Regarding apparel and fashion, India has always been in the top leagues. One such apparel that first comes to mind is India’s never-ending love affair with a pair of jeans. Contrary to stereotypical beliefs, you might not find a grandiose saree in a particular market, but you will surely find a jeans outlet. The jeans market in India is estimated to grow to $9.15 billion by 2026. So, you can only imagine its potential.
Keeping this fact in mind, I have listed the top jeans brands in India that are ruling the market and the hearts of the people in this article. Jeans transcend the boundaries of gender and are a perfect combination of style and comfort. Not only that, but in our country, the concept of casual is synonymous with jeans to a great extent too. So, let us see how this ultra-Westernised outfit has now become ours and is dictating our sense of fashion.
Criteria for Selection
Owing to easy access to online shopping on a global level, along with innumerable jeans outlets in India, we have a lot to choose from. However, there are certain few who are ruling the carts, and deservedly so. Let us quickly check a few criteria that pave the way for a jeans brand to succeed and understand its legacy in a bit more detail.
With the growing access to multiple shopping options, consumers are not only limited to brick and mortar but can broaden their horizons. They are no longer restricted by a few limited options that come within the restrictions of their budget. This has enabled them to look beyond just buying the product and focus more on other various aspects, which include:
- Quality: The first thing that determines the preference towards a product or a brand is its quality. Jeans have a reputation for being everyday wear, but the style and brand that can keep up with this expectation by delivering quality always takes the cake.
- Price: An interesting fact about apparel jeans in India is that you will get multiple rip-offs anywhere in the flea market, regardless of the brand. So for a brand to impress its customers and retain their loyalty, the price needs to be adjusted accordingly. In fact, a culmination of the love for finer quality, backed by a reasonable price, is what has allowed jeans brands to dominate the Indian market. Otherwise, thrift shops are always a go-to option for the Indian middle class.
- Style: The post-COVID era saw a massive shift in the style of jeans, especially for women. For example, no one ever imagined that skinny jeans would have to call it a day. Currently, we have more than seven varieties of women’s jeans. So, a brand that delivers the need of the hour stands the test of time.
Top 10 Jeans Brands In India
The list that I have contains several premium brands that have been responsible for making jeans accessible and a preferred outfit in our country. Premium designs and fits, backed by luxury and comfort at a reasonable price, are what make these brands the most loved ones in the country.
Let’s check out the list, shall we?
1. Levi’s
When it comes to jeans, not talking about its creator is going to be a folly of the highest order. It is one of those brands that you can rightfully say is here to stay in the game for many more decades to come. Levi’s is not only known for its comfortable yet durable jeans but also its thoughtful pricing, which makes buying it nothing less than an investment.
History:
Levi has a significant place in history and is equivocal to freedom and equality. The origin of jeans as an outfit traces back to the days when the need for a durable piece of clothing prompted Levi Strauss and his tailor, Jacob Davis, to invent jeans, and the rest is history. It all started when copper rivet reinforcements were combined with tough denim, which gave birth to the blue jeans we know today.
Style:
Apart from being the most trusted name in Jeans, what prompted it to outlive its past and create new milestones for the present is its space for innovation and adaptability. If you look at some of its recent releases, they have successfully transitioned from the skinny to the straight and have maintained the exact desired silhouette.
2. Wrangler
Wrangler is known for its brilliant engineering for jeans, backed by years of research and knowing its customers. Wrangler was first made by Blue Bell Overall, keeping the then-rodeo riders in mind. The brand had actually associated itself with some well-known riders to understand the suitability of design and work its way accordingly. Decades later, it is one of the most loved jeans brands not only in India but in the world too.
History
The brand has always been known for its quirks, apart from its sophistication in bringing to the table. You will be surprised to know that it decided on the name Wrangler way back in 1946 through a rodeo competition amongst its workers. Interestingly enough, it also means a cowboy who is in charge.
Style
Wrangler has been immortalized by Marlon Brando and James Dean on the silver screen, and people still can’t get enough of it. They have maintained the cowboy finish and yet magically added a modern touch which makes it relevant and a viral-worthy product even today.
