What is the side loop on jeans for?

Many have noticed that some models of jeans have a strange fabric loop on the side. Its purpose is quite practical: it is a holder for a hammer. This detail was first used on carpenter jeans — jeans specifically designed for carpenters and builders. The craftsman could insert the hammer into the loop, have free hands for work, but at the same time always keep the tool at hand.

Carpenter jeans appeared in the late 19th – early 20th century in the USA as workwear. They were made of sturdy denim, had reinforced seams, additional patch pockets for nails, pencils, or tape measures, and most importantly — a practical loop on the side. All of this made them indispensable for physical labor.

Over time, utilitarian clothing moved beyond job sites. In the 1980s and 1990s, carpenter jeans became popular among rappers, skateboarders, and youth seeking freedom of expression. The work aesthetic merged with street culture, and the hammer loop, which once symbolized labor, transformed into a fashion accent.

Today, such jeans are returning to designers' collections as part of the workwear style. This is an example of how details created for utilitarian purposes can become elements of fashion: what was once a tool holder is now a recognizable feature of style.