Jeans often develop ripples, puckering, or wrinkles after washing—and it’s usually not random. Most modern jeans are made from a blend of cotton and stretch fibers like elastane, which react differently under stress.
The main culprit is heat. Hot water in the washer or high heat in the dryer can damage elastane, causing the surrounding denim to warp. Once this distortion happens, it’s often permanent.
Overwashing also plays a role. Washing jeans too frequently weakens the fibers and leads to uneven shrinkage, especially in stretch denim.