In India, the brand is retailed by Ace Turtle and lives up to its motto of an “everyday performance denim brand.” Even though it has been preaching itself as a men’s brand, with time it has not only delivered highly efficient designs for women but has also stayed true to ongoing trends.
3. Spykar
Mainly known for its wide-mouth pockets, Spykar started its journey as a men’s brand way back in 1992. This Indian-origin homegrown brand didn’t have to try hard to catch up with its global counterparts, owing to its youth-oriented fashion policy and an affordable yet premium line of pants.
Currently, it caters to its consumers regardless of their gender and has a highly pumped online presence. Spykar was recently the talk of the town for its rebranding attempt and how it plans to rebuild itself when it comes to its consumer base.
History:
With the plan to be India’s leading homegrown denim brand, it was founded by Prasad Pabrekar, who was already an expert on textile and garment processing. Spykar is mainly known for its handstitched fits and making of the outfit from scratch.
Style:
The dual-tone cotton jeans by the company ruled over the wardrobes before straight-fit jeans became the need of the hour. Even though the brand has yet to catch up with its audience when it comes to the latest trends, it is still a hot favorite.
Due to its sustainable and comfortable apparel, which comes at a pocket-friendly price, sometimes its loyal followers happily compromise with the fit or the desired trending style.
4. Mavi
With a presence in over 37 countries, Mavi is another hot favorite in India that has been producing lasting and affordable jeans. Tracing its origin back to Istanbul in 1991, it has been known to work with the latest denim technology and washes.
One of the greatest things about this fashion denim brand is it focuses on style and sustainability simultaneously, and is known to treat its 70 jeans types with laser and sustainable wash processes.
History:
The brand is known to manufacture jeans for both men and women, and usually is targeted towards the youth. You will find various A-listers advocating for this brand along with the likes of Kate Winslet and the supermodel Adriana Lima, along with Lady Gaga and many others.
Saiat Akarlilar, the founder of the brand, has a success story that lies in his thorough research about the customers and the fit strategy. Designing jeans that were accurate on two grounds, relevant sizing and design options, made MAVI one of the bestsellers in Turkey, and later it took over the global market by storm.
Even though it is a household name in most of Europe and America, it is equally loved by its consumers in India. It made its way into the country through Marcowagon Retail Pvt. Ltd in a strategic partnership with the E-commerce brand, Ajio.
Style:
Buying this premium brand can burn a hole in your pocket, but it compensates generously with its style and quality. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best representations of denim’s Mediterranean aesthetic and comes in varied fits, along with hand-washed denim.
With the tag of being the number one youth brand back home, it can do a lot with India’s market, especially being backed by Ajio.
5. Flying Machine
Every millennial knows this brand by heart and once had dreamt of getting their hands on it. The pioneer of stone-washed denim in India, it has not only upgraded itself with time but has become a top favorite amongst the GenZ population too.
Launched in the year 1980 by Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited, it has seen a series of developmental changes that paved the way for it to become the brand it is today.
History:
Flying Machine came into the Indian market when men were relying on smuggled jeans to up their fashion game. Within ten years of its inception, it had become the most sought-after name among the best jeans brands in India. Being India’s first home-grown jeans brand, it started with men’s jeans and curating proper fits for them.
Style:
The jeans brand is known for its Jackson and Cobain fit, which caters to the style of both skinny and loose-fitting jeans has a premium finish, and offers an accurate fit in every size. Before rebranding itself and catering to the youth of the country, it was mainly known for its Carpenter Pants and Classic 5 Pockets styles.
It presently promises to stay relevant with the ongoing trend while being obsessed with the quality of the product and decent pricing.
6. Pepe Jeans
Pepe has its roots in India, even though it was conceived in London. Brothers of Indian origin, Arun, Nitin, and Milan Shah founded Pepe Jeans in the year 1973. Within a span of seven years, it saw unimaginable but deserved success and became the most loved brand in London. By 1983, business was in full bloom and Pepe saw the light of international export. Currently, it still stands as a relevant and trusted brand in India.
