When Levi Strauss produced the first denim jeans in the 1870s, they were humble working pants. Today they are high fashion, and jeans with price tags of $200 are everywhere. So what exactly are premium jeans? Are they different from all the ordinary pairs of jeans, and most importantly - worth the price?

Premium denim bridges the gap between basic and designer jeans, and has starting prices at more than $150.

The most important brands are Rock & Republic, True Religion, Blue Cult, Antik Denim, Joe's Jeans, Chip & Pepper, Earnest Sewn, Citizens of Humanity and 7 for All Mankind. Unlike designer labels such as Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, which have jeans lines along with other ready to wear collections, these are companies that specialize in just making jeans.

7 for All Mankind started the craze for premium denim jeans when they launched their name brand in fall 2000. The jeans maker based in Vernon, near Los Angeles, offered a new, low-waist cut that was considered to provide a more flattering fit. The jeans were made with top-quality denim, and the fit was so good that women were willing to pay the $130 or so the company was charging.

To cut down on the time it takes to get the jeans to market, most of the premium jeans are made in the United States, primarily in Los Angeles. The cost of labour makes the jeans more expensive than the cheaper versions made in developing countries like China.

The denim itself is also of a higher quality. Premium jeans are almost always created exclusively from Japanese or Italian denim. The denim has hand-finished washes, and contain at least 2% stretch fibers. The stretch fibers are then specifically positioned in the thighs, hips, and seats of the jeans, allowing for the perfect amount of give where women typically need it most, but preventing unwanted bagginess overall. Many of the more elaborate back pockets are embroidered by hand, which increase the price further.

The cult of celebrity is another major factor. Every item of clothing worn by today's stars is written up in glossy magazines. Lindsay Lohan has littered the pages of celebrity magazines wearing Joe's Jeans. Jessica Simpson is known as a committed True Religion follower.