List #33- All the denim I buy and where I buy it from
I’m obsessed with jeans. I buy them whenever I can and I’m building an extensive collection. I wear jeans almost every day and I barely own any other pants besides leggings.
In my hunt for the perfect pair, I have found that few brands hold up to my standards (which are high). I want my jeans to have grit. To have texture and depth, as they were meant to be.
This list is longer than five things because this is my firm (as of now) list of exactly where I buy denim.
In particular, recently I’ve been into Japanese denim, which is some of the highest quality in the world. You will find a few places listed below carrying premium Japanese denim and I highly recommend checking them out.
As always, prices on these lists vary! I try to make sure I cover everything.
I will say, if you’re ready to spend more on denim, the Japanese denim is the best of the best.
Here we go:
Brand: SugarCane Jeans
“Uniquely Japanese denim made from — you guessed it- sugar cane. For many years, SugarCane Jeans were a ferociously guarded Japanese secret but today the brand is attracting global attention. Interestingly, SugarCane prefer to use the vintage term ‘dungarees’ in preference to the term ‘jeans’ to describe their product: “The word ‘jeans’ has become the vernacular for faux denim fashion wear that masquerades as the tough, classic waist overalls history made famous.””
“COS offers a wardrobe of ready-to-wear and accessories rooted in exceptional quality and lasting design. The creative soul of the brand is fuelled by a deep connection to modern culture, dynamic global cities and compelling fashion movements.”
“At Nudie Jeans, we only use certified organic cotton, meaning that we reduce our environmental impact from the very first step in the process of making a pair of jeans. Grown without any artificial fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified seeds, organic farming methods eliminate the risks associated with hazardous chemicals used in conventional cotton farming. But it’s not just in the manufacturing process that we’re trying to reduce our impact. Every pair of organic cotton jeans comes with free repairs forever. So whatever men’s fit you choose, you can rest assured your jeans will become more beautiful over time – the more you wear them, the more you repair them.”
“By Kiya and Demitra Babzani, Self Edge is the most extensive destination for the world's finest men's denim, shirts and leather accessories, all with a distinct aesthetic and details that are second to none. With locations in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Portland, and Mexico, Self Edge offers casual menswear with an emphasis on the absolute best quality regardless of the type of garment or accessory. In addition, they provide a full range of repair and hemming services which are all done in-house on their own vintage Union Special and Singer darning machines.”
“We're a bit obsessed with denim—okay, maybe a lot obsessed. But that's because we are committed to sourcing and crafting only the most unique and exceptional denim fabrics from prestigious Japanese mills. These mills aren’t just fancy—they’re legendary. They blend old-school heritage with modern methods and practices. So much culture and history is poured into the fabric so that it can be appreciated by the denim purist.
Our approach is straightforward: we keep denim raw, authentic, and free from unnecessary embellishments or treatments. That means no pre-distressing, no flashy embroidery, and no fancy washes. We skip the celebrity endorsements and expensive ad campaigns, investing instead in quality fabrics and precise construction to deliver the best denim at accessible prices.”
You know Levi’s. I think they’re the most perfect jeans if you’re looking for more affordable prices, and they’re classics.
Well-priced, great denim. Not nearly as great quality as Japanese denim, but if you’re looking for a better price point, they do the trick.
They do not have a wide selection (just one pair right now) and they’re technically called “dungarees”, but Gamine has some of my FAVORITE types of denim. It’s not cheap but worth every wear.