It’s the classic catch-22. You can’t build denim without having denim, and you sometimes can’t get denim as a student without a denim history. So where do you start?

Nowadays, denim is required for almost everything from getting a cell phone, to renting an apartment and applying for a car or student loan. Fortunately, one of the best times to build denim is when you’re still in school. Here’s what you need to know when applying for your first denim card.