Selvedge denim--not to be confused with salvaged denim—has carved a niche for itself in the industry. A popular fabric for high-quality jeans, selvedge is woven or knit. As a result, the material remains solid. No fraying or curling. This technique is formed by using a shuttle loom. When selvedge denim is used for jeans, the finished edges are created by the loom and are without the overlocked edges normally found on alternate jeans.
The construction of the denim in this form is quite strong. It may cost a little more, but it is worth the effort. When the material is not in the selvedge category, a lower standard cotton is involved. Designers and businesses in the know, such as 3x1 Denim, are standing by the idea of selvedge (or self-edge). The quality is high and demand is growing.