An Explanation of the Chemistry That Turns Blue Jeans Blue

The American Chemical Society series Reactions explains the chemistry that turns blue jeans blue. The episode gives a brief explanation of the history of jeans and the indigo dye used to color them. That process is more complicated than just soaking the clothes in dye, and requires the use of an alkali solution and oxidation to give the jeans their signature color.

The science of blue jeans is further explained in an article in Chemical & Engineering News by Lauren Wolf.

Although the episode explains what gives blue jeans their color, it does not address what makes David Bowie‘s Blue Jean blue.