Denim is being replaced with its raw version. Faded jeans are making a comeback this season, thanks to a handful of fashion houses and designers who are giving it its due.
London-based designer Aaron Esh infuses his latest collection with details inspired by the British indie scene. The result is a pair of slightly distressed, faded jeans. For McQueen, Seán McGirr revived the Y2K trend of (very) low-waisted jeans with a subtly faded effect. However, it was MM6 Maison Margiela who confirmed the return of faded denim with panache, debuting a bleached denim look.
Faded jeans trends in 2026
A staple of the 2000s, faded jeans first appeared in the 1980s with the bleached process, which involves treating denim with bleaching enzymes and pumice stones. This process allows each pair to be unique and varied. Iconic celebrities like Paris Hilton, Tara Reid and Kate Moss have succumbed to this trend, which adapts to all styles, combining Y2K with indie sleaze.
At the time, bootcut pants were the most popular style, that enjoyed new success last year thanks to Kendrick Lamar. Onstage at SuperBowl 2025, the rapper wore a washed-out flared pair akin to the Serge model, named in homage to Serge Gainsbourg unveiled by Celine on the catwalk for its Spring/Summer 2020 show.
Kendrick Lamar at SuperBowl 2025
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Celine spring-summer 2020
If raw denim and barrel cut jeans are the major denim trends of 2026, washed jeans are set to follow suit, especially as today’s washing processes have become increasingly eco-responsible. At Pitti Uomo in early 2024, denim specialist Guess unveiled its Guess Airwash technology, a revolutionary approach to denim processing. With this innovation, the brand aims to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional washing methods.
SimonPerry
