Together With

Breaking Down Bar Tacks

A simple explanation of the importance of bar tack stitching, and why it's present on just about every pair of jeans ever created.

Austin Bryant

It’s interesting to think about how something so simple as a bar tack is so crucial. In the same way that denim itself can be so simple, yet so crucial as a standard in a person’s wardrobe, bar tacks represent an important step in the evolution of denim. But unlike the back cinch, bar tacks still exist because they haven’t been made obsolete.

/ In Partnership with Iron & Resin /

Jump Into Jacquard with Iron and Resin’s Salton Shirt

While jacquard fabrics are woven all year ’round, it’s in fall/winter that the most iconic jacquard cloths come out to play. Adding to this world of whimsical wovens is Iron & Resin‘s Salton Shirt, a 10.5 oz jacquard flannel button-down that balances old west romanticism with true rugged utility.

Reminiscent of 19th-century blankets, Iron & Resin’s custom 10.5 oz jacquard is woven on vintage shuttle looms, imbuing it with the subtle slub and nuanced texture that make authentic jacquards so special. No prints to chip away, no branding; just pure geometric beauty where every yarn is part of the story.

Heavy enough to be an overshirt but not too hefty to simply slip over a tee, the Salton shirt is available in three colorways, each curated with charmingly washed-out tones that echo the eery, sun-baked landscape of the shirt’s namesake; the Salton Sea. Each shirt is constructed with robust double-needle seams, bar-tacked stress points, custom InR metal catseye buttons, and a drawcord locker loop in the neckline for easy storage.

Available at Iron & Resin for $129.

What is a Bar Tack?

A bar tack tight zig-zag stitch that is repeated over and over itself to reinforce an area of fabric. Even though we’re talking about denim here, it’s also used on other clothing items, luggage, and even sneakers. This reinforcement reduces tears, which is all-important in items like a hardwearing garment.

On a pair of jeans, you’ll specifically see bar tacks used around the pockets, belt loops, the fly, and the hips. Collectors of vintage Levi’s can use bar tacks as a litmus test for whether a pair is truly vintage or not; if bar tacks are used on the corners of back pockets in colors differing from the rest of the jeans, then the jeans are likely over 30 years old. Bar tacking is so essential to the production of fabric-based goods that there are specialized machines designed specifically for bar tack stitching.

When done correctly, bar tacks can help products like jeans withstand pressures of up to 400 pounds. Although most pants don’t see that kind of stress, it’s further proof of why people love jeans: the fabric itself and the construction that make a classic pair worth buying means a pair can last years and years. The next time you’re perusing racks of denim, or better yet, pulling on your favorite pair first thing in the morning, look for the classic zig-zag stitch.

Like this? Check out Our Blowout Podcast