Your Guide To The ‘Made In LA’ Denim Craze

If you’re even a casual denim fan, then you are probably aware of the ‘Made in LA’ denim craze. Though the trend is certainly not new and people have been making jeans in Los Angeles for decades, the last three years have seen major spike in production and marketing. As the conscious fashion movement has grown, dozens of small brands that, you guessed it, use ‘Made in LA’ as their selling point, have continued to pop up one after another.

Why? Well, there are a few answers, all of them are connected. For starters, many of the smaller brands we see today are actually under the umbrella of some of the LA denim brands started in the early 2000s. Citizens of Humanity, for example, now owns Agolde, Goldsign, and Fabric Brand, and produces them mainly in their factory. Grlfrnd Denim is owned by Revolve, which both designs and produces in Los Angeles as well.

What’s more, with significant problems regarding unfair and dangerous labor practices in the fashion industry, there has been a more public push toward transparency in manufacturing. For American brands looking to have a closer connection to their factories, Los Angeles has the infrastructure to accommodate them.

But with all of these different brands coming up in your explore page it can be hard to keep track of which is doing it right. And, let’s face it, sometimes denim is denim, and it’s difficult to tell the brands apart. Below, we broke down some of our favorite denim companies from the last few years, plus some great pieces to buy this summer.

Boyish Jeans

Boyish Jeans was started in 2018 and touts itself as an ethical and sustainable denim brand. On their website, they break down everything from fabric sourcing to how much water goes into making each pair of jeans.

Grlfrnd Denim

Grlfrnd Denim was started by Revolve in 2016. Their curve-hugging styles have made them a go-to Instagram brand.

Agolde

Agolde is owned by Citizens of Humanity and is the brand’s younger, cooler sister. Here, you’re going to find great cut-offs, cute jumpers, and everything you need for a casual weekend look.

DSTLD

DSTLD Denim was started by designers Corey Epstein and Mark Lynn as a way to bring quality pieces at affordable prices into the market. If I had to categorize them, they would be the model-off-duty denim of the city.

Re/Done

What makes Re/Done different from all the other top LA denim brands is that their clothing is all recycled (they have partnered with Levi’s to create new styles using vintage denim). The catch? It comes at a price. Many of the styles (beloved by Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and co.) can run around $300 and up.

Reformation

Reformation is quite possibly the most well known of the ‘Made in LA’ bunch, but not necessarily for their denim. The ethical and sustainable brand says the majority of their clothing is made in the LA factories, save for some items made in China.