to Release the Hem of your Jeans

The fash pack have been busy fraying, distressing and ripping their jeans, but now there's a new trend on the horizon. Releasing the hems on your jeans adds a cool, raw effect to your denim and has been spotted on street style influencers plus designer catwalks for AW16. Customising your jeans by unpicking the hems is a super easy way to update your denim and in this blog we'll show you two ways to release your hems and ways to style it.

Donna Ida Thornton wears released hems

Take inspiration from Donna Ida Thornton (pictured below) wearing IDA Ramona the Culotte Pinafore with unpicked hems, raw edges teamed accessorised with a high sandal and finish off with a contrasting statement silk DONNA IDA Miss Maggie in Blouse in Coniac.

Donna Ida Thornton wears Ramona Culotte Pinafore and DONNA IDA Miss Maggie in Coniac

Releasing your hems can work on skinnies, boyfriend jeans, flares or cropped styles and is the perfect way to add a couple of inches to your favourite jeans if you prefer them a little longer in the leg or like that 'awkward' fashion length. Breaking all fashion rules, the awkward length is gathering pace with fashionistas, which just means any jeans that fall between the calf and the ankle. As Donna shows (pictured below) the IDA Margot the Culotte is a good style to unpick the hem because a cropped style will then finishes just above the ankle, plus with awkward lengths, the wider the leg, the cooler the shape.

Donna Ida Thornton wears IDA Margot Culottes and DONNA IDA Cut Loose Maggie Blouse

An unfinished and released hem can work on a super skinny style like the IDA Rizzo in Thunder (pictured below) and adds a rock n roll finish to classic high waisted jeans. The Thunder wash is a dark grey shade with rips and distressing which goes perfectly with a deep red DONNA IDA Poet Don't Know It Blouse and IDA Pallenberg Scarf.

Donna Ida Thornton wears IDA Rizzo in Thunder with a released hem and DONNA IDA Poet Don't Know It Blouse and DONNA IDA Pallenberg Scarf

IDA Rizzo Thunder released hems

To release the hems on your favourite denim jeans follow these easy steps:

STEP 1 - All you need is a Stitch and Seam Unpicker plus a pair of jeans

2 - Get the Stitch Unpicker and find the hem of your jeans, turn them inside out and look at the inside of the jeans

3 - On the inside of the jeans, use the Stitch Unpicker to slowly remove the stitches

4 - Keep going and as you go along pull out the cotton threads (here in orange)

5 - Gently pull the seams of the hems apart

6 - When you've unpicked all the way around both hems, smooth them out and remove any excess strands

7 - To finish off, you can have a released hem with a neat edge (with the raw edge still hidden) or if you prefer a raw finish, unfold the hem fully and iron it into place

Your jeans will now be updated with extra seams and a new awkward length for a modern twist on your classic blue jeans. We offer a comprehensive alterations service so visit a boutique or take a look here for more information.