History:
Nitin Shah got into the business of selling jeans when a businessman approached him while he was working at the gas station. That is how he entered the world of fashion and there was no looking back from there. Pepe was initially just a Sunday market stall, and now it is not only a global brand but an icon with a crazy list of A-listers vouching for its worth and quality.
In India, it has always left a mark, which is evident from the list of accolades it has won over the years. Apart from being the most admired brand, it also won the Best Lifestyle Brand 2017-2018 by The Economic Times.
Style:
Pepe has always been a trendsetter and also knows how respecting a trend can ensure a stable customer base. If we look back, Pepe has been doing what its customers demand. Take for example its groundbreaking collections like the Beat London in 2019 or the Tru-Blu range of denims, which not only focus on style but sustainability too.
7. US Polo Assn
In India, this denim jeans brand has cultivated a loyal fan base over the years. US Polo Association is so popular that it is one of the most duped brands in the local markets. It has a niche of denim that ensures your loyalty to the brand forever, with its premium customers it is a lifestyle.
But the origin story of this premium brand is a bit different from its counterparts. It desired to only appease the needs of Polo and support the activities of the United States Polo Association (USPA). However, it has now become more of a fashion staple and is sold in 190 countries.
History:
The origin of the USPA jeans is synonymous with the Polo Association itself and its gradual move toward fashion in the year 1890s. Initially, the brand focused on catering to the elite, but later shifted to a more casual approach of selling denims.
It came into proper public exposure in the year 1990, when people came across its casual wear, and it took off on a global level.
Style:
The brand already was selling comfort and class; all it required was an organized approach towards selling casuals. It pressed the idea of the classic American heritage of jeans blended with recent styles.
USPA has a variety of fits which range from slim to straight, along with the recent fad of boyfriend and straight-fit jeans. However, the main reason why it is loved by customers is the variety of washes it offers. The list of washes includes the likes of light, medium, and dark washes, stone-washed, along with the acid wash for its distressed denims.
8. Lee
Lee, known as “The Jeans that Built America”, gets such an overwhelming love in India that it feels more like a homegrown brand. It has been exporting its products ever since 1970, and recently in the year 2021, it made its entry into India through Ace Turtle.
History:
Henry David Lee established the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in Kansas in the year 1889, which can be regarded as the inception of this globally loved brand. The story began in the year 1911, when Lee started focusing on manufacturing overalls for the working class.
It was in 1954 that it expanded into casual wear and was exported to 81 countries. With time, it started following more fashion cycles and ventured into fits for women with its Ms. Lee label.
Needless to say, the legacy of this high-end jeans brand has been unmatchable. You will be surprised to know that Arvind Mills, the manufacturer of Lee in India, produces 5,000 pairs of jeans each day.
Style:
The brand has been known to cater to all styles and set some trends on its own too. Apart from the typical straight fits and slim fits, what makes it stand out is its vintage ones. The Lee Vintage Jeans or the Lee High-Rise Jeans play well along with the present love for wide-legged jeans backed by unique washes, maintaining the rustic charm.
9. Jack & Jones
What makes Jack & Jones different from everyone on this list is that it started as a women’s fashion brand. It is known by its parent company, Bestseller, which ventured into the men’s jeans market through a community fair. That Oslo fair in 1990 changed the trajectory of the brand, and it became a pioneer in men’s casual wear as well.
History:
This Danish brand was launched by Bestseller in the year 1990 and it tried to appeal to the quirky and typical everyday fashion in America. While Bestseller started its journey with women’s fashion, Jack & Jones was solely catering to its male consumers initially.
What paved the rise is its resonating image with the youth, backed by reasonable pricing. It cemented its position on the fashion map by not only creating premium fits but also innovating new staples in the world of Denims. Currently, it has 2,700 retail stores worldwide.
Style:
Jack and Jones is all about casuals mixed with contemporary. This legendary band offers a variety of fits and designs, which helps in catering to different preferences. Apart from the skinny and straight fits, it has distressed and ripped ones to up your fashion game.
If you wish the vintage to rub off on you a bit more, you can always opt for its traditional fits, like the Carpenter fit, which is dedicated to workwear style with extra pockets. Not only that, Jack and Jones specializes in a variety of washes which include light, medium, and dark indigo, as well as black or gray tones.
