7 Denim Brands That Are Really Worth Your Money

Still Here built its reputation on the "Cool Jean" – a low-rise, drawstring style constructed without a traditional waistband, worn by everyone from Hailey Bieber to Zoë Kravitz. It's cut from the brand's own Cloud fabric – a 100% cotton denim woven to feel unusually soft and airy. Aesthetically, the brand trades on nostalgia: fades, rips and hand-painted patches, inspired by the founder's memories of her father's old jeans. It's vintage in spirit but with a considered, design-led finish – the appeal lies in how lived-in it feels from day one.

Visit STILLHERE.NYC 

What makes this brand different is it tracks its water usage from fibre through to finished garment, favouring laser and ozone finishing over the traditional washing processes that use far more of it. Aesthetically, it's cool New York denim – think classic silhouettes, flattering stretch and a wearability that never feels overworked. It’s denim that feels genuinely considered rather than simply marketed as such.

Visit DL1961.COM 

Founded by Jac Cameron, previously creative director at Ayr, Rùadh launched in October 2024 following two decades of denim industry experience. Rather than relying on traditional advertising, Cameron worked directly with a handful of fashion Substack writers – including Leandra Medine – to introduce the brand to a built-in, trusted audience. Meanwhile, the aesthetic favours precise, considered silhouettes, including straight-leg, trouser-inspired and barrel shapes.

Visit RUADH.COM

Founded in Sweden in 2018 by Lena Patriksson Keller and Jonas Clason, JEANERICA delivers exactly what its name promises: considered Scandinavian denim-house sensibility without excess or embellishment. To look at, it's pared-back and utilitarian – classic five-pocket shapes, muted washes, nothing shouting for attention – so it reads less like a fashion brand and more like an atelier.

Visit JEANERICA.COM 

Lousin was founded by Louisa McCutcheon to solve a frustration most women know intimately: the difficulty of finding jeans that actually fit. Operating across London, Amsterdam and Berlin with an all-female team, the brand spent over two years refining its approach before launching. It starts with a 60-second online quiz, assessing waist size, inseam and waistband gap to place each customer within one of three core shapes – Straight, Wide or Slim – eliminating the need for hemming altogether. Plus, the focus remains on clean, classic denim rather than statement washes, letting the fit do all the talking.

Visit LOUSINAPPAREL.COM 

Aussie label Henne was founded in 2019 by Nadia Bartel, Michelle Ring and Laura Broque, and it taps into that distinctly Australian cool-girl vibe – effortless, understated, never trying too hard. Its aesthetic draws on "Nordic sensibility, Italian expression and Australian effortlessness", with everything built around minimalist, versatile silhouettes rather than trends. The denim comes in a range of lengths, including regular and petite – making it a particularly strong option for shorter women.

Visit HENNE.COM

Haikure has carved out a lane entirely its own with its distressed hems, faded washes and boyfriend-loose fits that look like they’ve been worn-in for years, not weeks. It's grunge with polish, and it's exactly why the label has found such a natural home on NET-A-PORTER. Founded in 2011 and backed by C&S Srl, a manufacturer with roots going back to 1981, that fashion edge comes with real industry expertise.

Visit HAIKURE.COM