How to personalise a denim jacket?

Do you have a denim jacket that you want to decorate? Are you looking for some unique ideas to personalise it to match your style? Want some easy tutorials to follow?

I'm here to help you.

As a fashion enthusiast, I've always loved making my clothes my own by personalising them. Whether it's through embroidery, sewing, or just tweaking a detail on an outfit, it's a way to define my own style.

That's why today, I'm sharing with you a bunch of techniques and tips to personalise a simple denim jacket, turning it into a piece of clothing that truly reflects who you are.

To customise a denim jacket, you can embroider floral or abstract patterns using cotton threads. It's also possible to change the buttons or even cover some sections with a patterned fabric. You could add studs or even paint it! All these options will make your garment unique and give it a new lease on life. Whether you're bohemian or rock 'n' roll, crafty or not, there's definitely a way to personalise your denim jacket that suits you!

Want to learn more? Read on in this article to discover:

• Why hippies decorated their denim jackets,
• The unique features of customised clothing,
• A simple tutorial on how to embroider patterns on your denim jacket,
• How to attach studs, buttons, or iron-on patches,
• Tips for painting on your denim jacket.

The customised denim jacket, a legacy of the hippies

Also known as denim, jeans are a fabric known for their durability and longevity. This is why, at the beginning of the 20th century, they were primarily seen as workwear for labourers. It wasn't until the 1960s in the USA that jeans began to be worn on a daily basis. This change was largely thanks to the hippies, who decided to reinvent jeans by customizing them to express their ideals of freedom and pacifist values. Denim clothing, particularly jackets, became adorned with colourful patterns featuring plants, slogans, and abstract designs. On their jackets, hippies proudly displayed what made them unique.

This tradition was revived in the 1980s by motorcyclists, who customised denim jackets with studs and inscriptions to signify their belonging to the community.

Today, with the return of the bohemian trend, which draws directly from the hippie movement, there's a strong desire to personalise clothing. Does this idea appeal to you? Now's the time to give it a go!

Why personalise your denim jacket?

As we mentioned, the denim jacket is a highly fashionable item that can be worn every day and paired with a variety of outfits.

👉 Wondering how to wear it in style? Check out our dedicated article, where you'll find plenty of outfit ideas to suit any body shape and taste.

Customising your denim jacket allows you to make it your own:

• It becomes one-of-a-kind and unlike anything else,
• This allows you to express your style, showcasing who you really are,
• You can easily coordinate it with the rest of your wardrobe,
• This makes it an iconic piece in your closet,
• It’s a durable garment that you can enjoy for years!

4 Ideas to Personalise Your Denim Jacket

Want to make your clothing unique? In the following lines, you'll find several ideas to inspire you. It's up to you to choose the one that suits you best!

Bohème Style: How to Embroider on a Denim Jacket?

Embroidery is a delicate and stylish way to personalise your denim jacket. Embroidered designs are long-lasting and withstand washing. To express your bohemian side, you can embellish your jacket with colourful flowers and swirls.

Are you worried about not being able to stitch? Of course, if you're a beginner, intricate and elaborate designs might be out of your reach without some practice. However, it is completely possible, even if you’ve never held a needle before, to start creating simple and adorable patterns.

I recommend sketching out your customisation project first, selecting your colours and details, before heading out to buy your embroidery threads and needles. Then, here’s how to proceed:

🔸 Make sure to wash your fabric well and find a bright spot to settle in,

🔸 Start by stitching the centre of your designs, then work your way outwards. There are many simple embroidery stitches detailed in this video:

🔸 This other tutorial offers cute and easy patterns to make:

🔸 You can also add some beads, charms… to give your jacket some flair!

👉 Want to jazz up your jacket with a complex design but lacking the time or skills? There are also iron-on patches that you can buy online or at a craft store. Just place the patch where you want it and iron on the reverse side. This way, you can easily personalise your jacket!

Edit the details of your jacket

Another way to personalise your clothing is by modifying certain elements to make them unique.

In haberdasheries, whether online or in-store, you can find custom denim buttons. These can come in various colours and shapes… all you need to do is find what best suits your style. Then, all you require is a workspace, a pair of pliers, and a mallet to remove the old button and replace it.

👉 If you don't want to remove the fasteners from your jacket, you can also hunt for original buttons that you can sew directly onto the fabric, just to make it look nice.

Do you have a lovely piece of fabric? You can also sew it onto your jacket:

• on the back between the shoulders,
• on the sleeves,
• by creating fringes for an even more bohemian look!

For a grunge effect, go for studs!

Are you a fan of rock 'n' roll culture? Show off your passion by decorating your denim jacket with studs. You can find them in most craft stores and haberdasheries. They're quite affordable and make it easy to personalise your clothing.

To secure them, it's really easy! Here's a short video that shows you the process:

To complete your look, once the studs are in place, you can add some badges or iron-on patches that showcase your beliefs, your favourite bands, or even designs that reflect your personality!

Can you paint a denim jacket? If so, how?

Would you like to design a pattern and paint it onto your jacket? It's definitely possible; you just need to choose a paint that can withstand washing and lasts over time. For this, I recommend using acrylic paints as well as Posca markers, which allow you to create precise patterns. As for the paints, you can find them directly at craft stores.

Once your jacket is cleaned, you can outline your designs using a chalk pen and then start painting from the centre.

Here’s an example:

👰 Attention future brides: personalised denim jackets have become very trendy in recent years and provide a perfect solution for those looking for something to wear on their wedding day. They fit beautifully with a modern, bohemian, or romantic ceremony and will give you a keepsake to wear later! You can customise it with a message about the wedding, your name, the date of the event, and more...

Where to find a personalised denim jacket?

Don't have the time to customise your jacket yourself? It can be tricky to find a decorated denim jacket in-store, but thankfully there are specialist websites that offer such products.

So, I invite you to take a look at our collection of bohemian jackets, where you’ll find some of the styles featured in the illustrations on this site. You can also find on our site original clothing to complement your jacket and create a unique style!

Tunic and blouse

I hope this guide has helped you figure out how to customise your denim jacket. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments: I’d love to hear them!

And for those who are looking to complete their denim look with a denim skirt, you can check out this blog article dedicated entirely to it now!