10. Roadster
No other brand in the Indian market is ruling over the jeans scene as much as Roadster. It gained its fame through the online retailer Myntra and with its pocket-friendly pricing for premium-looking items. It is now regarded as Myntra’s biggest moneymaker and is also the first Indian clothing brand to collaborate with MotoGP.
History:
Roadster is Myntra’s first in-house brand and came into existence in 2012. It was created solely to target the Indian youth and cater to their fashion needs. It has always presented itself to be a tough yet durable brand that follows the ongoing trends religiously.
After Myntra was acquired by Flipkart in the year 2014, Roadster expanded its product catalog and to date continues to be THE brand for pocket-friendly casuals.
Style:
Roadster has every variety of jeans you can name available on Myntra. Even though it rarely causes a hole in your pocket, it can be a bit dicey with its fittings. However, with time, it has improved greatly in its fits and is adding more options to its product catalog, which comprises a varied range of washes and fades.
But all this rarely affects its sales since it has been packaging its products with a distinctive style that is very inviting. You will keep coming back to the brand not only due to its pricing but also for its catchy way of presenting itself.
Conclusion
It is important to realize that the apparel we are all obsessed with and the one that helps us transcend the boundaries of gender has such an interesting story to tell.
Its rich heritage, which contains the names of some eminent brands and masterclasses that are credited with manufacturing some of the finest apparel, needs to be discussed, appreciated, and studied further.
Another thing that needs to be talked about is that more than half of the premium names on this list started as small businesses with no grandiose foreshadowing. So, the immense business capabilities of these brands also need to be acknowledged.
Luckily for us, we don’t have to do much like our previous generation to get hold of some great-quality pants. All you need to do is decide your fit and go jeans hunting physically or online.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Which jeans brand offers the best quality?
Currently, we have an array of brands that provide the best quality of jeans. These are brands like Levis, Lee, Wrangler, and Pepe Jeans amongst many others.
2. Are there affordable jeans brands in India?
Among the popularly known brands, Allen Solly is the most affordable jeans brand in India and Jack and Jones also follow the same line of pricing. However, with the recent shift in the trends, brands like Roadster and Mast and Harbour are manufacturing high-quality jeans with pricing starting from INR 500.
3. What factors should I consider when buying jeans?
The first thing that you need to consider for buying a new pair of jeans is its style and fit. Once you have decided and are sure about your look, you can further check for some basic factors like stitch, stretchability, and durability.
4. How do I choose the right fit for jeans?
Choosing the right fit for your jeans is quite easy. All you have to do is decide if you are comfortable or not when wearing it. Rightly fitted jeans shouldn’t require you to wear a belt or constrict your basic movements. Even if you opt for a skinny-fit look, it shouldn’t leave you gasping for breath.
5. What are popular denim styles in India?
India has been quite up to the mark with the latest denim trends and tags along with the global appeal of the apparel. Some popular denim styles in the country include high waist, high rise, flare pants, and wide-legged jeans, apart from the traditionally popular ones.
6. Can you recommend jeans brands for women?
Deciding a brand is a personal decision, since you will be able to understand which one works best for you. But if you are completely clueless in this regard, you can start with the original curator of jeans, Levi’s, and it’s a guarantee that you will never go wrong with it. In case you are skeptical and want to spend a little less before committing to the apparel, you can start with Roadster, but it may not be able to compensate for the fit as well as Levis.
7. Which brands have the best jeans for men?
Some of the best jeans brands for men include names like Levi’s, Spykar, Flying Machine, Lee, Diesel, and Pepe Jeans.
8. How to care for jeans to make them last longer?
The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in mind while caring for your jeans is you need to wash them as little as you can. Secondly, do not use hot water for your high-quality jeans since it might mess with the dye and sabotage the entire look. It is also advisable to air dry your jeans and not use any synthetic drying methods. This will avoid shrinkage or any other such complications.
Source: https://apparelresources.com/business-news/retail/denims-explosive-growth-india/
