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A look at what’s new within the denim industry. 

Credit: Photo courtesy of Maurices denim.

Last year marked the 150^th anniversary since filed its patent for blue jeans. Since then, jeans have become a mainstay of the fashion world.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Maurices denim.

&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Denim has become a staple in everyone’s closet,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; says Swati Kelkar, chief product officer at women&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s clothing retail chain . &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;It used to be considered a casual weekend staple, but as we have seen many lines of work losing formal dress codes, particularly in this post-Covid-19 atmosphere, denim is now a staple in offices everywhere. Because denim comes in a multitude of styles, sizes, and colors, it can be dressed up or down and is considered a neutral clothing piece.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;The design of jeans is perfect for a casual and fashionable look, providing an easy life, and it is maintenance free, comfortable to wear and is durable,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; says Roshan Paul, senior program manager at the , Germany, and editor of Denim: Manufacture, Finishing and Applications. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;The international appeal of jeans is among all age classes and it is liked by everyone, everywhere, anytime, is genderless, ageless, and is the ever-blue favorite of generations—both young and old.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Let’s take a look at some of the latest trends in the denim industry helping denim continue its reign as king of fashion.

Make It Stretch

Credit: Photo courtesy Cone Denim.

One of the biggest trends in the denim industry right now is stretch, says denim industry consultant Scott Wagner. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;It&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s gone from a specialty product to a commodity product now,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; he explains. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;It&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s usually 1% spandex or elastane fiber when they&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;re going for the comfort stretch—the higher stuff is anywhere from 2% to 5%. It used to be purely in women&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s and now it&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s going over to men&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s, too &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8230; a lot of times for menswear they won&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;t call it stretch—they&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;ll call it flex or comfort.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Sean Cormier, chair of the Textile Development and Marketing program at the (FIT), says stretch has been the most important attribute added to denim. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;And the nice part about stretch is that it is all about the fit,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; he continues. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Ladies want it to fit just right and the only way to really get it to fit just right is to have that stretch component, so stretch has been a big part.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Sizes For All

With size inclusivity a big trend throughout the fashion industry, stretch also helps denim fit a wider range of sizes.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Maurices denim.

&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;From the fabric side we are seeing a trend towards high stretch and low growth fabrics that would be applied in a &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8216;one size fits&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217; range of sizes garment,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; says Caitlyn Holt, director of sustainable product innovation and marketing at textile manufacturing company . &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;This is a revolutionary idea for ever-changing bodies. When we initiate a development for a new stretch fabric, we have filters in mind of &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8216;can this fabric be suitable across sizes, gender, silhouette&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

However, Mallorie Dunn, adjunct professor for the Fashion Department undergraduate program and Continuing Education and Professional Studies Department at FIT, says in her opinion, as is with the rest of the fashion industry, the denim industry is not doing enough when it comes to size inclusion.

&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Size inclusivity being a trend is an unfortunate state of affairs,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; she explains. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;People of all sizes have always existed and will always exist. Making clothing to fit the reality of human beings should not be a trend or a marketing push but a smart business decision and careful, thoughtful action.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Dunn says the research she has conducted on the top jean companies show while they do make plus size jeans, they&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;re not treating that average consumer, or majority plus size consumer, as their main audience or customer. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;The average US woman currently has a 38.9 in waist,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; she continues. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;By continuing to not fully commit to catering to plus size consumers—who are the majority of the US population—brands are not actively or thoughtfully participating in inclusion and they will continue to see negative monetary effects from doing so.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Focus on Sustainability

Credit: Photo courtesy Cone Denim.

Another trend throughout the entire fashion world is sustainability and how to make products more environmentally-friendly.

&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Denim production was/is not always environmentally friendly,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; Paul explains. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;It creates major issues during the denim yarn dyeing and also during the washing. Low liquor dyeing or print-dyeing or digital printing could reduce the dye effluent load. Recycling denim jeans and garments without removing the color could also be a good option. Regarding the washing effects, there exist several environmentally friendly and reduced water washing technologies, such as ozone fading, laser treatment, nanobubble technology, (and) new enzyme formulations.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

Credit: Photo courtesy Cone Denim.

Holt says at Cone Denim they have become more sustainable than ever. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;We recently reported that we have achieved a 62.9% water savings from 2016 to 2023,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; she details. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;We have joined the , installed a state of the art facility and purchased new, more sustainable finishing equipment all to reduce our water consumption. Cone Denim has verified Science Based Targets and we are committed to be .&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

And Kelkar says maurices is also doing their part as they use seven recycled bottles or more in every pair of their Everflex jeans along with many of their edgely and m jeans by maurices collections. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;This has kept 29 million—and counting—water bottles out of the waste stream,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; she adds. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Also, every year we offer a denim give-back program where customers can bring in a gently worn pair of jeans to our stores and we donate them to local organizations in the community.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

The Future of Denim

As for the future of the denim industry, Wagner says the number one thing for US brands will be traceability. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Being able to trace the product and supply chain from basically before the mill all the way through until it lands on the shelf—that&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s the goal of everybody,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; he explains.

Credit: Photo courtesy of Maurices denim.

Wager also believes we will start to see denim products engineered so metal parts like zippers and buttons are easier to remove for easier recycling. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Now you would have to literally cut out the rivets and metal zippers or the buttons; so, if you engineer it correctly, you&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;ll be able to get it out very easily and then make it easier to recycle,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; he adds.

And Cormier predicts the trend of customizing jeans will continue, but unlike the rips and tears of old, this time they are done in-store with mini lasers. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;You can bring in a flash drive with a print on there and actually print or etch out your own design and make those denim jeans personable, like a little rose or &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8230; maybe your name,&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221; he adds. &/aatccnews_2024_09a/8220;Who knows what the future is, but I do believe it&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s about personalization—how can you make your product a little bit different than somebody else&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8217;s. Everybody wants to be noticed and this is a great way to have somebody say, oh, how did you do that? Where did you get those jeans? Those are the things that make people happy.&/aatccnews_2024_09a/8221;

ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ the Author

 is a journalist, editor, and freelance writer with more than 25-years’ experience. A former associate editor for Nonwovens Industry, her byline can be found in a variety of consumer and trade publications, with past and current clients including Medical News Today, IAAPA’s Funworld Magazine, Rinksider Magazine, International Bowling Industry magazine, and HomeTalk.com, as well as ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥Review and ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥News.