Why do jeans need a loop on the side?

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. Such a detail was first used on carpenter jeans <TAG1> jeans designed specifically for carpenters and builders. The craftsman could insert the hammer into the loop, have free hands to work with, but at the same time always keep the tool handy.

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

Eventually, utilitarian clothing expanded beyond the work sites. In the 1980–1990s, carpenter jeans became popular among rappers, skateboarders and youth seeking freedom of expression. Work aesthetics combined with street culture, and the hammer loop, which had previously symbolized labor, evolved into a fashionable accent.

Today, such jeans are returning to the designer collection as part of the workwear style. This is an example of how pieces created for utilitarian purposes can become a fashion element: what was once an instrumental holder is now a recognizable feature of style.