Jacob Cohen
Italy
Jacob Cohen (Jacob Cohën) is an Italian luxury denim brand founded in 1985 in the Padua area by Tato Bardelle and relaunched by his son Nicola Bardelle in the early 2000s. It is independent and, per one retailer's profile, led by Jennifer Tommasi Bardelle.
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tato Bardelle |
| Origin | Padua area, Italy |
| Company | Jacob Cohen Company S.p.A. |
| Segment | Premium and contemporary |
| Leadership | Jennifer Tommasi Bardelle (per a retailer profile) |
| Website | jacobcohen.com |
What is Jacob Cohen?
Jacob Cohen, written Jacob Cohën by the brand, is an Italian denim label that presents itself as luxury denim made in Italy. It was established in 1985 in Padua, Italy. Fashion-press.net credits Tato Bardelle, who had already founded other successful brands, as the founder, while a retailer profile attributes it to the Bardelle family. The legal entity named on the official website is Jacob Cohën Company S.p.A.
History
Tato Bardelle's son Nicola Bardelle relaunched the company as a denim brand, with the aim of elevating jeans to a luxury garment. Sources date this to 2002 or 2003. He is credited with creating the brand's first men's skinny-fit jeans. After Nicola's death in 2012, Jennifer Tommasi Bardelle took over leadership, according to a retailer's brand guide, and in 2023 the company completed the internalisation of design, manufacturing and commercialisation.
Products and positioning
The brand focuses on jeans with sartorial construction, made from Japanese denim from the mills Kurabo and Kuroki. Details include ruthenium, platinum and carbon rivets and buttons, hand stitching, embroidery and pony-hair labels. Popular fits include the Nick (slim), Bard (contemporary) and Scott (straight leg), and the brand also offers clothing and accessories for men and women. Pitti Immagine's profile says it uses natural dyes and avoids chemical colour-fixing processes.
Business model and distribution
The brand is sold through boutiques alongside other top labels, as well as through multi-brand online retailers and its own website. The retailer profile describes the company as independent.
Why it matters
Jacob Cohen is an example of a family-run Italian brand that moved premium denim into the luxury price tier, and it is a reference name in the made-in-Italy jeans market.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Jacob Cohen from?
Jacob Cohen is an Italian denim brand established in 1985 in the Padua area. Its jeans are made in Italy from Japanese denim.
Is Jacob Cohen a luxury brand?
The brand presents itself as luxury denim, with sartorial construction, Japanese Kurabo denim and hand finishing. It is sold in boutiques next to premium labels.