This is a question we have been asked with increasing frequency by our readers. And the answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on what kind of denim fashion jeans are made of.
Remember, there are the “true” denim heads out there as well as the fashion loving jeans wearer. The difference?
We’re breaking it down for you right here – scroll down to find out:-)
What Denim Really Is:
A sturdy cotton twill fabric, usually woven with indigo-dyed warp yarns (blue) and white weft yarns. Classic denim has a diagonal ribbing on the inside and is usually 100% cotton (though many brands now add elastane for comfort).
What “Fashion Jeans” Are:
Fashion jeans may or may not be woven from traditional denim. Instead, they often use stretch blends (cotton + polyester + elastane) which are softer and more form-fitting.
Twill substitutes which are fabrics that look like denim but are lighter or synthetic.
Coated fabrics like waxed, metallic, or leather-look finishes on cotton twill.
“Novelty” fabrics – think brocade, jacquard, or even jersey knit made to resemble jeans (jeggings are the most extreme case).
To sum it up, The Key Difference:
Workwear denim jeans are almost always made of real denim (selvedge, raw, or washed). While fashion jeans prioritize style and novelty over fabric authenticity. They might be denim, but sometimes they’re just denim-inspired trousers in other fabrics.
Below you can find a quick guide to spotting whether jeans are true denim or just denim-inspired fashion pieces.
Check the Fabric Label
True Denim: Usually says 100% cotton (sometimes with 1-3% elastane for stretch).
Fashion Jeans: Often include polyester, viscose, rayon, or high elastane content (5%+). That means the jeans are usually made of a much thinner fabric and feel softer, almost like leggings.
Look at the Weave
True Denim has a diagonal twill weave inside – you see the classic white weft threads running diagonally.
Fashion Jeans – If the inside looks flat, smooth, or knitted (like leggings), it’s not authentic denim.
Inspect the Edges
True Denim (selvedge) – clean woven edge with colored ID lines at the seams (mostly red, blue, or green).
Non-selvedge denim still frays like cotton twill but won’t have the colored lines at the seams.
Fashion Jeans – may have raw-cut hems which don’t fray much (synthetic blends) or edges sealed with glue/heat.
Rule of thumb:
It’s real denim if it feels like workwear – it’ll only get better with age.
It’s fashion-inspired if it feels like leggings or just trousers styled like jeans.
At the end, it really depends on what you want from your jeans, because fashion jeans and real denim serve different purposes. Generally we end up with both: real denim for timeless wear and fashion jeans when we want something fun, flattering, or fashion-forward.
Buy real denim when you want a wardrobe foundation (jeans you’ll wear for years). And buy fashion jeans when you want trendy fashion jeans – let’s say – jeans that feel more like an outfit than a staple.
Below you can check out our team’s suggestions for “real” and “fashion” jeans
Selvedge Jeans
ORSLOW Slim Fit Selvedge Jeans ($320)
We The Free Slim Fit Selvedge Jeans ($148)
Regular Cotton Non-Selvedge Jeans
Elwood Non-Stretch Baggy Jeans ($95)
Icon Denim LA Poppy Jeans ($195)
Fashion Jeans
Dolce & Gabbana Distressed Skinny Jeans ($687)
DL1961 Halle Instasculpt Straight-Leg Jeans ($219)
The post Are “Fashion” Jeans Really Denim? first appeared on Denimology.
DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site