Acne Studios' New Denim Line Is Modern Minimalism at Its Best

Way back in 1997, before Acne Studios sold everything from briefs to blazers, cofounder Jonny Johansson started out with denim, making 100 pairs of jeans that would come to define the brand. Twenty years later, he's starting all over with the Acne Studios Blå Konst collection: a complete denim overhaul that pares things down to just the essentials.

North jeans in light blue

"Denim is so important to me, and to everyone at Acne Studios," Johansson says. "It is how the brand started, and our roots will always be in denim. I wanted to purify it and elevate it, reconsidering denim, editing the range and refreshing the pieces."

Blå Konst streamlines the core denim collection into six styles for jeans: one baggy, straight, and skinny style for each men and women. It also includes reimagined denim jackets, shorts, and skirts. The collection is online now, and prices for jeans start at $220. There's also a seasonal collection, the first of which used both the outdoors and the artist's uniform and functionality as inspiration.

A few standouts: the North jeans light blue for a fresh light wash pair; the printed River jeans for subtle detailing; and the Map light vintage denim jacket for a looser take on a spring favorite. Each piece feels both artistic and modern—just the kind of thing to give your wardrobe a whole new feel.

A version of this story appeared in the May 2017 issue.