The WEWOREWHAT x Joe’s Jeans Spring 2026 collaboration just launched this past week, It is a Western-inspired denim capsule built around festival and vintage Americana styling.

Designed with Joe’s Jeans for the soon-to-happen festival season…and everything beyond. Denim that takes you everywhere. Effortless, lived-in, and just a little undone.

The brand describes the collection as “denim that takes you everywhere. Effortless, lived-in, and festival-ready.”

This is their second major collaboration with WEWOREWHAT /s Danielle Bernstein and Joe’s Jeans.

The 17-piece collection ranges from $60 classic cotton tops to a $900 showstopping leather fringe jacket.  The whole capsule is now available to shop for on the Joe’s Jeans website.

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Get the Size Wrong, and There’s No Fixing It

I love shrink-to-fit jeans. Most of the one I’ve worn fit brilliantly. But I’ve also made mistakes. 

In the early days of Denimhunters, I convinced Levi’s to send me a stack of LVC 501 jeans—different years, different fabrics—that I had readers wear them for months to see how they shrank and broke in.

Why? I wanted to understand how shrink-to-fit works. 

Because even when you think you’ve got it figured out, unsanforized denim doesn’t behave the same from one pair to the next. And that’s where most people get it wrong.

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The Problem with Shrink-to-Fit

“Just size up, and they’ll shrink to fit.” That’s how shrink-to-fit is often framed—including by Levi’s Vintage Clothing: buy ‘em big, and they’ll shrink down to fit.

But it’s not that simple. Some pairs shrink down to the tagged size. Others start oversized, so you need to size down. And some even require you to size up just to get a comfortable fit.

So when Bryan suggested we should do a shrink-to-fit selvedge guide, I didn’t have to think twice. Because if you don’t know how a specific pair behaves before you buy it, you’re just guessing—and with shrink-to-fit, there are no second chances once they’ve been soaked, you can’t return them.

We’ve rounded up more than a dozen of the best shrink-to-fit selvedge brands—and, more importantly, broken down how each of them shrinks and whether you need to size up, down, or go true to size. This guide helps you get that right the first time.

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The Challenge of Getting the Right Size

Tagged size used to match actual measurements—what’s known as true-to-size (TTS). So a size 34 would measure 34 inches in the waist.

That changed with vanity sizing. Today, a tagged 34 often measures 35, 36 or even 37 inches, depending on the brand. Heritage selvedge brands—especially Japanese repro makers—tend to stick closer to TTS, but there’s no universal standard anymore.

With shrink-to-fit, it gets even trickier. Now you’re not just dealing with whether a brand uses TTS or vanity sizing—you also need to know whether the tagged size refers to the jeans before shrinkage or after.

With that little explainer out of the way, I wanted to share my two cents on a few of the brands in the guide that I’ve actually worn myself.

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Indigofera’s No. 2 “Shrink-to-Prima-Fit” Selvedge

This is one of those cases where the “size up one” rule actually works—if you know your size in the first place.

I’ve owned several pairs of Indigofera’s No. 2 denims—Clints, Kirks, even the Burg & Schild collab. It’s a 16 oz. selvedge with a lot of character; natural slubs and small imperfections. One of my first pairs has two clear weaving flaws, and it’s that kind of detail that makes it even more special to me.

In terms of sizing, you should size up one and expect them to land where you want. I wear a 31 in Indigofera’s sanforized jeans, but I go with a 32 in their shrink-to-fit pairs, and that’s worked consistently for me.

That said, this denim isn’t something you’ll always find in stock. Indigofera doesn’t offer it as a permanent part of the collection, so you need to catch the No. 2 when it’s available. And at this price point, you also want to be sure you’re getting it right.

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Iron Heart Ultra Heavy Raw (UHR)

After wearing Indigofera more or less exclusively for 4–5 years, I got into Iron Heart in 2018—and, of course, I had to try their unsanforized UHR too.

I got mine in the same size as my other Iron Heart jeans, and that turned out to be the right call. Even though it’s loomstate and supposed to shrink, I didn’t find that it changed all that much in practice.

So rather than sizing up and relying on shrinkage, you’re better off starting close to where you actually want them to end up.

