From jeans to jackets, these are our favourite local brands doing denim
IMAGE VIA @henne_/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY fashion journal
Denim jackets, jeans, skirts and more.
It’s only an ever-so-slight generalisation to say that everybody loves a bit of denim. A pair of jeans you feel great in is one of the most important pieces in your wardrobe – but it’s also one of the hardest items to find. They have to have the right fit, the right cut and the right wash. It’s a mysterious science that baffles and breaks down even the strongest of shopping wills.
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Fortunately, Australian designers seem to love denim as much as we do and there are a plethora of local brands making great jeans. We’ve rounded up some of our favourite labels below, so the next time you’re in the market for denim you know exactly where to look.
Outland Denim
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Outland describes itself as ‘founded on high ground’ – both in a geographical sense (on an Australian mountaintop) and an ethical one. The founder intended to create jobs for women who needed them and shake up the more unsavoury parts of the fashion industry. Now the brand sells great jeans that last through even the most vigorous wear and provides stable, ethical employment to victims of sexual exploitation.
Neuw
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Merging the best parts of Australian and Nordic design, Neuw is a modern denim brand that’s all about “putting cultural integrity over profit”. References to 100 years of archival designs, traditional tailoring and vintage sensibilities are combined with modern fits and meticulous detailing. The brand is also known for collaborating with emerging artists, designers and musicians to bring something new and exciting to each collection.
Kowtow Clothing
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Founded in 2006, Kowtow’s clean and classic collection is built, sewn and supplied with ethical manufacturing in mind. Specialising in a high-rise fit, boxy denim, Kowtow’s range spans jeans, hats and jackets, featuring beautiful contrast stitching and certified Fairtrade materials.
Marle
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Blending form and function, conscious womenswear label Marle makes pieces to be worn over and over again. The label’s collection is comprised of different cuts of jeans, jackets and button-up shirts, made from organic ridged denim. Outside of the typical shades of white, charcoal and blue, you can shop Marle’s deep washed plum colour.
Assembly Label
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Assembly Label is a brand that champions the capsule wardrobe. It’s all about quality materials, natural luxury and silhouettes that never fail. The label’s denim range uses lightweight, pure cotton for easy wear, offering denim jeans, jackets and denim shorts in a signature colour palette.
Kahe
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Kahe is a ready-to-wear label produced locally in Melbourne. Founded by the owner of multi-brand boutique, Error404, Kacy Heywood, the label offers a range of bold, dynamic silhouettes and styles. Each piece of denim is distinctly Kahe, with details you won’t find anywhere else.
Peachay
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Peachay targets a very specific demographic of shoppers but it’s a demographic that plenty of people likely fall into – those who can’t find jeans to fit their shape. Designed for those whose thighs and butt are bigger than their waist, the brand makes jeans that are fitted through the waist but roomy down below. Once you’ve figured out your Peachay fit, you have a couple of silhouettes to choose from, as well as denim shorts and mini skirts.
Alpha60
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Sibling-run brand Alpha60 is a staple of the Melbourne fashion scene, operated out of a small Collingwood studio. Denim is a huge part of the signature Alpha60 look. The brand’s jeans are of the non-stretch, comfortingly structured variety, available in a range of silhouettes and fun-yet-versatile colours as well as the standard light-mid-dark wash options.
By Bettina Liano
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By Bettina Liano has been making jeans since 1989. Worn by the likes of Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Grace Jones (and plenty more), designer Bettina has long been referred to as the ‘jean queen’. From straight and skinny leg to boyfriend and flare cuts, every piece is made in Melbourne.
Ruby
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Founded in 2002, Ruby is a fashion label based in Aotearoa. Known for its fun and playful designs, Ruby’s collections are inclusive and made to last. Whether you love a reliable pair of jeans or double denim moment, Ruby has plenty of options for you to find your ideal fit.
Henne
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Henne is an Australian-born label, known for its wardrobe essentials. Blending Nordic style, Italian expression and a distinct Australian effortlessness, you can expect versatile silhouettes and an enduring colour palette. Henne’s collection of denim comes in a range of shapes and washes, featuring bootleg, straight-cut and wide-leg styles.
Beare Park
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Australian Beare Park has long been at the top of our list when its come to precision tailoring and suiting. Much to our delight, the brand has expanded its range with a recent foray into denim. Made from 100 per cent cotton denim, every item is designed by Co-Founder and Creative Director Gabriella Pereira and crafted by master tailors in Sydney and Melbourne.
Elka Collective
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Founded in 2014, Melbourne-based label Elka Collective is perfect for anyone looking to invest in long-lasting wardrobe staples. from its classic tailoring to slouchy denim, the brand is big on championing natural fibres, enduring silhouettes and clothing that lasts with wear.
Bassike
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Some of the best brands are formed when a designer spots a gap in the fashion market. Bassike is one of those brands that designs high-quality, sustainably-sourced wardrobe staples. Denim was added as a pillar of the label back in 2007, and the range now includes a small but considered selection of fits in classic washes.
Nobody Denim
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Melbourne-born and Melbourne-beloved, Nobody Denim is committed to local manufacturing, sustainable resource usage and refined staple designs. Covering all the denim bases with jeans, jackets, denim shorts and skirts, the range is intended to sit comfortably between contemporary streetwear and premium fashion. The brand is now also stocked in New Zealand, so our neighbours can get in on the fun.
Wynn Hamlyn
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Designed by Wynn Crawshaw, Wynn Hamlyn is an Aotearoa-based label founded in 2015. From tailoring and knitwear, to denim, the label forms the perfect building blocks for a timeless wardrobe. Find a range of transeasonal styles and dynamic silhouettes designed to last you for years to come.
Permanent Vacation
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Permanent Vacation has chosen to take things slow, operating on an on-demand basis, this Melbourne label produces its collections in small batches. In avoiding overproduction, Permanent Vacation lovingly shapes sustainably sourced or deadstock fabrics into classic, trans-seasonal pieces made to live in your wardrobe for a lifetime.
Denimsmith
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Denimsmith is the collaborative output of veteran Australian designers and makers. The label makes every garment in Melbourne out of the highest quality denim available. The brand is accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia and can be shopped in person at its Fitzroy store. Denimsmith pieces are also all made locally, with production run in-house at a factory in Brunswick East.
Ksubi
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Ksubi is a globally renowned label and a cult streetwear favourite, known for its signature denim range. The brand describes its style as ‘unfussy’ with a touch of irreverence. Jeans, jackets, denim shorts and skirts are the foundation of every collection, paired with graphic T-shirts, dresses and tops… your everyday uniform in one place.
For more on sustainable denim, head here.
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