needed for dyeing, came from indigo bush plantations in India, until replaced by indigo synthesis methods developed in Germany in 1878.

Research on the trade of jean fabric shows that it emerged in the city of Genoa, Italy, in the 16th century, followed by Nîmes, France, in the 17th century. Genoa's jeans fabric was a fustian textile of "medium quality and of reasonable cost", very similar to cotton corduroy