Did you know ?  The link between the two types of cotton (‘jean’ and ‘denim’) goes back very far. In the 19th century, an American mail order catalogue (Lewis & Hanford's -NY), offers in 1849 overcoats in coloured ‘jean’, as well as dungarees and suits in ‘denim’. The cotton twill called ‘jean’ is much thicker and resistant, and is therefore more suitable for most work clothes used back then. The ‘denim’ which is lighter, is used for work clothes that need to be comfy and loose, something that the ‘jean’ doesn't offer. Manufacturers are numerous and amongst them we find Amoskeag which has a great reputation. It will supply Levi Strauss with denim as from 1860.