Benjamin Talley Smith for Madewell

Luxury Denim | Made in Los Angeles

This Spring 2026, Madewell introduces a women’s denim drop designed by Benjamin Talley Smith, the denim whisperer whose hand has shaped some of the most coveted silhouettes of the last twenty years. Known for refining proportion and elevating fabrication, Smith has remained rooted in Los Angeles, working side by side with the city’s artisans and makers since the early days of his career. 

This collaboration places his signature approach—once reserved for fashion’s most insider collections—into a new, tightly edited release. The capsule is grounded in LA craftsmanship: washes developed in local factories, stitching techniques passed through generations, and trims & details that carry the quiet authority of experience.

Each piece is produced in limited numbers, a study in luxury denim designed not for the season, but for the years to come.


OVERVIEW

Release Details

  • Date: February 18, 2026

  • Availability: Madewell.com and select flagship stores in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas

  • Edition: Small batch, no restocks. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.

Benjamin Talley Smith
Benjamin Talley Smith has spent two decades redefining denim, shaping collections that set the standard for modern luxury and the way jeans are worn today. An Angeleno at heart, his process begins and ends with the city’s artisans. His work is defined by quiet precision—proportion, wash, and fit elevated to an art.

Madewell
For Madewell, denim has always been the foundation. With this capsule, the brand continues its evolution into artisanal design, while remaining anchored in authenticity, accessibility, and craft.

Made in Los Angeles. Crafted to endure.

STRATEGY & TREND

  • Trends & Forecasting

  • Merchandising & Product Assortment

  • Market Positioning & Pricing Strategy

MARKETING & SALES

  • Lookbook Collaboration

  • Digital & Physical Campaign Collaboration

  • Gifting & Influencer Collaboration

DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

  • Design Direction

  • Denim Trend Forecasting

  • Color & Wash Palette Creation

  • Identity Systems: Logo & Trim Design

  • Illustration & Line Art

  • Technical Packs & BOM Creation

  • Fittings, Size & Grading Specs

  • Fabric Selection & Testing Protocols 

  • Lab Dips & Color Approvals

  • Logo & Trim Development

  • Prototype Evaluations

PRODUCTION & SOURCING

  • Mill, Laundry & Factory relationships

  • Production approvals & final QC


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