Few apparel categories are as deeply shaped by protest culture—or as dependent on the whims of the cotton harvest—as denim.
In 2025, the global denim industry was shaped by these factors and more. Celebrity campaigns sparked online debates about race and gender. The secondhand market stepped up as a cost-friendly solution to dodge tariffs on new jeans. U.S. jean production took another blow as one of its last remaining mills shutdown and companies grappled with how to balance profitability and investments in sustainability.
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Here’s a look at the headlines that impacted the denim industry this year.
Saving Sustainability: How Denim Mills Stay Green Amid Financial Pressure
Economic uncertainty and global trade disruptions continue to strain corporate budgets—and sustainability efforts are feeling the pressure. But rather than abandoning their goals, many companies in the denim supply chain are simply recalibrating. Find out how brands and manufacturers are becoming more selective—targeting initiatives that deliver the biggest environmental impact and the strongest business value. Read more.
Denim and the Shifting Landscape of Fashion in Uncertain Times
Fashion responds to social shifts, but what happens when there’s no time to pause and take stock of unprecedented events? And how do brands navigate self-expression during a time of extreme divisiveness?
“We have been in a cycle of unprecedented times for some years now, the times just keep getting more and more unprecedented,” said Amy Leverton and Shannon Reddy of the consultancy, Denim Dudes. “Some socio-political figures are estimating that we are witnessing what is known as an ‘extinction burst’ which sounds terrifying, but for the more optimistic, it actually points toward the idea that what we’re seeing socially, politically and economically is the last major grasp at outdated ideologies and systems, and the tension we’re experiencing is essentially the growing pains before a transformation for the better.” Read more.
Avalo Leads the Way in Developing Climate-Resilient Crops in Texas
No machine or human can yet control the rainfall or temperature of a cotton field, but Avalo is redefining what’s possible, using nature and artificial intelligence to take some of the guesswork out of cotton farming. Through its Rapid Evolution Platform, the North Carolina-based plant biotechnology startup employs AI-powered genomic analysis to optimize certain traits in crops. Find out how Avalo can tailor seeds to region and climate, to grow in harsher conditions and to require less water, fertilizer and pesticide. Read more.
American Eagle, Sydney Sweeney Take Heat for Tone-Deaf Messaging
American Eagle (AE) president and executive creative director Jennifer Foyle said the brand was looking for “a little mischief” with its Fall 2025 campaign, “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans.” Almost immediately after the campaign went live, fans across social media tore apart the wording, posting comments like: “This is what happens when you have no [people] of color in a room. Read more.
Denim Sales Show Stability Over Cyclical Fluctuations
From its resurgence as a celebrity-driven Western trend to the growing popularity of ‘denim dressing’ and the expanding range of fits consumers are embracing, a lot has been said about denim’s new cycle. However, the idea that denim’s resurgence is purely cyclical may be overstated, according to an UBS note on U.S. softlines retail. While current trends are shaping denim’s future, their eventual decline doesn’t necessarily mean denim will disappear from the spotlight. Find out how emerging international markets and brand power play roles in denim’s success. Read more.
Re&Up Fast-Tracks Textile Recycling for a Circular Future
Re&Up Recycling Technologies is a company with no time to waste. Or textiles, for that matter. By 2030, the Sanko Group spinoff aims to hit an annual recycling capacity of 1 million metric tons. That means it has to hustle. Re&Up’s general manager Andreas Dorner discusses the challenges of operating in today’s geopolitical quagmire, how environmental policy can be both a boon and a bane, and where the company is headed next. Read more.
The Art of the Detail: How Trims Are Shaping Denim’s Future
Zippers, patches, buttons, and rivets may often go unnoticed to the average consumer, but they are just as essential to the durability and wear of jeans as the fabric itself. And each season, like fabric mills, trim manufacturers work to increase their components performance while decreasing their environmental footprint. Find out how YKK, ACM, Trimco and more are minimizing their products’ impact. Read more.
Rising Prices, Falling Confidence: Secondhand Retail Steps Up
Conversations about shopping secondhand are growing as consumers begin to revisit the savings hacks that helped their wallets during the height of the pandemic and the Great Recession. “Secondhand is tariff-free, local and sustainable. It’s going to be an even better option than ever moving forward,” said Aarian Frye, marketing coordinator at Buffalo Exchange. Find out how economic uncertainty may impact the resale and thrift market. Read more.
Bangladesh Denim Group Reopens Factories After Weeklong Suspension
Pioneer Denim, one of Bangladesh’s largest denim manufacturers, reopen in October after days of violent protests, which left more than two dozen workers injured. The Business Standard, which described the unrest as “one of the most severe in Bangladesh’s garment sector this year,” traced the demonstrations to Oct. 9, when workers reportedly learned that the Bangladesh authorities were verifying their home addresses as part of an investigation into an earlier skirmish where police cars were vandalized. This sparked a wave of panic among workers who feared they were being targeted for arrest, resulting in an initial protest that triggered a temporary shutdown. This appeared to anger the demonstrators further. By Oct. 14, workers allegedly stopped work, disrupted electrical systems and persuaded others to join their strike. Read more.
The High Cost of Staying American: Denim Brands Fight to Keep Production in the USA
Producing jeans domestically offers key advantages—such as speed-to-market, quality control, and the flexibility to adapt designs to shifting demand—but these benefits come at a growing cost, driven by limited manufacturing capacity and tariffs introduced during the Trump administration. Not only has it become more difficult for brands to obtain premium fabrics, but the cost of cut-and-sew has increased exponentially. Read more.
Global Consumers Turn to Jeans for Comfort
Nothing beats a good pair of jeans—and there’s new data to back that up. Cotton Incorporated’s 2024 Global Denim Survey of more than 10,000 global consumers found that 85 percent of consumers gravitate to jeans because they enjoy wearing denim. The survey included feedback from consumers in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, U.K., and U.S. Find out more insights from the survey. Read more.
