2025-26 Autumn/Winter Ready-to-Wear: Four Faces of Denim

On the 2025/26 autumn-winter runways, denim displayed multifaceted charm: fibre blends delivered bold experiments in look and touch; all-denim dressing, from top to trousers, felt effortlessly retro; animal prints colliding with denim brought wildness into dialogue with toughness; and traditional indigo showed denim's raw appeal in deep, saturated tones — continuing to lead this season's trends.

Fibre Blends: A Tactile Experiment

The most immediate change on this season's runways comes from the fabric itself. Several brands introduce blended fibres into denim, giving it new drape and sheen while keeping its structure — the hand shifts from rugged to refined, and the look travels between matte and a faint lustre, becoming the starting point for designers exploring “tactile fashion.”

All Denim: Effortless Retro Dressing

From top to trousers, the same denim fabric runs through the entire look, forming the monochrome “all denim” combination. This seemingly simple approach reads sharp thanks to its unified tone, while differing wash levels keep it from feeling monotonous — making it the season's most retro and most approachable styling formula.

Animal Prints: Wildness Meets Toughness

When animal textures such as leopard and python meet tough denim, a subtle tension arises between wildness and workwear. Layering prints over jacquard gives the denim surface far stronger visual impact, pushing denim from an everyday basic to the protagonist of the look.

Classic Indigo: The Return of Raw Appeal

Beyond all the experimental techniques, traditional indigo still holds the centre of the season. Deep blue is presented through the most classic dyeing method, combined with varying degrees of washing to return denim to its truest form — both a cycle of fashion and the reason denim endures.

Brand Runway Selection

Below is a selection of looks in which denim stood out most across the 2025-26 autumn-winter ready-to-wear collections.

ACNE

Brandon Maxwell

Gabriela Hearst

Chloe

Meryll Rogge

Balenciaga

Source: China National Garment Association / MrKE Design