Hudson Jeans
United States
Hudson Jeans is a Los Angeles premium denim brand founded in 2002 by Peter Kim. Fireman Capital Partners took a majority stake in 2009, and Joe's Jeans bought the brand in 2013 for about 97.6 million US dollars. Its present-day owner is not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
| Founded | 2002, Los Angeles |
|---|---|
| Founder | Peter Kim |
| Segment | Denim and casualwear |
| Creative director | Ben Taverniti (as listed in the source) |
| 2009 | Fireman Capital Partners takes majority stake |
| 2013 | Acquired by Joe's Jeans |
| Website | hudsonjeans.com |
What is Hudson Jeans?
Hudson Jeans is a premium denim brand from Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 2002 by Peter Kim and is a contemporary denim label from the early 2000s.
History
Peter Kim founded the company in 2002 in Los Angeles. In 2009 Fireman Capital Partners took a majority stake; the fund was led by Paul Fireman, the founder of Reebok, and his son Dan. In 2013 Joe's Jeans acquired Hudson for about 97.6 million US dollars, and Kim stayed on as head of the business and joined the Joe's Jeans board.
Later ownership changes are not documented in the sources reviewed, so no current owner is named here. Ben Taverniti is listed as creative director in the source, but the date of that appointment was not verified for 2026.
Products and positioning
- Women's and men's jeans
- Denim-led casualwear
- Premium price position in the contemporary denim category
Business model and distribution
Details of the brand's channel mix, wholesale accounts and own retail were not verified in the sources reviewed, so they are not described here.
Why it matters
Hudson is a clear example of the consolidation of Los Angeles denim brands. Its path from a founder-led label to private equity backing and then to a strategic acquisition by a competitor is documented in the sources reviewed.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Hudson Jeans?
Hudson Jeans was founded in 2002 in Los Angeles by Peter Kim. He stayed on as head of the business after Joe's Jeans acquired it in 2013.
Is Hudson Jeans a luxury brand?
Hudson is a premium denim brand rather than a luxury label. It sits in the contemporary denim category, alongside other Los Angeles jeans brands.