Best Denim Brands: Luxury and Designer Jeans Brands
The best denim brands fall into four groups: luxury houses like Gucci and Saint Laurent, designer labels like A.P.C. and Acne Studios, premium denim specialists like AGOLDE and 7 For All Mankind, and heritage makers like Diesel. Which is best for you depends on whether you want fashion detail, clean design or a refined everyday fit.
How the best jeans brands compare
| Group | What you get | Brands |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury houses | Runway shapes, hardware and house codes | Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent |
| Designer labels | A clear point of view, from minimal to distressed | A.P.C., Acne Studios, AMIRI, DSQUARED2, Maison Margiela, KHAITE, Our Legacy |
| Premium denim specialists | Jeans first, with close attention to fit and wash | 7 For All Mankind, AGOLDE, MOTHER, FRAME, Citizens of Humanity, RE/DONE, Jacob Cohën, Haikure, Purple Brand |
| Heritage | Long-running denim makers with strong washes | Diesel |
Luxury jeans brands
Luxury houses treat denim as part of a full collection. Expect strong house codes and runway silhouettes. Shop all luxury denim.
Gucci. Founded in Florence in 1921, Gucci makes expressive, archive-led denim. Look for Web trims, horsebit hardware, GG jacquards and 1970s silhouettes. It is one of the jeans brands we stock in most depth.
Balenciaga. The Paris house, founded in 1917, makes oversized, baggy denim. Washes are deep and finishes look lived-in.
Saint Laurent. Founded in Paris in 1961, Saint Laurent makes lean, rock and roll denim in black and clean blues. It is a reference point for a slim black jean.
Designer jeans brands
Designer labels sit between fashion houses and denim specialists. Each has a distinct look. Browse designer denim.
A.P.C.. Founded in Paris in 1987, A.P.C. makes raw and rinsed denim in clean, simple cuts. The jeans are made to fade with wear, so each pair ends up looking like its owner.
Acne Studios. The Stockholm label was founded in 1996 and started with a hundred pairs of jeans. Its denim comes in considered washes and cuts from slim to wide and flared.
AMIRI. Founded in Los Angeles in 2014, AMIRI makes hand-distressed denim with a rock and roll edge. It is made in the USA.
DSQUARED2. Founded in 1995 in Milan by founders from Canada, DSQUARED2 makes heavily distressed Italian denim with rips, repairs and paint. Most styles use Italian or European sizes.
Maison Margiela. The Paris house, founded in 1988, makes deconstructed, conceptual denim. You will know it by the four-stitch label.
KHAITE. Founded in New York in 2016, KHAITE makes strong, flattering jeans.
Our Legacy. Founded in Stockholm in 2005, Our Legacy makes reworked Scandinavian denim.
Premium denim brands
Premium denim brands build their business around jeans. This is where to look for fit, fabric and wash choice. See all premium denim.
7 For All Mankind. Founded in Los Angeles in 2000, 7 For All Mankind makes bootcuts, flares and wide legs. Its soft stretch fabrics hold their shape.
AGOLDE. The Los Angeles brand makes vintage-inspired cuts and washes, from barrel legs to relaxed straights. It is one of the women's denim brands we stock in most depth.
MOTHER. Founded in Los Angeles in 2010, MOTHER makes flattering denim with playful details.
FRAME. Founded in Los Angeles in 2012, FRAME makes clean, flattering denim. Flares, straights and boyfriend cuts are its core.
Citizens of Humanity. Founded in Los Angeles in 2003, Citizens of Humanity makes premium denim with easy shapes.
RE/DONE. Founded in Los Angeles in 2014, RE/DONE makes vintage-minded denim.
Jacob Cohën. The Italian label makes tailored denim, finished like a good suit.
Haikure. The Italian brand makes relaxed jeans in faded washes, lighter on the planet.
Purple Brand. The Los Angeles label specializes in coated and treated denim.
Heritage denim brands
Diesel. Founded in Italy in 1978, Diesel makes bold denim with strong washes and the Oval D logo.
How to choose a denim brand
Decide first what matters most. If you want a statement piece, a luxury house or a designer label like DSQUARED2 or Maison Margiela gives you the most design. If you want the right fit in an everyday cut, a premium denim specialist offers the most choice in rise, leg and wash. If you want jeans that age with you, look at raw denim from A.P.C.
Which denim brand is best for women and for men?
For women, AGOLDE, 7 For All Mankind and MOTHER are the brands we stock in most depth. Shop women's jeans. For men, Gucci, DSQUARED2 and A.P.C. lead. Shop men's jeans. Still choosing between two Los Angeles names? Read AGOLDE vs MOTHER. You can also browse all brands A to Z.
Frequently asked questions
Which jeans brands are considered luxury?
Luxury jeans brands are fashion houses that make denim as part of a full collection. In our store that means houses such as Gucci, founded in Florence in 1921, Balenciaga, founded in Paris in 1917, and Saint Laurent, founded in Paris in 1961. Their jeans carry house codes like hardware, logos and runway shapes.
What is the difference between designer and premium denim?
Designer labels such as A.P.C., Acne Studios and Maison Margiela design denim as part of a wider fashion point of view. Premium denim brands such as AGOLDE, 7 For All Mankind and FRAME focus on jeans first. Premium brands usually offer more choice in fit, rise and wash within each cut.
Where do the best denim brands come from?
Many come from Los Angeles, including 7 For All Mankind, AGOLDE, MOTHER, FRAME, Citizens of Humanity and RE/DONE. Italy gives us Diesel, Jacob Cohën and Haikure. Paris has A.P.C., Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Maison Margiela. Stockholm has Acne Studios and Our Legacy. KHAITE is from New York.
Which denim brand is best for raw denim?
A.P.C. is the brand to start with. Founded in Paris in 1987, it makes raw and rinsed denim in clean, simple cuts that fade with wear. Raw denim starts stiff and dark, then softens and develops creases that follow how you move. Wear it often and wash it rarely.