10 American Brands Making Denim & Jeans In The USA
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Our editors have researched and tested the best American-made denim brands for the past decade — these are our top picks for quality jeans that are made right here in the USA.
Denim is a daily staple in closets all across America. It’s simple, versatile, and built to stand the test of time. For many of our readers, denim also serves as a much-needed anchor in the quest for a minimalist wardrobe. Is there anything that feels more minimalist than your favorite jeans?
What are the benefits of buying denim made in the USA?
As with many other clothing items we wear each day, there is, unfortunately, a dark side to denim. Manufacturers everywhere compete for rock bottom prices through forced labor and thoughtless environmental practices. Thankfully, many ethical denim brands from around the world are actively fighting back against this trend with thoughtful production and labor practices. And, in the US, this search for ethics and transparency has led to a new wave of American-made denim.
Purchasing denim and jeans that are made in the USA supports local jobs and the economy, while ensuring workers are paid fair wages and receive safe working conditions. American-made denim tends to have higher quality standards, using durable materials and skilled craftsmanship, which means your jeans are likely to last longer. Many brands also prioritize sustainable practices, such as using organic cotton or eco-friendly dyes, reducing their environmental footprint. Plus, it’s easier to trace where and how the denim was made, giving you peace of mind about its ethical and environmental impact.
Our criteria:
Our editors have worn, researched, and tested jeans from a wide variety of USA-made brands for the past decade. These American-made clothing brands meet our strict standards as outlined below. We update this list frequently with emerging favorites so check back often!
- ETHICAL PRACTICES | These sustainable USA-made denim brands follow meticulous ethical labor practices, ensuring their workers receive fair wages and have safe working environments.
- ECO-FRIENDLY/SUSTAINABLE | Each of these American-made denim brands follows sustainable practices, including using all natural and organic materials, eco-friendly dyes, and recycled/upcycled materials in their pieces where possible.
- SIZE INCLUSIVE | We’ve included many USA-made denim brands that prioritize size inclusivity in their designs.
Are you looking for more clothing that’s ethically made, here in the USA? Check out our guide to American-made fashion brands here.
Best Overall | Most Affordable | Best For Women
1. Outerknown
Best For | Relaxed styles
Made in USA | Los Angeles, CA
Size Range | 23 – 38
Denim Price | $168 – $328
For some of the most sustainable jeans on the market, we’re looking at Outerknown. The California brand manufactures its women’s jeans at Saitex, a sustainable factory in LA that uses the highest environmental and ethical standards to create a truly superior product. They are also ethically produced and made from organic and recycled cotton. Each pair is backed with a lifetime guarantee from the brand.
2. American Giant
Best For | Men’s staple jeans
Made in USA | El Paso, TX
Size Range | 28 – 38
Denim Price | $150
American Giant believes that a piece of clothing as iconically American as jeans should be made right here in the states. Using American-grown cotton, the fabric is sewn in Georgia and then finished in Texas, making it as homegrown as they come. Their Dakota men’s jeans are straightforward and well-made, available in two washes and slim or straight fits, they just might be the only pair he needs.
Customer Review | “Best quality and made in America, what more can one ask for. Been buying their garments for years, awesome, sturdy and durable. Will continue buying.” – Daniel B. (Read all reviews.)
3. Loup
Best For | Versatile women’s styles
Made in USA | New York City, NY
Size Range | XXS – 4X
Denim Price | $180 – $205
Parisian-inspired clothing made start-to-finish in New York City? That’s our vibe. Loup is a womenswear brand that uses inspiration from icons like Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot for fashion-forward pieces we love, like heavy-weight denim and vintage shorts. Loup also offers sizing XXS through 4X, with many pieces that stretch up to two inches bigger than the suggested fit. There are dozens of colors and styles to choose from, however you like to dress in denim.
4. Jungmaven
Best For | Hemp denim
Made In USA | Los Angeles, CA
Size Range | XS – XXL
Denim Price | $158 – $211
Jungmaven‘s collection of comfy hemp denim pants is unlike any other type of denim we’ve seen before. These jeans are have a relaxed pull-on design offering comfort and a flattering shape. Made from a durable hemp and organic cotton blend, these pants feature an elastic waistband with an internal drawstring for adjustable fit, and are available in light, medium, and dark washes. Perfect for casual wear, these babies get softer with every wash.
