Want jeans that last? Here’s the ultimate guide
If you're spending good money on a pair of jeans, you want them to last – without ripping, fading, or losing shape after a few washes. But what if you could get durability and eco-friendliness in the same package?
Some brands promise just that, but are they really as sustainable as they claim? We’ve done the digging for you, ranking 10 of the biggest jeans brands based on quality, longevity, and their impact on the planet.
We’ve done the digging for you, ranking 10 of the biggest jeans brands based on quality, longevity, and their impact on the planet.
How we scored the brands
Each brand is evaluated on a scale of 1–6 (6 being the best) based on:
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Fabric durability, construction, and craftsmanship.
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Use of organic materials, water consumption, repair programs, and sustainability initiatives.
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Fair wages, worker treatment, and transparency, verified through independent investigations.
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Minus points for frequent collections, trend-based production, and signs of greenwashing.
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Affordability relative to quality and longevity.
Brand rankings:
Levi’s ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/6)
Price: 💲💲 – Levi's products are moderately priced, reflecting a balance between affordability and quality.
Quality: 4 – Levi's is renowned for durable denim products that stand the test of time.
Environmental Bonus: 4 – Levi's has implemented initiatives like the Water<Less® technology to reduce water usage and has committed to sustainable practices, including using some organic cotton.
Ethical: 3 – While Levi's has made strides in transparency and worker initiatives, challenges remain in ensuring living wages across its supply chain.
Fast Fashion Penalty: 1 – Although Levi's offers timeless designs, its large-scale production and frequent new releases align with certain fast fashion characteristics.
Read more: Imagine the impact
Nudie Jeans ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Higher cost, but justified by exceptional quality and ethics.
Quality: 6 – High-quality organic cotton, excellent craftsmanship, built to last.
Environmental Bonus: 6 – 100% organic, lifetime free repairs, sustainable packaging.
Ethical: 6 – Fair Trade certified, transparent supply chain, and living wages.
Fast Fashion Penalty: 0 – Focuses on timeless styles with no excessive collections.
Patagonia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Premium price, but excellent long-term value.
Quality: 6 – Durable, high-end denim meant for longevity.
Environmental Bonus: 6 – Recycled materials, organic cotton, Fair Trade certified.
Ethical: 6 – Ensures fair wages and safe working conditions.
Fast Fashion Penalty: 0 – Minimal product turnover, promotes reuse.
Read more: How to spot quality jeans (and avoid the ones that won’t last)
Wrangler ⭐⭐⭐ (3/6)
Price: 💲💲 – Mid-range pricing, but lower value due to ethical concerns.
Quality: 5 – Tough denim with solid construction.
Environmental Bonus: 3 – Some eco-initiatives, but still uses conventional cotton and excessive water.
Ethical: 2 – Reports of unsafe working conditions (source: Fashion Revolution).
Fast Fashion Penalty: -2 – Produces multiple seasonal collections yearly.
Quality denim is all about the right fit, durable fabric, and timeless style – find the perfect pair that lasts. Photo: Anna Shvets.
Read more: What are we making – the Gemz app
Lee ⭐⭐⭐ (3/6)
Price: 💲💲 – Mid-range, but lower value due to sustainability concerns.
Quality: 5 – Well-made, lasting materials.
Environmental Bonus: 3 – Some sustainability programs but still high carbon footprint.
Ethical: 2 – Issues with transparency and factory conditions (source: Clean Clothes Campaign).
Fast Fashion Penalty: -2 – Frequent trend-based releases.
Everlane ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Slightly higher cost, but justified by quality and ethics.
Quality: 5 – Sturdy stretch denim designed to last.
Environmental Bonus: 5 – Lower water usage, clean manufacturing.
Ethical: 5 – Transparent pricing and fair labor practices.
Fast Fashion Penalty: -1 – Expanding product lines rapidly.
AG Jeans ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Premium price, but good durability and sustainability.
Quality: 5 – High-end, long-lasting denim.
Environmental Bonus: 4 – Reduced water footprint, sustainable dyes.
Ethical: 4 – Some Fair Trade efforts, but limited third-party labor verification.
Fast Fashion Penalty: -1 – Regular seasonal drops.
Despite its high price tag, Diesel struggles in key sustainability and ethics areas.
