How to personalise a denim jacket?

Do you have a denim jacket that you'd like to decorate? Are you looking for some unique ideas to style it according to your taste? Want some easy tutorials to help you out?

I’m here to help you.

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

That's why today, I’m sharing with you a variety of techniques and tips to personalise a plain denim jacket, turning it into a piece that truly reflects your style.

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 certain sections with a funky 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, handy or not, there's definitely a way to personalise your denim jacket that suits you!

Want to know more? Continue reading this article to discover:

• Why hippies decorated their denim jackets,
• What makes a customised garment special,
• 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 mainly seen as workwear reserved for labourers. It was only from the 1960s in the USA that jeans began to be worn on a daily basis. This change can be attributed to the hippies, who decided to reinvent jeans by personalising them to express their ideals of freedom and their pacifist values. Denim clothing, especially jackets, became adorned with colourful patterns featuring plants, inscriptions, and abstract designs. On their jackets, the hippies proudly displayed what made them unique.

This tradition was revived in the 1980s by bikers, who customised denim jackets with studs and patches to show their belonging to the community.

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

Why personalise your denim jacket?

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

👉 Are you wondering how to style it? Check out our dedicated article, where you'll find plenty of outfit ideas, no matter your body shape or personal style.

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

• It becomes unique and stands out from the rest,
• This allows you to express your style, showcasing who you really are,
• You can easily match 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 to come!

4 Ideas for Customising Your Denim Jacket

Do you want to make your clothing unique? In the following lines, you'll find various inspirations. It's up to you to choose the one that resonates with you the most!

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 showcase your bohemian side, you can embellish your jacket with colourful flowers and swirls.

Are you worried about not being able to embroider? Of course, if you're a beginner, intricate and complex designs may seem out of reach without some practice. However, it is completely possible to start creating simple and cute patterns even if you've never held a needle before.

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

🔸 Wash your fabric thoroughly and set yourself up in a bright area,

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

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

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

👉 Would you like to decorate your jacket with a complex pattern, but you don't have the time or skills? There are also iron-on embroideries that you can buy online or at a haberdashery. Simply place the design where you want it and press it with an iron on the back. This way, you can easily personalise your jacket!

Edit the details of your jacket

Another way to personalise your clothing is by changing 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 the ones that best match your style. Then, you just need a work surface, some pliers, and a mallet to remove the old button and replace it.

👉 If you prefer not to remove the fasteners from your jacket, you can also search for unique buttons that you can sew directly onto the fabric, just to give it a nice touch.

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

• in 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? Showcase your passion by decorating your denim jacket with studs. You can find these studs in most haberdasheries and craft stores. They are quite affordable and allow you to easily personalise a garment.

Fixing them is really easy! Here's a short video that explains the process:

To complete your look, once the studs are secured, you can add badges or iron-on patches that represent your beliefs, your favourite bands, or designs that define you!

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

Would you like to design a pattern and paint it on your jacket? It's possible: you just need to choose a paint that is durable and can withstand washing. For this, I recommend using acrylic paints as well as Posca-type markers, which allow for creating detailed patterns. You can find these paints directly at haberdashery stores.

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

Here’s an example:

👰 Attention to all future brides: personalised denim jackets have become quite trendy in recent years and are the perfect solution for those looking for something to wear on their wedding day. They fit in beautifully with a modern, bohemian, or romantic ceremony, and will provide you with a keepsake to wear afterwards! You can customise it with an inscription related to 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 tough to find a decorated denim jacket in stores, but luckily there are specialised websites that offer these products.

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

Tunics and blouses

I hope this guide has helped you discover how to personalise your denim jacket. Feel free to share your ideas in the comments: I'm eager to see what you come up with!

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