Customer Review | “The perfect jean. High waisted, stretchy waist, wide leg – perfect wash. I’m so pleased I purchased these on a whim” – Lorraine (Read all reviews.)
5. American Trench
Best For | Soft jeans
Made in USA | Varies by collection
Size Range | 30 – 40
Denim Price | $198 – $400
American Trench is a Philadelphia-based brand committed to ethical manufacturing. Though they started out making –– you guessed it, the perfect trench coat –– they have since expanded their collections to include men’s and women’s apparel including outerwear, accessories, and footwear. All of their products are made in the USA, including their Shockoe washed jeans, which are manufactured in LA. Perfect for anyone who wants their denim made from pure cotton (no stretchy blends here!) and soft as butter, these jeans also come with a lifetime of repairs from Shockoe.
6. Todd Shelton
Best For | Men’s jeans that fit perfectly
Made in USA | East Rutherford, NJ
Size Range | W28 – 42, L26 – 36; custom sizing available
Denim Price | $270 – $300
Todd Shelton is creating American wardrobe staples that you’ll proudly wear for years to come. The brand sources fabrics from countries with similar labor and environmental regulation as the USA and the made-to-order approach means that less waste during manufacturing. The casual and classic brand is perfect for the conscious gentleman, and the high-quality wardrobe staples will last a lifetime. We love Todd Shelton’s wide range of washes and varying options for raw, selvedge, and stretch denim.
Customer Review | “My new jeans fit beautifully. It is so rare for me to have jeans that fit this well and look so sharp.” – Kevin (Read all reviews.)
7. Imogene + Willie
Best For | High and extra high rises
Made in USA | Nashville, TN
Size Range | Women’s 23 – 34, men’s 27 – 40
Denim Price | $342 – $472
Imogene + Willie was born in the back of a Nashville gas station. After spending years in a family denim business, Matt and Carrie Eddmenson created the shop in hopes that it would become a destination for like-minded seekers of quality American-made apparel. Today, the brand hasn’t lost a bit of its ardent passion and has a strong follower base that swears by the quality and aesthetic of the brand. I+W stands out for its personable approach to denim, custom hems, and attention to detail. You can visit the brand’s store in Nashville or browse the denim collection for all genders online.
8. Texas Jeans
Best For | Custom inseams for heavy duty jeans
Made in USA | Asheboro, NC
Size Range | 30 – 48
Denim Price | $43 – $80
Texas Jeans make made-to-order jeans that have been manufactured in the USA for nearly 50 years. With custom inseams available in most sizes, these affordable jeans are meant to be put to work and worn for life. Their best-selling styles have more room in the thighs and hips, making them ideal for anyone who’s looking for jeans they can move in. Made from American cotton from the historic Mt. Vernon Mills, the customer reviews rave about the texture, fit, and durability of these jeans.
9. Tellason
Best For | Raw dark wash selvedge denim
Made In USA | San Francisco, CA
Size Range | 28 – 40
Denim Price | $158 – $211
Founded by Tony Patella and Pete Searson in 2008, Tellason is committed to making high-quality, American-made raw selvedge (and non-selvedge) denim. Raw denim, or “dry denim,” is untreated denim in its purest form, left unwashed and unprocessed after weaving. Made typically from 100% cotton, the brand mentions its weight and thickness can vary, depending on the manufacturer. Selvedge denim, often used in raw denim, features a tightly woven edge that prevents fraying, produced on antique shuttle looms. With the care and quality that Tellason provides in crafting their denim, know that these pieces are made to last!
Customer Review | “Great fit, only regret was not getting another pair.” – dmac (Read all reviews.)
10. Ginew
Best For | Selvedge denim
Made In USA | Portland, OR
Size Range | 31 – 40
Denim Price | $218 – $330
Ginew (Gih-noo) is one of the only Native American-owned denim collections in the world. Founded by a husband-and-wife duo, this brand makes jeans with timeless methods and local materials like selvedge fabrics from the Nihon Menpu mill. Every creation from this brand incorporates elements of Native American heritage (specifically Ojibwe, Oneida, and Mohican), and is designed to last a lifetime. We love how Ginew weaves family symbols and teachings into garments using techniques handed down for generations.
Featured image from Outerknown
