LA-based brand Agolde rode the wave of the post-pandemic denim revival, becoming a go-to name for premium jeans in every style and cut. Now, it’s setting its sights on the rest of your wardrobe.
“Of course, we started with denim,” says CEO Amy Williams. “But at this point, we’ve grown into more of a contemporary collection brand.”
Originally founded in the early 1990s by denim legend Adriano Goldschmied and retail pioneer Ron Herman, the brand was later relaunched by Jérôme Dahan, a co-founder of Citizens of Humanity. Agolde built its reputation on high-waisted, ’90s-inspired silhouettes and stiff fabrics—a formula that locked in its place in premium denim before it began expanding beyond that.
That shift is now a key part of the business. Today, about 40% of Agolde’s revenue comes from ready-to-wear items like knitwear, outerwear, shirts, and vegan leather. While the brand has long offered basics like T-shirts and non-denim jackets, it only officially launched its ready-to-wear line at the start of 2026, when it greatly expanded its selection. That segment now brings in mid-eight-figure revenue on its own, quickly growing from a supporting role to nearly half of the brand’s business.
Several premium denim brands have tried to build out ready-to-wear alongside their core offerings. Rag & Bone has had some success, while others, like Frame, are still mostly linked to denim even though they sell other categories. The challenge is getting customers to come back for more than just jeans—something Agolde seems to be doing at a faster pace.
“Denim is one of the most natural starting points in apparel,” says Kristen Classi-Zummo, an apparel industry advisor at Circana. “It’s the foundation consumers build outfits around.” The brands that succeed in growing beyond denim, she adds, are the ones that treat related categories as an extension of that foundation, not a break from it. “When the foundation stays solid, the expansion feels genuine to the consumer—and that’s what drives repeat purchases across categories.”
Agolde’s world
For Williams, the expansion was partly about building out the brand’s world more completely. “I think with any great brand, you close your eyes and see a very clear identity for it,” she says.
Retail partners like Selfridges, Net-a-Porter, and Bloomingdale’s have quickly embraced this approach, carrying a wider mix of categories and presenting Agolde not just as a denim line, but as something closer to a full wardrobe.
The brand’s first flagship store is the latest step in its move toward becoming a full-fledged fashion label. Agolde opened its first standalone location on Melrose Place in Los Angeles this week, with a second in New York’s Soho planned for 2027. In the longer term, the company aims to open 10 to 12 global flagships in markets like London and Paris. “With our own stores, we can show the brand in its entirety,” Williams says.
Agolde’s wider product range is already changing how customers shop online. The brand’s e-commerce business is up more than 35% year-over-year, with both traffic and sessions up over 20%, says Williams. Shopping baskets are increasingly made up of multiple categories—jeans alongside tops, outerwear, and non-denim bottoms—rather than just a single item.
Agolde’s first flagship store on Melrose Place in Los Angeles.
Photo: Laurence Ellis
This is why moving beyond denim can strengthen a brand, says Classi-Zummo, giving it a stronger hold on the customer while protecting the business from any shifts away from jeans. “A denim-only brand is just a category stop—a brand that can dress a customer from head to toe becomes a destination,” she explains. “Instead of losing that customer to another label for tops or outerwear, the brand captures more of their lifetime value.”
Importantly, Agolde’s direct-to-consumer growth isn’t hurting its wholesale business. That part of the business is up more than 10% year-over-year.Year after year, it continues to perform well across its top accounts, even as parts of the department store channel have shrunk.
“We’re not trying to move away from wholesale,” Williams says. “It’s complementary.”
Menswear is also becoming a key part of the business. Launched less than three years ago, this category is growing quickly, with sales up 359% year-over-year. Much of that growth comes from direct traffic to Agolde’s own channels, as the brand gains visibility by working with athletes and celebrity stylists.
“In the last few weeks, a few NBA players wore our pieces during tunnel walks, as well as the guys from Heated Rivalry,” Williams says. “We see a direct impact from that on our website.”
The idea for menswear came from something unexpected: men buying from the women’s line because they liked the fits and shapes. It was “an aha moment,” says Williams, and it seems to be paying off.
Looking ahead, Agolde is focused on expanding its ready-to-wear line with more unique fabrics and is hiring its first dedicated menswear designer. With these changes, the company expects double-digit revenue growth across its brands in 2026.
Photo: Courtesy of Agolde
“We have a highly profitable business that isn’t based on discounts or anything that might flood the channels,” Williams says, noting that only 1% of the business was sold through off-price channels last year. “We keep the business really clean.”
The company also sees growth opportunities in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, but is taking a more careful approach to expansion.
“The world is in such a tough place right now, so we’re being very thoughtful and methodical about where we grow,” Williams says.
This caution follows a post-pandemic rebound in denim, which helped fuel the brand’s recent growth but also marked the end of a period that highlighted the need to build beyond it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about whether Agolde can translate its denim success into a full readytowear line written in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is Agolde known for
Agolde is famous for making really good highquality denim jeans Think trendy cuts like Parker or Pinch Waist that feel vintage but fit perfectly
2 What does readytowear mean here
It means Agolde would make a full collection of clothing beyond jeanslike shirts dresses blazers and jacketsthat people can buy off the rack not just custommade
3 Does Agolde already make other clothes besides jeans
Yes they already sell some basics like tshirts buttondowns and simple tops But their main identity is still denim This question asks if they can become a full fashion brand like a mini Ralph Lauren or Reformation
4 Why would Agolde want to expand into readytowear
To grow the business Selling a full wardrobe means customers buy more and the brand becomes less dependent on just the jeans trend It also builds a stronger more complete brand identity
5 Is this a good idea for Agolde
It can be but its risky Their core customers love them for jeans If the new clothes dont feel like Agolde or arent as good they could confuse or disappoint their fans
Intermediate Advanced Questions
6 Whats the biggest challenge Agolde faces in making this work
The brand stretch problem Agoldes magic is in the fit wash and feel of their denim Replicating that level of expertise and cool factor in a woven shirt or a silk dress is incredibly hard Denim expertise doesnt automatically translate to all fabrics
7 How does their current customer base help or hurt this expansion
Help They have a loyal fashionforward customer who trusts the brand These customers are already looking for complete outfits