Jeans worn by Janet Jackson in "Love Will Never Do (Without You)" music video: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A pair of light wash denim jeans, size 27, designed by Katharine Hamnett and worn by Janet Jackson in the music video for "Love Will Never Do (Without You)." The jeans are artificially distressed and have large rips and holes over both knees and below each buttock. The tear below the left buttock runs nearly the width of the leg. There are also rips in the left leg hole and artificial wear on the right leg, and a hole in the back right pocket. On inside of waistband is a label that reads [KATHARINE HAMNETT / DENIM]. Also inside waistband are size and care tags. Size tag is red stitching on green fabric reading [27]. Beneath size tag is care tag, black print on white fabric, noting [100% COTONE] and [MADE IN ITALY]. Metal button at top of fly depicts a seated figure with bird in proper right hand and Greek letters at bottom.

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1989
• Designed by: Katharine Hamnett, born 1947
• Worn by: Janet Jackson, American, born 1966
• Type: jeans
• Medium: denim with metal
• Dimensions: H x W (flat): 37 13/16 × 27 3/16 in. (96 × 69 cm)
• Place made: Italy, Europe
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Clothing and dress
• Topic: Costume
• Topic: Fashion
• Topic: Popular music
• Topic: Rhythm and blues (Music)
• Topic: Singers (Musicians)
• Object number: 2021.28.1.2
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown – Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.