That’s worth keeping in mind, because this is one of those pairs where you might expect a dramatic change after the first soak—but don’t necessarily get it. The denim is incredibly dense, and whatever shrinkage happens doesn’t fundamentally change the fit.

It’s also worth noting that Iron Heart calls this “raw” for a reason. Most of their jeans are rinsed, so if you want truly unprocessed denim from the brand, this is it.

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Other Pairs from the Guide I’ve Worn

While Indigofera and Iron Heart have been my main rotation for more than a decade—until I launched my own brand, Weirloom—I’ve also spent time with several of the other denims in the guide along the way.

Warehouse’s Banner Denim and Studio D’Artisan’s SD-101, both in their unwashed versions, are good reminders that even when you think you’ve got shrink-to-fit figured out, different denims still behave in their own ways. 

Mister Freedom is another case, where the jeans are designed to shrink down to your tagged size—which sounds straightforward, but still depends on getting the starting point right.

And then there’s Big John. I had the chance to pick up a pair of their RARE jeans more than a decade ago, when Brund first stocked the brand—but I didn’t pull the trigger. I’ve regretted that ever since.

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Getting Shrink-to-Fit Right

If you’re getting into shrink-to-fit—or coming back to it—it’s worth taking the time to get it right.

Because when it works, it’s hard to beat. The fabric, the fit, the way it fades. But when you get the sizing wrong, there’s no fixing it after the first soak. 

To avoid the guesswork and find a pair that actually works for you, start with our shrink-to-fit selvedge guide.

The post Why “Just Size Up” Doesn’t Work with All Shrink-to-Fits appeared first on Denimhunters.

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Why Three Pairs of Spanx Jeans Might Be Enough to Replace All the Bottoms in Your Closet Modern fashion seems to be moving away from going overboard and more toward dressing with purpose. Rather than keeping lots of bottoms that barely ever get worn, many women are starting to go…

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A few months ago we introduced you to a new denim brand, DE;Part. We love that this brand is all about size inclusivity, ranging from 00 to 24.

For this Spring, the woman-owned and designed collection is a bold new voice in premium denim, offering high-quality denim in sizes 00-24. Each style has been specifically built to fit women of all forms.

Beginning with its core offerings of skinny, straight, bootcut, wide leg, slim and flare jeans in corresponding washes from its light Ellis, medium Sutton, and dark Gramercy. To correspond to this core offering, DE:Part also includes a range of tees and tanks, similarly developed for a variety of shapess.

Explains founder Christina Choi, “DE:Part is new to the scene but not new to the game. We wanted to create a collection that doesn’t limit who can ‘fit in’. Every woman deserves to feel good in their jeans and we are redefining what it means to wear confidence by design inclusive styles that aren’t just graded up but specifically made to fit the wide range of feminine shapes that exist.”

DE:Part is designed and produced in Los Angeles. Blending expertly adapted designs, with a meticulous eye for detail, DE:Part will is available in sizes 00 to 24 with prices ranging from $158 to $188 and is sold exclusively on the brand’s website.

Let us add just one more thing which we would like you to know. Their jeans are made of a heavier stretch denim which really holds yout “stuff” together. It’s nothing like those lighter weight stretchy denims you ususually find out there. Also good to know is the fact that their jeans run absolutely true to size while their t-shirts are oversized for a looser fit.

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Carve Designs was founded in 2003 by lifelong friends Thayer Sylvester and Jennifer Hinton after a surf trip to San Pancho, Mexico.

They realized it was nearly impossible to find board shorts for real women with real bodies and a genuine passion for adventure. Starting as a surf apparel brand selling rash guards and boardshorts,

Carve Designs has since evolved into a full lifestyle brand, offering swim, fitness, denim, and lifestyle clothing. Designed in California by female designers who test every piece themselves, the brand is dedicated to creating effortless, versatile clothing that reflects the adventurous, bold women who wear it. 

Sustainability

Sustainability is the foundation for Carve Designs. From the very beginning, the founders made sustainable practices core to how they built the brand.

Today, 100% of their line uses recycled or upcycled materials, 100% of their packaging is also made from recyclable materials and is recyclable, and zero toxic chemicals are used throughout production.

Carve Designs focuses on responsibly sourced fabrics, safe dyes and finishes, and reducing environmental impact through various partnerships. Their approach emphasizes clean fashion that protects both people and the planet. 

