What is the origin of studs in clothing?

As we already mentioned in the post about the small pocket in jeans , the clothes we wear every day have various ornaments, elements that, originally, did not fulfill a decorative function, but rather a utilitarian one.

One of these ornaments, to which we are already accustomed, are studs, those metal pieces with large, wide heads that are stuck into certain types of clothing, especially denim clothing .

Nowadays, studs give garments a daring, alternative touch, and there were several urban tribes that used them to stand out from the rest in past decades.

However, unlike the small jean pocket, which was used to store the classic pocket watch, the origin of studs was not to measure time: it was to save lives.

The protective function of studs

Dating back centuries and centuries, armor had a very clear function: to protect the body of the soldiers who wore it. Logically, a complete suit of armor was not made up of a single piece, since this would prevent movement, with the fatal consequence that this would have.

Rather, the armor was composed of different sheets of leather or metal attached to each other. To reinforce the assembly between the different pieces, tacks were used, which ensured a firmer hold.

Some armies also used tacks as an intimidation mechanism, lengthening them and sharpening them like a spike. The favorite places to place these “defensive” tacks were the most exposed, such as the chest and arms, although they were also used on horse armor.

Despite time and the progressive disappearance of ancient armor, tacks continued to be used to reinforce different objects made of leather, skin or wood, for example, pieces of furniture.

Studs as a declaration of war

In the decades of the 50s-70s there were several subcultures that declared war... on the conformist and corseted society. These urban tribes adopted an aggressive aesthetic, which clearly and intentionally differentiated them from the normative fashion of the time.

In some of these aesthetics it was common to find tight clothing, striking jewelry, chains and, of course, studs, all topped with hairstyles unimaginable to date.

One of these first “rebel” subcultures was the Halbstarke, a group that emerged in Zurich that exhibited an aesthetic similar to biker.

Shortly after, the rockers and punks would arrive, with their denim or leather jackets , and, already at the end of the 80s, some pop divas like Madonna and Cher, pioneers in the use of studs in their "gala" outfits, Clearly, an aesthetic appropriation of subcultures that did not exactly share that style of music.

Jeans with decorative studs on the pockets

The studs that protect the planet

Decades ago, at Bustins Jeans we experienced first-hand the change in mentality and aesthetics of the 70s and 80s. In fact, our jeans were protagonists during the years of the Madrid scene, and they also walked along the ramblas of Barcelona.

Currently, we are a slow fashion denim clothing brand, a more sustainable and ethical business model based on artisanal manufacturing, the use of organic materials ( organic cotton ) and a timeless catalog that prioritizes quality over quantity. .

In our catalog we also have denim garments with studs, used with two objectives: to give the clothes that different and daring touch, and to protect the planet, by offering you durable garments made with increasingly environmentally friendly techniques.

Leave a comment

All comments are moderated before being published