"I'll preface all of the copy with this, you definitely don't need to break this in. It could be hard to believe, seeing the deep indigo color in the photos, imagining the crunchy hand. Document gave these a wash to preserve the darker color but the fabric is soft to the touch without the added use of any poly for stretch or anything. The design is classic and the fit is straight and cozy (cozy jeans? Believe me, they are)."---Kenshawn