Outerknown is continuing its pursuit of the perfect sustainable jean. The Carlsbad, Calif.–based brand unveiled a new Sea Jeans collection as part of its long-standing commitment to responsible design.
“I’ve always believed the right pair of jeans changes how you move through the world. When the fit is right, you stand a little taller and feel more like yourself, and they only get better with time. With this new chapter of Sea Jeans, we returned to the fits that matter most and elevated everything else—the fabric, the details, the construction, so they feel exceptional from day one and wear in beautifully for years,” said John Moore, Outerknown co-founder and creative director.
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Moore has led the design of Sea Jeans since its launch in 2018 for men. The collection added women’s styles in 2019 and underwent a refresh in 2024. The collection has evolved through incremental updates to fit and wash, informed by wear testing and real-world use.
“The evolution of Sea Jeans mirrors the evolution of the brand, from men’s wear in the early days to the strong women’s business today,” Moore told SJ Denim. “Men embraced them early on, and we had to earn women’s trust over time. Now they are living in them.”
Outerknown has also shifted its denim production strategy. After a brief period of sourcing from a vertical manufacturer, the brand is back to sourcing fabrics from Candiani Denim.
“Every time you are making something by hand, working with experts in their craft, and navigating the nuance it takes to get it right, it takes patience. To me, the mistakes along the way are part of that process, and there’s something truly beautiful about this evolution. It means listening to our customers and staying deeply dedicated to bringing all the right elements together, especially when you are building jeans to our quality standards,” Moore said.
From fits to washes to trims, every detail of Sea Jean has been revisited and refined. Staying true to the brand’s commitment to source preferred fibers.
“Designing denim humbles you,” Moore said. “The smallest details really matter—the rise, the wash, the pocket shape, even a fraction of a centimeter can change everything. The biggest lesson we’ve learned is just to slow down, listen to the customer, dial in the fits, and obsess over making the highest quality jeans—jeans you’ll pull on, and instantly feel great in.”
Fabrics are carefully selected for qualities such as their durability and authentic look and feel. Moore sought fabrics that have wash characteristics—like a “great pair of vintage jeans”—but understood how “a little bit of stretch really helps the fit, especially where it counts, and adds another level of comfort for longer wear.”
“The rigid versus stretch conversation is always a lively one,” Moore added. With fit and comfort the “benchmarks of true quality,” he said the question becomes, “how do you mill a denim with the substance and character of rigid, but just the right amount of give?”
Candiani Denim delivered exactly this with in a 13.75 oz. fabric made with 98 percent organic cotton and 2 percent spandex. The fabric is applied to four new fits. Moore recalled visiting the Italian mill’s studio in Downtown Los Angeles to view its latest developments. He chose one with “guts to it,” “a dry hand” and “beautiful wash.”
“And the best part? I didn’t even realize it had stretch,” he said, noting that the fabric keeps its shape and feels fantastic as soon as you put it on. “I’m already looking ahead and genuinely excited about some of the washes and new developments coming in for the second half of the year.”
The new collection includes the Traveler Straight and Highline Slim for men and the Scout Straight and Isla Sailor for women. The bestselling unisex Beachcomber Relaxed—a rigid 13 oz. mid-rise with a relaxed, generous leg—also returns.
Five vintage-inspired washes, each “developed to deliver a broken-in feel from the first wear while preserving durability,” are available throughout the collection. Upgraded components include premium hardware, a redesigned back patch, and storytelling elements printed inside the pocket bags. Jeans retail for $168.
Moore said Sea Jeans proves to consumers that the brand is serious about quality and longevity.
“A great pair of jeans becomes a part of you, and the way they wear-in reflects how you live your life,” he said. “I’m wearing a pair of our Sea Jeans from 2018 right now, and I love them more today because the wash and wear tells the story of my journey, and they literally feel like they’re a part of me. In a marketplace that’s always chasing trends, we’re committed to making the pair you’ll hold onto for years.”
