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Forever in blue jeans: Sidney’s Cotton and Blues is home to the casual

Blue jeans, or something like them, existed long before the blue colored denim pants were patented in 1873 by the enterprising Jacob David and Levi Strauss. The tough hard wearing fabric was the perfect choice for cowboys, miners, and anyone who worked in hard manual labour.
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Anna Savage shows off some of the merchandise at Cottons and Blues, Sidney’s signature shop for blue jeans and casual wear. (Tim Collins/News staff)

Blue jeans, or something like them, existed long before the blue colored denim pants were patented in 1873 by the enterprising Jacob David and Levi Strauss. The tough hard wearing fabric was the perfect choice for cowboys, miners, and anyone who worked in hard manual labour.

The pants had to be as tough as the men wearing them.

No longer confined to those working class origins, dungarees have had various incarnations. From the exaggerated bell-bottomed monstrosities of the hippie era to the skin tight iterations of today, to pre-worn and ripped fashion choices that still befuddle an older generation, blue jeans have survived and thrived.

The same might be said of Sidney’s own home for everything denim and casual, Cottons and Blues.

Established in 1979, the store features more than 70 styles of jeans from fashion leaders like Mavi, Silver, Lola, and FDJ, and the owner/operators of Cottons and Blues, Kathy Clarke and Anna Savage, explained that the range of blue jean fashion is a response to the garment’s role as a fashion statement.

“From boot-cut to skinny-jeans, and from mid-rise to super-low, there are all kinds of styles and we’re here to find the perfect fit for everybody’s body type and lifestyle,” said Savage.

But the fashion choices at Cotton and Blue don’t stop at blue jeans. They’ve a long history in the beach/surf category of clothing and take a great deal of pride in offering an extensive collection of casual garments for the whole family. From locally made West Coast T’s to Billabong, O’Neill and Hurley styles, the feel is one of casual attitude blended with great quality clothing.

“We’ve been around for 39 years and, really, it just comes down to accommodating the community as it grows and changes. But some of the traditional services never go out of style. We do our own in-house hemming on jeans. Where else do you get that these days?” said Clarke.

It’s a casual philosophy and a love of what they do that makes Cottons and Blues a success, said Savage.

(The Peninsula News Review handed out its 12th annual Reader’s Choice awards Tuesday, July 11 at Church and State Wines. Cotton and Blues is a top finisher in both men’s and women’s clothing categories.)