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The denim industry is constantly evolving, and one of the main denim trends for 2024 is a fusion of urban fashion and innovative technical fabrics. This year’s trends highlight a perfect combination of style and functionality, providing consumers with versatile pieces that cater to both aesthetics and performance. Let’s take a closer look at the key trends shaping denim this year.
Top denim trends for 2024
The impact of streetwear on denim continues to be prominent, with oversized silhouettes and relaxed fits taking center stage. Baggy jeans, wide-leg cuts, and utility styles are not only comfortable but also make a bold fashion statement. Layering remains crucial, with denim jackets worn over hoodies or paired with graphic tees embodying the casual yet chic vibe of urban environments.
However, skinny jeans are experiencing a resurgence, drawing enthusiasm from nostalgic Millennials. While Gen Z favored wider fits, observing the cyclical nature of fashion trends is interesting. The reappearance of skinny jeans in the fashion shows of top high-end brands provides valuable insight into evolving style preferences.
Denim has always been about versatility, and layering pieces like oversized jackets, vests, and stylish outerwear can transform a simple denim outfit into a statement look. Accessories play a crucial role, with bags, jewelry, and footwear elevating the overall aesthetic. Chunky sneakers and combat boots remain popular, perfectly complementing urban denim styles. Denim can also be combined with other fabrics or patterns, such as patchwork and collages, to create a unique and eclectic style.
Additionally, denim on denim, also known as Canadian tuxedos, continues to be a strong trend in fashion shows and street style. In 1951, Bing Crosby was in Vancouver and tried to check into a luxury hotel after a hunting trip but was denied because he was completely dressed in denim, which was not considered an upper-class fabric. A bellhop recognized Crosby, and the issue was immediately resolved, but the outfit became famous.
In 2024, denim is also expanding beyond traditional blues. Expect to see an array of unconventional colors, including pastels, neons, and earth tones, as brands experiment with dye techniques. Distressing is evolving, too, featuring creative rips, patches, and even paint splatters, giving each piece a unique identity and a sense of individuality.
Finally, denim trends in 2024 are witnessing a surge in unisex denim styles, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity. Brands are designing pieces that cater to all genders, challenging traditional norms and offering a fresh take on denim. This trend emphasizes individuality and comfort, allowing everyone to express their unique style.
Denim once again confirms itself to be the most democratic fabric ever, as everyone can find a denim style that fits their own preferences and tastes and enhances their body type.
Innovative materials and performance features for technical jeans
Denim, once a humble workwear fabric, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years thanks to innovative materials and finishing treatments. Even though denim was originally known for its durability as workwear, new technical fabrics in denim are revolutionizing the industry even further by combining style with improved performance, durability, and versatility.
Reinforced denim has superior abrasion-resistant properties compared to conventional denim, which is already highly resistant by nature. It can withstand wear and tear, making it suitable for outdoor activities and rugged use. Brands are now also using materials that provide water resistance, breathability, and stretchability, catering to the active lifestyles of urban dwellers. This fusion has given rise to technical jeans and denim jackets that can seamlessly transition from day to night, perfect for navigating the city or heading out for the evening.
Incorporating functionality into fashion, denim in 2024 often includes features like moisture-wicking properties. These advancements not only enhance comfort but also elevate denim’s practicality, making it an ideal choice for those on the go. Whether you’re commuting or enjoying outdoor activities, this tech-driven approach ensures that style doesn’t compromise comfort.
A notable example is the collection Water-Repellent and Warm Denim by Manifattura Ceccarelli, developed using our denim fabrics and technologies from Halley Stevensons. The Scottish company has finished the raw fabrics to make them waterproof without altering their traditional high-quality features.
Raw denim is the most authentic version of this fabric as it hasn’t been washed during the manufacturing process. It is the favorite of many denim lovers as it fades over time according to their own habits and tells their unique stories.
Fabric-wise, one of our most advanced denim fabrics is GRAPHITO, a graphene-based product developed in partnership with Directa Plus. GRAPHITO offers enhanced antiviral and antibacterial properties compared to traditional denim while also ensuring thermal comfort throughout the year.
Eco-friendly practices and circular fashion
The incorporation of technology into fashion is increasing, and as technology progresses, we can anticipate more innovations that enhance the user experience. Sustainability is crucial in fashion innovation, as the industry still has a high negative impact on people and the environment.
Sustainability continues, hence, to be a major focus in fashion, and denim is no exception. Brands are increasingly adopting eco-friendly practices by using preferred fibers such as organic and regenerative cotton, recycled materials, and low-impact dyeing processes. This commitment not only reduces environmental impact but also resonates with consumers who are becoming more conscious of their purchasing decisions.
Furthermore, innovative fiber blends can add sustainability and versatility to denim fabrics. For years, the industry has used synthetic stretch fibers to provide comfort and high performance to denim fabrics, but they come with environmental drawbacks. That’s why at Candiani, we developed and patented COREVA™, our technology to produce the world’s first plastic-free and compostable stretch denim.
Other fibers, such as hemp and nettle, also offer improved sustainable features. Hemp is one of the most durable and sustainable fibers, growing well without pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides and requiring about half the amount of water needed by cotton. Nettle fibers have similar characteristics, as well as a hollow core that makes them extremely strong and durable yet soft and breathable.
Finally, the concept of circular fashion is gaining momentum, with many brands exploring upcycling and recycling initiatives. Denim is being repurposed into new pieces, reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable approach to fashion. As consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, this trend is expected to grow.
Recycling programs are a perfect fit for the new circular vision, as they help recover fabrics and garments that would otherwise be discarded. Recycling can occur at different stages of a product’s lifecycle. Post-industrial and pre-consumer recycling applies to fibers and textiles that have never reached consumers, such as cotton lost during the production process. Post-consumer recycling involves using garments thrown away by consumers.
Our Re-Cyclone collection includes both post-industrial and post-consumer recycled fabrics. While it’s possible to make 100% post-industrial recycled denim, post-consumer recycled fibers are too weak and need to be blended with stronger raw materials. We blend them with our Blue Seed cotton, a non-GMO hybrid cotton type with improved qualities. Blue Seed cotton is obtained from the combination of high-quality extra-long staple cotton and resistant Upland cotton. This hybrid cotton type benefits from a phenomenon known as heterosis, meaning that the resulting plant has better characteristics than the simple sum of the qualities of the two parent plants.
