Distressed Jeans

Because denim is an exceptionally durable fabric, it can take years to get your jeans looking exactly how you’d like them. The rising popularity of distressed denim is the result of manufacturers addressing a serious gap in the market. The designer denim community was quick to start crafting jeans that had a more ‘lived-in’ look and feel – and the result, distressed denim, has been increasingly popular since it’s reinvention in 2001.

Distressed denim is made in a number of ways – sometimes the fabric is stretched over an abrasive surface to create ‘bald’ patches; sometimes a slightly-acidic wash is used to soften the fabric; sometimes the jeans are put together and then run through a machine that slices and cuts the trousers at random to create a distressed effect. The process can be as simple or complicated as the designer chooses.

Popular makers of designer distressed denim jeans include Paper Denim & Cloth, Chip and Pepper and Seven for all Mankind. Most labels known for making jeans produce at least a few styles in distressed denim – Levis,Wrangler, Pepe, and Calvin Klein are just a few notable names.

Generally, distressed denim jeans will cost you more than the more standard washes and styles – this is supposedly because of the extended time distressed denim spends in production. However, many of the lower-end brands distress their denim with machines, this means the majority of jeans produced have the exact same markings, somewhat defeating the purpose of buying ‘unique’ distressed jeans in the first place. That unique look and feel is what designers hope you’re after – and willing to pay a little extra for.

When you’re buying distressed denim jeans online, ask the retailer for additional pictures so that you can be sure the jeans are just ‘distressed’, not destroyed – this is particularly important when you’re buying from smaller boutiques where designer jeans are ‘hand distressed’. Also, beware of counterfeiting – many of the more expensive labels are frequent victims of copy-cats, and the quality of the distressing is a real let down, even at a bargain price.


Cowboy - Toddler Costume £10.49	Cowboy - Toddler Costume £10.49	Bolero Tie Front Cardigan £10.50
Cotton Slub Jumper £11.00	Blue boot-cut jeans £14.00	Fracture Baggy Denim Jeans £14.99
Fracture Baggy Denim Jeans - Washed Out Black £14.99	Sleeveless One Shoulder Top £15.00	Sleeveless One Shoulder Top £15.00
Animal Denham Belt - Multi Colour £15.99	Lucie Boyfriend Jeans £16.00	John Lewis Boy Skinny Jeans, Denim £16.00
Metallic Glitter Vest £18.00	Bolero Tie Front Cardigan £18.00	Careless Crochet Cami £18.00
Metallic Glitter Vest £18.00	ANDERSON £19.00	HEWITT £19.00
Hipster Waist Slim-Fit Stretch Jeans Inside Leg 81 cm £19.50	2 in 1 Burnout Cardigan (buy 2 and SAVE!) £20.00	Stokes Stretch Skinny Jeans £21.00
Crop Jeans £22.00	Pippa Straight Jeans £22.00	Cotton Slub Jumper £22.00
Cotton Slub Jumper £22.00	Boyfriend Jeans £22.00	501 Boyfriend Jeans £23.00
Light blue regular jeans £23.80	Dark blue regular jeans £23.80	Mango Five-pocket Slim Leg Jeans, Dark Denim £23.92
Mango Slim Leg Jeans, Medium Denim £23.92	Boys Jeans £26.00	ELLOS Slim-Fit Jeans £26.00
ELLOS Slim-Fit Jeans £26.00	Regular Jeans Length 32 £27.00	Regular Jeans Length 34 £27.00
JACOB Men’s Regular Jeans £27.25	Teen Girl’s Slim-fit Stretch Jeans £27.30	Mango Dark Demin Super Slim Jeans £27.92
Mango Openwork Knit Jumper, Dark Grey £27.92	Cotton Slub Jumper £28.00	Indigo Classic Cut Jeans £28.50
Authentic Jeans £28.50	Luna Strappy Low Wedge Sandals £29.00	Belted Boyfriend Jeans £29.00
West Bay Fashion Jeans £29.00	Luna Strappy Low Wedge Sandals £29.00	Dark blue Fairtrade cotton indigo rinse wash boot-cut fit jeans £29.75
JNR ATTENBOROUG £29.95	Addict Premium Regular fit jeans - 5 Year £29.99	Gossip Biker Jeans £30.00
Brown Transit Lace Up Military Boot £30.00	Black Transit Lace Up Military Boot £30.00	Tollman Superman Denim £30.00
Belted Slouch Fit Jeans £32.00	Belted Slouch Fit Jeans £32.00	Vintage Suit Jacket £32.00
Distressed Patch Cord Jeans £32.00	Vintage Suit Jacket £32.00	Floral Printed Parka £33.00
Hue Skinny Jeanz Capri Leggings, Distressed Navy £33.00	Straight-Cut Used Denim Jeans, Length 32 £33.00	Straight-Cut Used Denim Jeans, Length 34 £33.00
Mango Loose Fit Knit Sweater, Khaki £34.32	Mango Openwork Knit Jumper, Cobalt £34.90	Urbantrack Browser Mens Shoes £35.00
Stokes Stretch Skinny Jeans £35.00	Turn-up Jeans £36.00	Petite dark blue washed bootcut jeans £36.00
Blue washed jeans £36.00	Sapphire jeans £36.00	Warehouse Slouch Skinny Jeans, Mid Wash Denim £36.00
501 Boyfriend Jeans £37.50	Early 20 Jeans £38.17	Mens T-Shirts (2 pack) £39.00
Belted Slouch Fit Jeans £40.00	Nango Woven Printed Blouse £40.00	Weber Bootcut Jeans £42.00
Beautiful Bootcut Jeans £42.00	Distressed Military Boots £42.00	Essential Jeans £43.00
Full Contact Hoody £43.99	Oasis Premium Front Pocket Flare Jeans, Denim £44.00	Bench 'Moss Side Queen' Jeans £44.04
Bench Boyfriend Jeans £44.04	Mens T-Shirts (2 pack) £45.00	Straight-Cut Jeans £45.00
Twisted Seam Mens Jeans with FREE Belt £46.00	Distressed Boyfiend Jeans £46.00	Andi Loose Fit Jeans £46.00
Applique Letter Sports Jacket £46.00	Andi Loose Fit Jeans £46.00	Joe Browns Campus Jeans £47.96
Brown Rockwood Suede Casual Boot £48.00	Grey Rockwood Suede Casual Boot £48.00	Tan Rockwood Suede Casual Boot £48.00
Levi's Cyrus Slim Jeans, Denim £48.00	Fat Face Straight Dark Dry Jeans, Denim £48.00	Virado Mens Worker Boots £49.00
Sakura Mens Boots £49.00	Diesel Boys Jeans £49.00	Ginger Shorts £51.00
Urbantrack Browser Mens Shoes £51.00	Kookai Slim Fit Jeans, Denim £51.00	Kookai Slim Fit Jeans, Light Denim £51.00
Miranda Slim Fit Biker Jeans £52.00	Mens 3301 Slim Fit Jeans £53.00	Rogar Jeans £53.00
Tommy Hilfiger Rogar Jeans £53.00	Voi Jeans £53.83	Voi Jeans £53.83
Girls Skinny Jeans £54.00	Guess Girls Skinny Jeans £54.00	Floral Printed Parka £55.00
Floral Printed Parka £55.00	Boys Jumper £55.00	Ash Flip Jeans Buckle Ankle Boots, Multicoloured £55.00
Hushy Jeans £55.00	Ash Flip Jeans Buckle Ankle Boots, Blue £55.00	Jeans £55.00