Blog

Ahead of the global press junket, the actress stacked two high-contrast looks that kept her Miranda Priestly promo wardrobe in a bold, graphic lane.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

Diesel just announced that they have some hot new brand ambassadors! HANA (CHIKA, NAOKO, JISOO, YURI, MOMOKA, KOHARU, MAHINA), a seven-member girl group from Japan, has been appointed as Diesel Japan’s Brand Ambassadors. 

This is a first for the brand: an entire group takes on the ambassadorial role, highlighting Diesel’s commitment to collective energy and a new, dynamic approach to representation.

With their outstanding vocal ability, distinctive personalities, and a strong commitment to self-expression beyond conventional norms, HANA embodies the core values of Diesel – individuality, freedom, and self-expression.

Backed by a wide and passionate audience, especially among Gen Z, HANA are true fashion enthusiasts and genuine fans of Diesel. The brand first connected with the group during the release of their July 2025 single, “Blue Jeans,” providing full wardrobe styling for jacket visuals, the music video, and promotional activities. This collaboration sparked significant buzz and showcased a natural alignment between HANA’s creative vision and Diesel’s iconic products.

What began as a supportive partnership has now grown into a powerful and authentic synergy, highlighting the shared values, style, and energy that make HANA and Diesel a perfect match.

“Diesel has been a brand we’ve admired since we were young. We love how its designs can accompany us on days when we want to feel strong, as well as days when we just want to be ourselves. As HANA, who values staying true to what we love, we hope to share the unique appeal of Diesel with many people.” — HANA

 In the newly released ambassador visuals, HANA showcases iconic looks styled entirely in Diesel’s signature DNA — denim. From jeans and jackets to tops, underwear with denim-inspired details, and the new icon bag, “D-LINE,” the group effortlessly combines a wide range of denim pieces, capturing the versatility and bold spirit that define Diesel’s denim.

With this ambassador appointment, Diesel aims to strengthen its brand presence not only in Japan but globally, partnering with HANA to inspire and shape a new cultural narrative for the next generation.

You can check out what’s new from Diesel here.

The post Diesel Announces New Brand Ambassadors first appeared on Denimology.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

SMART president Brian London suggests that while closed-loop recycling should be explored and developed, it must complement reuse—not replace it.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

An A–Z Overview and How to Choose Between the Many Japanese Denim Brands

Have you also noticed @amekajihead popping up in newsletters this week?

He was in Blazer on Monday—and then again in Brock McGoff’s weekly newsletter on Wednesday. I sent both to him as soon as I saw them, and from his replies, it sounds like I broke the good news to him on both occasions.

It’s been a busy week on my end too. I spent a day in Amsterdam on Wednesday at Kingpins, where I caught up with a lot of familiar faces from the denim scene. I also closed a couple of new sponsor deals for the site.

But the main story for this issue is something I’ve been working on for a long time: a new guide to Japanese denim brands that turned out to be much bigger than I expected.

The Definitive Guide to Japanese Denim Brands

A couple of months ago, I mapped out a series of new buying guides focused exclusively on jeans—along with updates to some existing ones.

After publishing my guide to the best raw denim brands, the A–Z of Japanese denim brands was next on the list. It’s also one I wish had existed when I first got into raw denim—and one I’ve been wanting to build for years.

Japanese denim is everywhere now. It’s easier to buy than ever. But at the same time, it’s also harder to navigate because there are so many brands and different styles.

It began as a simple idea—an A–Z list of brands—but quickly turned into something much bigger. The more I worked on it, the more obvious it became that the list alone wasn’t enough. You need context. You need a way to group brands and understand what they’re known for and how they compare.

At some point, I also had to make a call. I could keep refining it for another couple of weeks—or I could publish it as it is. I decided it was good enough to publish. I’m already really proud of it, but it’s not static. It will be a living resource, and there are things I already know I want to add—like clearer guidance on which jeans to look for from each brand.

If you’ve ever tried to get an overview of Japanese denim brands—or just wanted a clearer starting point—this guide should help.

If you feel like something is missing when you read through the guide, you can contact me here to share your feedback.