G-Star RAW ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Higher price, but justified by sustainability efforts.
Quality: 5 – Innovative, durable denim.
Environmental Bonus: 5 – Sustainable washes, eco-friendly dyes.
Ethical: 5 – Good labor practices but some supply chain concerns.
Fast Fashion Penalty: -1 – High volume of trend-driven collections.
Citizens of Humanity ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – Premium price, but strong longevity and ethics.
Quality: 6 – Premium denim that lasts for years.
Environmental Bonus: 4 – Sustainable materials but lacks repair programs.
Ethical: 5 – Strong transparency and fair labor practices.
Fast Fashion Penalty: 0 – Focuses on core, high-quality styles.
Diesel ⭐ (1/6)
Price: 💲💲💲 – High price despite lower quality and ethical concerns.
Quality: 4 – Stylish but not the most durable.
Environmental Bonus: 2 – Some green initiatives but high resource use.
Ethical: 2 – Limited transparency and reports of poor working conditions.
Fast Fashion Penalty: -3 – One of the worst offenders, producing multiple trend-driven collections each season.
Final Verdict: Which Jeans Are Worth Your Money?
Top 3 jeans for durability, sustainability & value:
🥇 Nudie Jeans – Best overall quality, fully organic, free lifetime repairs, mid-to-high price but worth the investment.
🥈 Patagonia – Extremely durable, Fair Trade certified, minimal waste, high price but excellent long-term value.
🥉 Citizens of Humanity – Premium materials, strong transparency, long-lasting design, high price but built to last.
If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck – denim that will last, hold its shape, and offer some eco-benefits – choose wisely.
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FAQ: Sustainable and ethical jeans
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The ranking of sustainable jeans brands in this analysis is based on a comprehensive evaluation across several key areas. These include the quality and longevity of the jeans, assessed through fabric durability, construction, and craftsmanship. Environmental impact is another crucial factor, taking into account the use of organic materials, water consumption during production, the availability of repair programs, and other sustainability initiatives. Ethical considerations, such as fair wages, worker treatment, and supply chain transparency (verified through independent sources), are also heavily weighted. Finally, the ranking considers affordability relative to the quality and longevity of the product, and brands receive negative points for practices associated with fast fashion, like frequent collections and trend-based production, as well as signs of greenwashing.
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Several brands are recognized for the quality and durability of their jeans. Nudie Jeans and Patagonia both received the highest quality score (6/6), indicating exceptional craftsmanship and materials designed for longevity. Citizens of Humanity also scored highly (6/6) in quality, emphasizing their use of premium denim built to last for years. Even brands with lower overall scores, such as Levi's, Wrangler, Lee, Everlane, AG Jeans, and G-Star RAW, are noted for producing denim that is generally durable, though some may have trade-offs in other areas like ethics or sustainability.
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A jeans brand is considered environmentally sustainable based on various practices throughout its production cycle. These include prioritizing the use of organic or recycled materials, implementing technologies and processes to significantly reduce water consumption (like Levi's Water<Less®), utilizing sustainable dyes and washes, offering repair programs to extend the life of the garments (as with Nudie Jeans), using sustainable packaging, and generally minimizing their carbon footprint through clean manufacturing practices. Brands like Patagonia and Nudie Jeans demonstrate strong commitments to these areas, achieving high environmental bonus scores.
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The evaluation of ethical labor practices involves examining several aspects of a brand's operations and supply chain. This includes assessing whether the brand ensures fair wages and safe working conditions for its workers, striving for transparency in its supply chain, and actively engaging in worker initiatives. Verification through independent investigations and certifications, such as Fair Trade certification (as seen with Nudie Jeans and Patagonia), adds credibility to a brand's ethical claims. Brands like Wrangler and Lee received lower ethical scores due to reported issues with unsafe working conditions and a lack of transparency.
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Consumers looking for more sustainable and ethical jeans should prioritize brands that are transparent about their supply chain, use organic or recycled materials, implement water and energy-saving production methods, ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for their garment workers, and offer repair services to extend the lifespan of their products. Looking for certifications from independent organizations can also be helpful. Additionally, consumers should consider the brand's approach to fashion cycles, favoring timeless styles and brands that avoid excessive, trend-driven collections to combat the negative impacts of fast fashion.
Lisa Skaar Næss | Founder @Gemz
