Acne Studios vs RRL (Ralph Lauren): which jean wins?
Both land in the raw selvedge tier — the Acne Studios 1991 Loose Fit at $320, the RRL (Ralph Lauren) Slim Fit Selvedge (men's) at $350, just $30 apart. Here's how they stack up, head to head.
| Acne Studios | RRL (Ralph Lauren) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $320 | $350 |
| Material | Quality cotton denim, including rigid and washed options, designed with a fashion sensibility. | 13–14oz Japanese selvedge; chain-stitched, vintage-replica hardware and washes. |
| Fit | The 1991 is a loose, relaxed fit with a vintage-leaning silhouette. Reviewers note European sizing and a roomy cut, advising a check of the size chart. | Slim through thigh and calf, mid-rise. Runs slim — sizing up one is common advice. |
| Quality | Owners report good fabric and construction consistent with a fashion house; the rigid versions wear and age well. | Premium construction with archival-grade detailing — the vintage-replica hardware, washes and design work are the differentiators. |
| Best for | Shoppers wanting clean, fashion-led designer denim in quality fabric. | A premium vintage-Americana aesthetic, considered styling, and buyers who want Ralph Lauren's heritage line specifically. |
| Care | Wash cold inside out and hang dry to preserve fabric and wash. | Cold wash inside-out and infrequently; air dry. RRL's washes are designed to keep developing with wear. |
The $320 Acne Studios 1991 is fashion-led loose denim sold on clean design, while the $350 RRL Slim Fit is Ralph Lauren's heritage line built on 13–14oz Japanese selvedge with chain-stitching and vintage-replica hardware. The $30 step up moves you from a fashion silhouette to honest Americana construction and detailing.
$30 cheaper, loose relaxed silhouette, clean fashion-led design, rigid versions age well
Japanese selvedge cloth, chain-stitched construction, vintage-replica hardware, premium archival detailing, slim mid-rise cut
Which should you buy?
Buy the Acne 1991 at $320 if you want a roomy, vintage-leaning loose fit and don't care about selvedge or workwear detailing. Pay the extra $30 for the RRL if you want the 13–14oz Japanese selvedge, chain-stitching and that premium vintage-Americana eye. RRL reviewers are honest that you can find comparable Japanese cloth cheaper, so the spend is partly the brand's design archive. Both run slim or roomy differently, so size accordingly; RRL runs slim and sizing up is common advice.
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