The First Weirloom Shirt Is Here

Last Friday, after about six months of working on it, I finally launched the first shirt from my own brand.

For years, I’ve worn heavyweight flannels (my wardrobe is full of Iron Heart UHFs). They’re some of my most worn pieces. But I’ve always wanted one that wasn’t a check pattern—which is why I was also so excited about that Brund collab UHF from 2024.

This is my take on the heavyweight flannel I’ve wanted for years. It has the softness and warmth of flannel, but it’s indigo-dyed, so it’ll fade and develop character like denim.

It’s cut to fit as a shirt, but you can also wear it as an overshirt. With the warming weather right now, I’m wearing mine more like a jacket, but I know it’ll be my go-to “indoor” shirt when it gets colder again.

Just like when I launched the first Weirloom jeans, this is a pre-order. That means I produce what’s ordered. This ‘First Edition’ is a super limited run, and once they’re all gone, that’s it. Will I make more shirts? Hell yes, that’s the plan! But this is where it starts.

From the Archive: The Origins of Japanese Denim

Inspired by what Wouter is doing in his Long John newsletter—which I encourage you to subscribe to—I also wanted to start bringing more from the archive into DH Weekly.

So for this issue, I’ve uncovered two articles that are worth revisiting if you want to go a level deeper after the Japanese denim brands A-Z.

They were both published on Denimhunters in 2017, shortly after Blue Blooded came out. Around that time, I started adapting parts of the book—and building on the research behind it—to create series of articles here on the site, including some on the denim history.

One is my own piece on how Japan helped shape what we now call heritage fashion—where the focus on quality, detail, and fabric really comes from. The other is a profile of the Osaka Five, the group of brands that played a key role in building the Japanese denim scene.

The post The Guide to Japanese Denim Brands You’ve Been Missing appeared first on Denimhunters.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

Despite the backlash caused by their last ad campaign in July 2025, American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney are back once again.

Months after conversations – and controversy – erupted over Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle jeans ad campaign, Sweeney is back for a new summer spin on shorts with the retailer.

“What brand am I wearing?” Sweeney asks in the commercial, posing in denim shorts against a blue sky backdrop, while smiling and playing with her hair. “Yeah, that one,” she says, as the words “SYD FOR SHORT” flash across the screen.

From the free-spirits of the 1970s to the trendsetters of today, jean shorts have been the highlight of summer fashion for generations and no one perfects the warm-weather style like American Eagle,” said Jennifer Foyle, President and Executive Creative Director, AE. 

“Summer is defined by a rare kind of magic, an opportunity to live confidently and in the moment. Pairing classic cutoffs with Sydney Sweeney’s signature ease makes AE denim the must have shorts this season.”

“There’s something timeless about a great pair of jean shorts. They’re simple, but they make you feel confident and put-together without trying too hard,” – Sweeney definitely got that right! 

AE shorts destination features over 200 shorts styles and washes, both for women’s and men’s. And this summer 2026 will bring more than 850 new styles, focused on laid-back, wear-anywhere pieces from relaxed denim to versatile tops designed for everyday summer dressing.

You can shop for all the AE denim shorts – and all other denims – on the brand’s website right now.

The post American Eagle x Sydney Sweeney Are Back Again! first appeared on Denimology.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

If you are a denim lover and curious about everything related to your jeans, you will come across the term “Japanese Denim” quite a lot of times.

Japanese denim is considered the gold standard of denim worldwide. Not just because it’s trendy, but because of craftsmanship, heritage, and fabric quality that few other manufacturers in countries match.

Here’s why Japanese denim is so important:

In the 1970s–1980s, American denim brands began modernizing production, including faster manufacturing, the use of synthetic dyes, and cheaper fabrics.

Japanese artisans instead studied vintage American jeans from the 1940s–1960s and recreated them exactly by using old shuttle looms, natural indigo dye and heavy cotton fabrics.

This is how Japan preserved “true” denim craftsmanship. Let us also point out that the Japanese mills revived Selvedge Denim, woven on vintage Shuttle Loom machines.These looms were abandoned in the U.S., but Japan bought and restored them – keeping heritage denim alive.

