The designers to turn to when upgrading a wardrobe staple, jeans.

Denim is very much a global business. It operates from Japan to California, Gothenburg to east London, and designers across the world have devoted themselves to crafting the perfect pair of jeans. But what – and, more importantly, who – makes the best? That, of course, depends on who you ask. There are many brands that have made their mark on the denim world – from paragons of sustainability to artisanal masters of traditional techniques – and here we focus on five, available now on MR PORTER.

AG Jeans was founded almost two decades ago by the Italian designer Mr Adriano Goldschmied and the denim pioneer Mr Yul Ku, who still heads it up today. Striking the balance between jeans that feel comfortable and worn-in while still retaining a tailored, refined sensibility, AG Jeans are the thing if you like your denim with a little sophistication.

Combining California’s storied denim heritage with an east London cool, Frame is based between LA and the UK capital, and produces jeans, shirts and T-shirts that boast high quality without taking itself too seriously. The signature L’Homme slim-fit jeans are made from a light-distressed indigo stretch-denim and are a great go-to that will look good with, well, just about anything.

Seriously into jeans? You’ll want to take note of this one. Fabric-Brand & Co is an artisan denim label that uses authentic, handcrafted denim from the Kojima district in Japan’s Okayama prefecture (an area famous for the practice). Each pair is made by Japanese artisans using traditional approaches and customs in everything from spinning the yarn to weaving the fabric. The yoke of Fabric-Brand & Co’s jeans are typically embroidered with sashiko stitching (a traditional technique consisting of decorative stitches to reinforce the fabric) and uses original shuttle looms and slow-drying processes.

Based in Gothenburg, Nudie Jeans is one of the Swedish titans of the denim world. The brand is known for its attention to detail and considered approach to manufacturing. Last year, it won a sustainable fashion award, evaluated for innovation, design, technical quality and green credentials. Crafted from organic stretch denim, the Lean Dean slim-fit tapered style, which is made in Italy, is one of its most popular. And not just limited to denim, Nudie Jeans also makes great T-shirts and chore jackets.

Simon Miller doesn’t have a denim factory, it has a denim studio. With its jeans a favourite among celebrities such as Messrs Zac Efron and Justin Timberlake, Simon Miller is a resolutely Hollywood brand. Still, that doesn’t mean its jeans aren’t intended to be worn by those of us who aren’t A-listers. Combining expert manufacturing techniques with the brand’s Southern Californian sensibility, the brand’s M007 jeans are a tad smarter than the average pair and will look the part with a shirt or blazer. Good for walking the red carpet at a movie premiere, or just down the pub at the weekend.

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