An edit

Designer denim

Raw Japanese selvedge, flared silhouettes, distressed cuts and washed jackets.

Designer denim pairs heritage selvedge weaving and sturdy workwear cuts with sharp runway tailoring. Deep indigo and washed blue cotton trousers anchor the wardrobe through wide leg silhouettes. Heavyweight raw canvas and copper rivets give each jacket structure that softens with steady wear.

Jeans began as riveted work trousers, patented by Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis for miners and labourers in the American West. Amiri makes its distressed jeans in Los Angeles, while Ksubi was started on Sydney's Northern Beaches by surfers who could not find jeans that fit. DIESEL, founded in Italy by Renzo Rosso in the late seventies, helped make washed and distressed denim a fashion.

Wide trousers look sharp balanced against fitted knit tops or crisp white shirting. Due West in Toronto carries most of the jeans, from COOR, DIESEL, Purple Brand and Ksubi. Utopia adds Amiri, and WDLT117 adds MM6 Maison Margiela and Marine Serre.

Common questions

What sets selvedge cloth apart from standard denim?
Heavy shuttle looms weave dense cotton with a clean edge that resists unravelling. Collectors value the natural texture and distinct fade lines that develop over years of wear.
How do you balance wide leg denim cuts?
Pair loose cotton trousers with trim shirts or fine sweaters to maintain proportion. Heavy leather boots or flat soled sneakers support the fuller hems cleanly.
Where do distressed washes originate?
Subcultures adopted hard wearing work trousers for durability and rebellious style. Designers draw on punk distressing, western jackets and vintage workwear roots.