Why Do Jeans Have Rivets? (Can You Remove Jean Rivets?)


Disclosure: We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Why Do Jeans Have Rivets?

Do you know why jeans have rivets? Ever wonder what the small pocket in the back of your jeans is for? Or what metal is used in jeans?

Rivets are structural elements of jeans that are used to reinforce the area where a pocket is sewn on. The term “rivet” is used to describe any small metal pin, but it traditionally refers to those made from iron or steel. More specifically, rivets are used in jeans to attach the pocket, belt loops, and fly buttons.

Rivets were commonly used to hold together pieces of denim clothing because the cloth was so thick and sturdy. The rivets helped hold the thick fabric together to create a durable piece of clothing.

When manufacturers began to put rivets on jeans, they would use them as placeholders for items such as handkerchiefs, personal items, even bullets. The rivets were used as an added protection against pickpockets, which is why they are still used today.


Why Do They Put Rivets on Jeans?

Rivets are those small metal studs on jeans. They may seem like a little detail, but they do serve a purpose. The rivets are the reason that your jeans have pockets and why there is a button on the jeans’ front.

Rivets are most commonly used to reinforce pocket corners and areas where two pieces of material join together. Other common uses for rivets include fastening pockets on purses, bags, and backpacks, attaching clasps to jewelry, reinforcing belt loops, and holding buttons in place on clothing.

 

WallFlower Women's Instastretch Luscious Curvy Bootcut Jeans, Jenna, 15

 

When rivets were first introduced to jeans, they were used as small pockets to hold coins or other small items. These days you don’t see this used as often because people use their back pockets for wallets now instead of their front ones. However, if you look at older jeans, you will notice that some still have small decorative pockets that aren’t functional anymore.


When Did Rivets Start Being Used in Jeans?

Jean manufacturers started adding rivets to jeans in the late 1800s. This is when denim first became popular, and it was a time when most items were handmade. At that time, denim was considered a working-class fabric and was worn by farmers, factory workers, and cowboys.

Rivets are a part of each pair of jeans. Jeans started out as a replacement for the worker’s trousers that farmers and ranchers wore at that time. Rivets would help hold the pocket shut so nothing would fall out when someone was doing work around the ranch or farm.

Over time, rivets grew smaller and eventually disappeared from jeans because most people don’t do any manual labor like farming or ranching anymore.

The rivets are now added purely for decorative purposes and to make them look more fashionable, like the buckles and buttons on work boots or the suspenders worn over shirts.


Can You Remove Jean Rivets?

If there’s one thing that can ruin a good pair of jeans, it’s a jeans rivet. The metal studs are meant to reinforce the stress points on your jeans so they last longer and retain their shape. But after you’ve worn them in, they just look dirty and unpleasant.

Unfortunately, you can’t remove a jean rivet without damaging the material around it, but the original manufacturer probably wouldn’t have installed it if they weren’t supposed to come out.

To remove a jean rivet, you’ll need a pair of pliers and something to hammer with. You may also need some replacement rivets if your jeans are manufactured with them. Finally, make sure you have an old pair of jeans on hand to practice on before trying this on your new pair.

Start by pinching the tip of the rivet with your pliers and using something hard to hammer it flat. Once it’s flat enough for you to reach inside the denim, pull it out with your fingers or needle-nose pliers if necessary. If you don’t have replacement rivets handy, push a small piece of aluminum foil into the hole so no one will notice that it’s missing.


What Metal Is Used in Jeans?

Rivets are metal fasteners used for attaching things together. They look like little studs with a flat head and can be made of many different materials, such as steel, aluminum, or brass.

The majority of jeans use brass rivets, either solid or with a brass core and zinc coating.

 

Levi's Men's 559 Relaxed Straight Fit Jean - 36W x 32L - Cash - Stretch

 

Some jeans have silver-colored, copper-colored, or golden metal rivets, which are decorative for many people. They also come in gold-colored metal and painted plastic.


What Is the Point of the Small Pocket in Jeans?

Jeans are made with a lot of special features that make them really easy to wear. For example, there’s a small pocket on the back right-hand side of the waistband that most people don’t even know about. It’s probably been there since your jeans were first made and yet, chances are you’ve never used it.

You may remember when your mom told you that this pocket was created to hold your wallet or keys while riding a horse, but that’s not true at all. So what is the pocket for?

The pocket on jeans is also called a watch pocket because it was originally designed for men to keep their pocket watches in while riding horses. The watch would be kept safe from falling out by a small metal rivet that would attach the watch to the jean’s pocket. The watch could be removed from the pocket easily by unfastening the metal rivet when it was time to check the time.


In summary, Rivets, also known as jeans buttons, are the little metal fasteners that are found on denim jeans. They are the shiny things that can be seen on the back pockets and around the waist of a pair of jeans.

Rivets have been used for hundreds of years in many different ways, but today they are mainly used for design in clothing. Rivets are popularly found on jeans because they add style to the garment and create a unique look.

You may also be interested in… Why Do Cowboys Starch Their Jeans? and Why Are Jeans So Popular?