Carve Design’s denim is definitely worth having a look at. The brand is all about denim that fits like it was made for you.

Crafted from soft, sustainable fabrics with just the right amount of stretch for everyday comfort and confidence. And also, all denims are made from non-GMO, organic cotton.

Carve Designs denim is available to shop for on their website and at Nordstrom.

On a personal note{from your editor} – I really like the way they help you find your size on their website. Just go to the item you want and click on “find your size”

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What You Need to Know Before Buying and Soaking Shrink-to-Fit Selvedge Jeans

Unwashed, unsanforized selvedge is one of the most rewarding and essential experiences you can have with a pair of jeans. The denims are drop-dead gorgeous, full of texture and character, and the fit can (if you get it right) be among the best you’ll ever experience.

But shrink-to-fit selvedge is also full of risks. The denim shrinks a considerable amount when washed or soaked, and no two denims are exactly alike. Before you dive in headfirst, you need to know exactly what you’re getting into. 

We’ve rounded up more than a dozen brands that make excellent shrink-to-fit selvedge jeans. To help you get the fit and size right, we’ll tell you something about how these denims perform when washed. If you’ve got to size up, go true to size, or size down, we’ll let you know. 

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Unsanforized, Shrink-to-Fit, Loomstate, and Unwashed: What’s the Difference?

Sometimes used on their own, sometimes in bunches, the terms unwashed, unsanforized, shrink-to-fit, and loomstate all say something about how either the denim or the assembled pair was treated before it arrived at the store.

Unwashed refers to pairs that have not been washed after they have been assembled into jeans. Unwashed pairs might be made from either sanforized or unsanforized denim.

Unsanforized refers to denim that has not been subject to the process of sanforization (defined below). Plenty of brands and retailers offer pairs that are unsanforized but have been washed once in the factory. Unwashed and unsanforized denim will shrink by as much as 10% when washed or soaked. 

Shrink-to-fit is the consumer-facing name used for denim that will shrink a considerable amount when washed or soaked for the first time. Shrink-to-fit denim is usually unsanforized, but some brands will label lightly sanforized pairs as shrink-to-fit. The denim will shrink when washed, but some brands’ pairs will shrink more than others.

Loomstate is the rarest and “rawest” of all denims. Loomstate denim hasn’t been washed or sanforized, and it has not been singed (removing the small hairs on the surface of the jeans) or skewed (pre-twisted to account for leg twist). It comes straight off the loom and into your hands.  

In this guide, we’ll be looking exclusively at selvedge denims that are both unwashed and unsanforized. That means all of these denims are shrink-to-fit, but not all of them are loomstate.

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The Best Shrink-to-Fit Selvedge Brands

Only a small number of brands produce unwashed and unsanforized jeans, and even fewer retailers stock them. 

The ones who do tend to be quite knowledgeable about what they’re selling, but don’t count on it. Do your research beforehand to make sure you’re getting the right product in the right size. 

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What is Unsanforized Selvedge?

Sanforization is a chemical and mechanical process, invented in 1928 and patented in 1930 by American engineer Sanford Lockwood Cluett, who was trying to solve the problem of shrinking shirt collars (his family owned the firm that manufactured Arrow shirts).

Through a combination of heat, moisture, and pressure, fabrics are subjected to complementary processes of shrinking and stretching. The result is fabrics that shrink very little (usually less than 5%) when washed for the first time.

Blue Bell (later to be Wrangler) and Lee introduced sanforized workwear in the 1930s. Levi’s, though, held out for decades, finally introducing sanforization to some of their pairs only in the 1960s. The iconic 501 remained an unsanforized, shrink-to-fit product until the brand bowed to consumer pressure and began sanforizing them in the 1980s.

For a more detailed and technical explanation of sanforization, visit our Denim Encylopedia.

For decades, Levi’s marketed the bug of shrinking denim as a feature. To get the “perfect” fit, consumers would jump into the bathtub wearing their fresh and raw pair. This experience largely disappeared from the denim landscape until heritage enthusiasts, first in Japan and then in the rest of the world, resurrected it.

Today, sanforized denims are the norm, even among top-shelf heritage brands. Consumers are as panicky as ever about shrinking denim, so it’s expedient for brands and retailers to make and sell either pre-washed or sanforized pairs that will shrink only a marginal amount. 

