Denim is French. The tough blue cotton twill, which was used by Levi Strauss for his workers’ garments, originated in Nîmes, and was known as de Nîmes – ‘from Nîmes’.
Even the word, jeans, has France to thank for its origin; G̻nes is French for Genova Рthe Italian town which produced a similar hardwearing fabric, which was used by sailors.