Half or more of my friends wore torn, ripped jeans when I was young. It was not a fashion statement, it was all we had. With several older brothers, the only jeans I got that were not torn were a single new pair at Christmas, and that didn't happen every year. I'm not offended or hurt those who buy them that way to look trendy, but I do think far, far less of them.
I remember back in the 60’s we would have patches sewn onto ripped jeans. In the 70’s a sweater style was to have patches at the elbows and they were made that way. Mr. Rogers anyone?