Still, some of us prefer unsanforized selvedge, finding charm in its appearance, feel, and performance. This is denim as its makers intended—the rough and unrefined combination of indigo and cotton. It’s something that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated. 

So which is better, sanforized or unsanforized denim? We weigh in on this question below.

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Is Unsanforized Selvedge Better than Sanforized?

Denim purists, who tend to be allergic to innovations, will tell you that unsanforized selvedge is the only true denim–the closest you can get to the true-blue, mid-century original.

But this kind of uncompromising denim love isn’t just about historical fidelity. You get certain things with unsfanforized selvedge that you can’t get with sanforized or once-washed pairs: primarily character and handfeel.

Sanforization results in a flattened and smoothened denim. Unfanforized denim has more loft and a hairier look and feel. It’s really only noticeable from very close up, but the small difference makes all the difference for denim purists.

There’s also the fact that unsanforized denim shrinks a considerable amount. Those who’ve been around the block with unsanforized pairs will tell you that the shrink-to-fit process produces an unmatched fit in the top block.

The denim shrinks slightly more where it is loose and slightly less where it meets resistance around your hips and thighs. When you get the sizing and soak right, the result is a fit that feels tailored to your body. It’s enough to turn the first-timer into a lifelong convert. 

Of course, sanforized denim has its benefits as well. It is far more predictable than its unsanforized cousin. Sanforized pairs tend to shrink somewhere in the range of 2-5%. This is roughly the same amount that they will stretch. Each time you wash the pair, it usually snugs up, returning to roughly the same size it was when you purchased it.

Unwashed sanforized denim shrinks somewhere in the range of 5-10% when introduced to water for the first time and will often continue shrinking for 2-3 subsequent washes. When it’s done shrinking, you can expect to have lost at least a full tag size in the waist and around 2-3 inches in the inseam.

Which is better? If you’ve never tried unsanforized denim before, the answer comes down to your risk appetite. Retailers and brands will not allow you to return pairs that have been soaked, so this is definitely one of those buyer beware moments.

If risk turns your stomach, stick with sanforized pairs (you’ll be spoiled for choice). If you’re willing to fly by the seat of your pants, you’ll be opening a door to some of the world’s most beautiful denims and best fits.

You can mitigate the risks by following the steps we outlined above. The more you know about the particular product you’re interested in, the more likely you’ll be to get exactly what you want out of your unsanforized pair. Do your homework and there shouldn’t be any surprises. 

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Complete the Vintage Look

Looking to complete the vintage look? Check out our guides to high-rise selvedge jeans and heritage chambray shirts. 

The post Shrink-to-Fit Selvedge: How to Buy Unsanforized Jeans appeared first on Denimhunters.

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The Gap × AWAKE NY Spring 2026 collaboration just dropped and it’s one of Gap’s strongest streetwear collabs in years.

Blending ’90s NYC street culture + classic Gap essentials. The collection was designed by Angelo Baque, founder of Awake NY and former Supreme brand director, and is heavily inspired by Queens-era 1990s style, club culture, and vintage Gap ads. For Baque, Gap belongs in the canon of ’90s New York street style.

The collaboration leans into the 90’s memories, mixing Awake NY’s bold visual language with classic Gap items. Reimagined laser printed denim, logo hoodies, heavyweight fleece, graphic T-shirts, and more. There are pops of color and polka dots and plenty of sharp screenprints, and much of the gear feels just right for loud nights at the club and casual hangs on the stoop.

But Gap x Awake NY offers more than a yearning for the past. It’s a love letter to a moment in New York nightlife when the clubs weren’t musically segregated yet, when the wide-ranging mix itself was the draw. And the fantastic style on display was a mere aftereffect.

“Clubs didn’t just play hip-hop,” Baque says. “You had to play hip-hop, house, freestyle, reggae.” That same sensibility showed up in how people got dressed—polka dots, bold plaids, baggy jeans, chunky shoes.

You can shop for this capsule on the Gap website and in select Gap stores.

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Denim Without Limits: Find the Softest, Most Flexible Fits for Your Everyday Life Denim is a classic in any wardrobe, appreciated for its universal appeal, as we all know. SHEIN jeans have become a global fashion symbol, whether you might be wearing them for casual weekend wear or rocking a…

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