Ulla Johnson Denim and Jeans: The Los Angeles Line Explained

Ulla Johnson has made its denim in Los Angeles since 2021, and it is the part of the label that behaves least like the rest of it. No prints, no hand embroidery on most of it, just heavy cotton and a lot of attention to the leg. Coveti carries 46 denim pieces, from $680 to $1,350, with a median of $870. Here is how the line breaks down and which jean does what.

The jeans, by leg

Straight and slim

The Colette Straight Leg in Danube at $770 is the plainest jean in the range and the one to buy first. The Lou in Danube is $720. The Agnes Stretch Jean in Danube at $680 is the cheapest, with enough stretch to sit closer to the leg.

Wide and flared

The Bianca Wide Leg Seamed Jean in Umber is $870 and has a seam down the front that lengthens the line. The Stretch Valory Flare in Noir, also $870, is the flare. The Laurel Kick Flare in Chantilly at $720 is the shorter, gentler version of the same idea.

Low rise and pintuck

The Jasmine Low Rise in Nile is $870. The pintuck jeans are where the house detail shows: The Genevieve Stretch Pintuck in Cowrie at $830 and The Agatha Straight Leg Pintuck in Tigris at $870 both carry stitched tucks down the leg.

Beyond jeans

The denim line runs well past trousers. The Rowan Denim Culotte in Noir is $720. The Brigette Denim Midi Skirt in Danube is $910 and The Madelyn Denim Skirt in Noir is $1,020.

For jackets, The Briar Collarless Denim Jacket in Danube is $970 and The Sybil Denim Jacket in Nile is $1,060. The Arquette Denim Peplum Jacket at $970 is the one that reads as a going-out piece.

The dearest things in the line are the one-pieces: The Odella Denim Dress in Noir at $1,350 and The Esme Denim Jumpsuit in Tigris, also $1,350.

The embellished denim

A small group carries hand-applied beading over the denim, which is the point where the artisan side of the house meets the Los Angeles line. The Willow Embellished Wide Leg Jean is $1,120, The Verona Embellished Denim Skirt is $1,120 and The Bobbi Embellished Denim Jacket is $1,270.

The washes

Ulla Johnson names its washes rather than numbering them. Danube is the mid indigo and the most common. Tigris is darker and bluer. Nile is a lighter, greyer blue. Cowrie and Chantilly are the pale washes. Umber is the brown-black, and Noir is true black. If you are buying unseen, Danube is the safe one.

What Ulla Johnson denim costs

$680 to $1,350, median $870. Jeans cluster between $720 and $870. Skirts and jackets run $910 to $1,270, and the denim dresses and the jumpsuit sit at the top at $1,350. The embellished pieces carry roughly a $250 premium over their plain equivalents.

Sizing

Denim is the one category where Ulla Johnson does not use the numeric dress ladder. Jeans are sold on inch waists, 23 to 32, and Coveti shows those inch sizes unchanged rather than converting them. Everything else in the denim line, the skirts, jackets and dresses, runs on the usual US numeric shown as UK. The brand is true to size throughout. Details are in the Ulla Johnson size guide.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ulla Johnson denim made?

Los Angeles. The label added a handcrafted denim line in 2021 and has made it in Los Angeles since.

How much are Ulla Johnson jeans?

Between $680 and $1,120 at Coveti. Most sit at $720 to $870. The embellished wide-leg jeans are the dearest at $1,120.

What size are Ulla Johnson jeans?

Inch waists from 23 to 32. Unlike the rest of the collection, the denim is not sold on the US numeric ladder, so take your usual jean waist measurement.

What is the difference between Danube and Tigris?

Both are indigo. Danube is the mid-blue standard wash and Tigris is noticeably darker. Nile sits lighter and greyer than either.

More at who is Ulla Johnson, Ulla Johnson at Coveti and designer denim.