An overview of denim fabric addresses its history, applications, cotton varieties, types of denim, dyeing techniues, washing, and finishing. Denim was named after Nimes, a textile town in the Rhone valley in France in the 16th century. Conventional warp faced denim is woven from 100 percent cotton yarns in counts of 6-16. The warp yarns are indigo dyed, and the filling yarns are undyed. Types of denim included ecru, heavy, ring spun, coarse ring spun, reused, soda pop, sand blast, and bullet hole denim. In addition to indigo, denim can be dyed with vat, sulfur, and reactive dyes. Conventional wet processing techniques for finishing denim include stone washing, acid washing, bleaching, caustic washing, and sand blasting. India has over 7,500 retail stores that sell jeanswear at rates of 50-1,500 pairs of pants per month. 4 refs.