The most famous denim region is Kojima, the birthplace of Japanese denim. Actually, Kojima became known as “The Denim Capital of Japan”.

Japanese denim represents slow fashion, craftsmanship, and heritage. Let’s not forget the fact that, because of its longevity Japanese denim is also totally sustainable: Instead of disposable fashion, it is meant to age, fade, and last for years.

Japanese denim isn’t just fabric – it’s craft, history, and culture woven into jeans.

Japanese denim examples are

Momotaro Jeans (Okayama, Japan)

Momotaro is one of the most respected Japanese denim brands, focusing on hand-made selvedge denim and traditional indigo dyeing (read more here).

• Signature battle stripes on back pocket
• Zimbabwe cotton and vintage shuttle looms
• Known for clean fades of the deep indigo
• Made in Kojima, Japan’s denim capital

Samurai Jeans

Samurai denim is known for durability and artistic cultural details, making each pair unique as it ages (read here).

• Heavyweight denim (often 17oz–21oz)
• Inspired by the Japanese samurai culture
• High-contrast fades over time
• Rugged and collectible labels

Studio D’Artisan (Osaka Five Pioneer)

Studio D’Artisan helped start the Japanese denim movement and still uses traditional dyeing and weaving methods (read here).

• Founded 1979 as one of the first Japanese denim brands
• Natural indigo dye
• Vintage-inspired construction
• Limited production runs

Our team is working on finding the best Japanese denim jeans to buy right now – so stay tuned, coming up soon!

The post What’s So Important About Japanese Denim? first appeared on Denimology.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

This past fall we’ve been telling you about the noticeable trend of the barrel jeans. And now we are confirming that this trend isn’t going anywhere – yet!

And = btw – if you still are not familiar with the term barrel jeans, you can read all about them here.

So, yes – barrel jeans are absolutely a thing for Spring 2026. In fact, they’ve evolved from trend → mainstream silhouette this season.

The difference of this fit “back then” and now:

2024–2025:

• Extreme horseshoe shapes
• Very oversized

Spring 2026:

• Softer curves
• Mid-rise fits
• Lighter washes
• More wearable silhouettes

Also interesting is that some fashion insiders say barrel jeans are becoming the new straight-leg alternative for people wanting something different but still wearable.

Below you can find our teams six favorites for this spring available to shop for right now.

Everlane The Way High Curve Jeans ($89) – available in nine different washes

Reformation Tyler Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans ($198) – also available in a darker blue vintage wash

BLANKNYC Floral Embroidery Barrel Leg Jeans ($148)

FRAME The Bubble High-Rise Barrel Leg Jeans ($208)

MANGO High-Waisted Barrel Jeans ($70) – available in five different colors

Levi’s Super Baggt Barrel Leg Jeans ($108)

ALLSAINTS Jet Barrel Leg Jeans ($239)

The post Yes, Barrel Jeans Continue Strong This Spring first appeared on Denimology.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site

Feng Chen Wang’s Fall 2026 season moves away from literal storytelling toward a more fundamental inquiry: how opposing forces coexist, reach a balance, and continue to evolve.

Rooted in the Chinese philosophical concept of 2 Forces ( Liang Yi ), this collection is built on the idea of two forces – not as opposition, but as a system of balance in constant motion.

As for the denim, Feng Chen Wang introduced hand-treated, layered, and experimental denim, as mentioned above, inspired by Liang Yi, a perfect balance between opposing forces.

Highlights from this collection are oversized denim jackets worn with loose-fitting jeans, mixed indigo tones, tailored + workwear hybrid silhouettes.

Also worth mentioning is the painted denim: Hand-dyed indigo variations with oil-slick coating and metallic fade effects.

You can purchase Feng Chen Wang clothing from the Spring/Summer 2026 collection on the brand’s website and at FARFETCH women/men.

The post Feng Chen Wang – Fall 2026 Lookbook first appeared on Denimology.

DENIM and PATCHES sourced this post originally published on this site