You think that $300 pair of jeans you saw last weekend was super-expensive? Think again, pal. There are way more expensive jeans out there in the world, just waiting to be picked up by people with loaded bank accounts. For this top 10 list, we list down the most expensive jeans in the world.
10. 3×1
3×1 is a relatively new denim brand, founded in 2011 by Scott Morrison, the former president and designer at Paper Denim & Cloth and Earnest Sewn. Like Earnest Sewn, 3×1 specializes in limited edition custom-fit jeans, with NBA superstar LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers one of Morrison’s regular patrons.
The made-to-order service isn’t exactly cheap. 3×1 charges at least $1,200 for custom-fit jeans, created by taking into account the customer’s exact measurements and preferences when it comes to the design. The more expensive materials used, the higher the price goes.
9. Yves Saint Laurent
Founded in 1961, Yves Saint Laurent is a mainstay in the high fashion market, having produced numerous iconic fashion pieces throughout the years. After founder Yves Saint Laurent retired in 2002, the fashion house went through a rough patch for a few years. In 2015, creative director Hedi Slimane relaunched the company’s high fashion collection, marking the triumphant return of the popular brand.
Yves Saint Laurent jeans vary in price depending on the materials used. But the most high-end pair of jeans won’t go for less than $1,000, similar to most other luxury fashion brands.
8. Michael Kors
A hit among women, Michael Kors is an American luxury fashion brand founded by Michael David Kors in 1981. The company remained an exclusive brand until 2006 when the company finally opened its first retail stores for regular consumers.
Michael Kors jeans are available at both accessible and absurd prices. Some pairs of jeans go for less than $500 while others come with at least $1,000 price tags. One of the most expensive pairs ever produced by the company is the Michael Kors Collection Tie-Dye Leather Bell-Bottom Pants, which originally retailed for $2,000. You can buy the jeans now for around $1,500-1,700, depending on the store.
7. Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen is a British fashion label named after its award-winning founder, the late Lee Alexander McQueen. The brand is now led by creative director Sarah Burton, who designed the wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton for her wedding in 2011.
Alexander McQueen has been involved in numerous controversies since it launched in 1992. But that hasn’t stopped patrons from turning to the popular brand when in need of expensive high-end jeans. A pair of top-of-the-line jeans from the London-based fashion house won’t go below $1,000, with the most luxurious ones easily topping $2,000.
6. Gucci “Genius Jeans”
Ah, Gucci. A list of the most expensive and luxurious clothing in the world won’t be complete without a Gucci product. For the uninitiated, Gucci is an Italian brand of luxury fashion goods. It was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci and is one of the most well-known brands in the world.
In 1998, the so-called Gucci “Genius Jeans” (not the one pictured above) made headlines by being named by the Guinness World Records as the most expensive jeans ever. It was a regular pair of Gucci jeans that had been distressed, ripped, and adorned with African beads. It was first showcased in Milan, debuting for $3,134. Gucci held that record for several years. But the record for the most expensive jeans in the world now belongs to another item further down the list.
5. APO Jeans
The most expensive jeans in the world often come with luxurious bling composed of rare and expensive gems and metals. It’s the only way that makers of luxury goods can justify the outrageous prices. Take the jeans made by APO Jeans, for example. The rivets on the pockets are made of gold, silver, or platinum, though nobody will be able to tell unless they get an up-close and personal look at the jeans.
More importantly, the jeans come with a small diamond in place of the usual button, making rich people feel luxurious just by unbuttoning their pants. The price of each pair of APO Jeans depends on the gems and metals used. But a $4,000 bill is a pretty normal price when ordering one. Jeans with packed with all sorts of bling from top to bottom will undoubtedly cost more.
4. Escada Couture Swarovski Crystal Jeans
Not everyone is willing to cough up more than $100 for a pair of jeans. Heck, most people even refuse to buy a pair of jeans worth more than $20. But for those willing to spend thousands of dollars on a piece of clothing, the Escada Couture Swarovski Crystal Jeans are available commercially.
At $10,000, the pair of jeans is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most expensive commercially available jeans in the world. Interested buyers can find the jeans at Neiman Marcus, an American department store chain. The $10,000 jeans are studded with Swarovski crystals, made by Austrian crystal and jewelry producer Swarovski, hence the massive price tag.
3. Levi Strauss & Co. 501
In 2005, a pair of pre-1900 Levi Strauss & Co. 501 jeans was sold on online auction site eBay for $60,000. Sold by American Randy Knight, the jeans were around 115 years old at the time. The sale is recorded in the Guinness World Records as the most expensive jeans sold at auction online. The buyer was an anonymous collector based in Japan.
According to the Guinness World Records, there are only two or three complete pairs of pre-1900 Levi Strauss & Co. 501 jeans in existence, and the one sold on eBay is the first pair found that is still wearable. The $60,000 jeans were found in 1998 and have never been washed prior to being sold online. Washing it would have lowered the value, so good thing the people who found the jeans kept them in their original state.
2. Dussault Apparel Thrashed Denim Line
Luxurious jeans don’t necessarily have to look good to justify the price tag. The Dussault Apparel Thrashed Denim Line is a great example. Dubbed as “The Whites,” each pair of jeans includes rubies, diamonds, white or rose gold, and a questionable number of skulls. They look anything but attractive with all that bling-bling on full display.
Dussault Apparel uses a hand-made process to create the jeans, washing each pair 13 times and dyeing and painting between each wash. The luxurious jeans go for $250,000 a pop, making them only accessible to the most disgustingly rich people on earth. Why anyone would buy something so hideous is simply beyond us.
1. Secret Circus Clothing
A few years ago, under-the-radar clothing designer Secret Circus Clothing made everyone’s jaw drop when it announced a pair of jeans worth $1.3 million. It’s easily the most expensive jeans ever created, giving whoever buys it literally a million-dollar booty.
With that price, you might think no one would be crazy enough to buy it. But no, someone actually picked up the pair, though Secret Circus Clothing kept the buyer’s identity a secret. The company is infamous for keeping its activities under-wraps, so that’s probably the reason why you haven’t heard of them before.
At first glance, the million-dollar jeans don’t really look out of the ordinary. A lot of people probably wouldn’t even give it a second look – until they see the back of the jeans. The right back pocket is encrusted with 15 diamonds, the main reason for that $1.3 million price. It’s a luxurious design only insanely rich people would find fashionable.
