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Lucky 13: The Best Places to Buy Denim in San Francisco

San Francisco is the birthplace of the blue jean. We take denim seriously.

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Denim is the default uniform for most San Franciscans, and people take jeans seriously in this city. From selvedge to stretch, pristine to destroyed, locals know how to incorporate a good pair of jeans into an outfit for any occasion. So where are the best places to shop for the next great love of your sartorial life? Below, we've mapped 13 of our faves, arranged roughly north to south.

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Industrie Denim

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Big Star, Current/Elliott, all the Js (J, James and Jones), Koral, Levi's Made & Crafted, Nudie, Paige, Rag & Bone—yup, all the best denim brands can be found at Industrie for both men and women. Look for the "booty cam" in their dressing rooms, so you can get a good look at how the goods will look in those jeans you're about to spend a couple hundred bucks on. [Photo]

Self Edge Denim

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Self Edge is a store for the serious denim connoisseur, with rare brands including including Strike Gold, Dry Bones, Real Japan Blues and Sugar Cane. They pride themselves on providing "selvedge lines made of metallic red silk, rivets made from sterling silver, poisonous python skin tags from Okinawa." They also offer repair service on denim jeans, jackets or shirts. [Photo]

G-Star Raw

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From A-crotch to dropped crotch, from overalls and cutoffs to vests and jackets, the G-Star Raw brand most likely has your denim tastes covered. You'll find every wash imaginable, and everything from skinny to wide-leg jeans, plus t-shirts, jeans, and even undies. [Photo]

Brooklyn Circus

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The Brooklyn Circus carries its own line of Japanese raw denim, plus denim hats and super cute varsity jackets to go with them. [Photo]

The Blues Jean Bar - SF

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Sidle up to the Blues Jean Bar in Cow Hollow, and a friendly bartender will help you find—among their 40+ brands—your perfect style (bootcut, skinny, straight), wash (dark, light, distressed), and waist size. [Photo]

ab fits

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It's one of the few places in San Francisco where you can find Dope & Drakkar denim, which is made of raw denim from organic cotton grown in Texas and fabricated on mid-century shuttle looms salvaged from a North Carolina textile plants. Need we say more? [Photo]

7 For All Mankind

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They've come a long way since being one of the first brands to lure women to spend $100+ on jeans in the '90s with their low-slung bootcut style. These days, you'll find every wash, color and style. [Photo]

AG Adriano Goldschmied

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You'll find always on-trend cuts from skinnies to colored to destroyed denim styles, plus tops, jackets and accessories wear with your jeans. [Photo]

Joe's Jeans

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Known for making you butt look the best it possibly can, Joes will hook you up. The brand is the ultimate cool-girl go-to, and the SF store carries a huge men's selection as well. [Photo]

Heidi Says Collections

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The Heidi Says Casual and Collections stores may have merged, but this Fillmore shop remains one of your best resources for premium denim. Shop brands like Rag & Bone, Frame, BLK DNM NYC, J Brand, Mother and more. [Photo]

Convert Man

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This Hayes Valley store is an excellent option when you're looking for sustainably produced, American-made brands. The shop carries Sausalito-based Tellason, Naked & Famous, AG denim and more. [Photo]

Levi's Store

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Levi's hardly needs an introduction. The company's new flagship store on Market is must-stop for brand fanatics. The store carries pretty much any Levi's style your heart desires and has tailors on site. They also host some can't-miss exhibitions and special events. [Photo]
One of the few spots in the city where you can find Raleigh Denim's women's line, Mill Mercantile also stocks hometown favorites like Levi's Made & Crafted. [Photo]

Industrie Denim

Big Star, Current/Elliott, all the Js (J, James and Jones), Koral, Levi's Made & Crafted, Nudie, Paige, Rag & Bone—yup, all the best denim brands can be found at Industrie for both men and women. Look for the "booty cam" in their dressing rooms, so you can get a good look at how the goods will look in those jeans you're about to spend a couple hundred bucks on. [Photo]

Self Edge Denim

Self Edge is a store for the serious denim connoisseur, with rare brands including including Strike Gold, Dry Bones, Real Japan Blues and Sugar Cane. They pride themselves on providing "selvedge lines made of metallic red silk, rivets made from sterling silver, poisonous python skin tags from Okinawa." They also offer repair service on denim jeans, jackets or shirts. [Photo]

G-Star Raw

From A-crotch to dropped crotch, from overalls and cutoffs to vests and jackets, the G-Star Raw brand most likely has your denim tastes covered. You'll find every wash imaginable, and everything from skinny to wide-leg jeans, plus t-shirts, jeans, and even undies. [Photo]

Brooklyn Circus

The Brooklyn Circus carries its own line of Japanese raw denim, plus denim hats and super cute varsity jackets to go with them. [Photo]

The Blues Jean Bar - SF

Sidle up to the Blues Jean Bar in Cow Hollow, and a friendly bartender will help you find—among their 40+ brands—your perfect style (bootcut, skinny, straight), wash (dark, light, distressed), and waist size. [Photo]

ab fits

It's one of the few places in San Francisco where you can find Dope & Drakkar denim, which is made of raw denim from organic cotton grown in Texas and fabricated on mid-century shuttle looms salvaged from a North Carolina textile plants. Need we say more? [Photo]

7 For All Mankind

They've come a long way since being one of the first brands to lure women to spend $100+ on jeans in the '90s with their low-slung bootcut style. These days, you'll find every wash, color and style. [Photo]

AG Adriano Goldschmied

You'll find always on-trend cuts from skinnies to colored to destroyed denim styles, plus tops, jackets and accessories wear with your jeans. [Photo]

Joe's Jeans

Known for making you butt look the best it possibly can, Joes will hook you up. The brand is the ultimate cool-girl go-to, and the SF store carries a huge men's selection as well. [Photo]

Heidi Says Collections

The Heidi Says Casual and Collections stores may have merged, but this Fillmore shop remains one of your best resources for premium denim. Shop brands like Rag & Bone, Frame, BLK DNM NYC, J Brand, Mother and more. [Photo]

Convert Man

This Hayes Valley store is an excellent option when you're looking for sustainably produced, American-made brands. The shop carries Sausalito-based Tellason, Naked & Famous, AG denim and more. [Photo]

Levi's Store

Levi's hardly needs an introduction. The company's new flagship store on Market is must-stop for brand fanatics. The store carries pretty much any Levi's style your heart desires and has tailors on site. They also host some can't-miss exhibitions and special events. [Photo]

Mill

One of the few spots in the city where you can find Raleigh Denim's women's line, Mill Mercantile also stocks hometown favorites like Levi's Made & Crafted. [Photo]