G-STAR is bringing back its distinctive curved ARC jean, with a bolder shape, new denim finishes and Belgian DJ Charlotte de Witte fronting the campaign.
G-STAR is bringing back the ARC, the curved jean first introduced by the Dutch denim brand in 2007. This time around, it returns with a stronger curve through the leg, more relaxed and oversized options, and a new selection of denim washes and finishes.
De Witte stars in Own the Arc, marking the start of her multi-year partnership with G-STAR and her first campaign as the brand’s Global Brand Ambassador. The campaign also marks the relaunch of G-STAR Women.
De Witte is known for her work as a DJ and producer, as well as for founding KNTXT, her platform for music, events and culture. She has played major festivals including Tomorrowland, Coachella, Movement Detroit and Ultra Miami, and released her self-titled debut album in 2025.
For Own the Arc, she appears in a series of black-and-white images photographed by Marie Wynants. The campaign draws a connection between the shape of the ARC and the Arc de Triomphe, with de Witte making her way from the base of the monument to the top.
De Witte gives the relaunch a new face, but the ARC itself has been part of G-STAR’s story for almost two decades.
So, what is the ARC?
The ARC doesn’t look like a standard pair of jeans.
The reason is simple: the seams twist around the leg instead of running straight down, giving the jeans their curved shape from the waist to the hem.
G-STAR has been experimenting with the way jeans follow the body for decades. It started with the Elwood in 1996, designed by Pierre Morisset around the idea that jeans should work with the body as it moves.
When the ARC arrived 11 years later, that idea became even more visible. The twisted seams gave the leg a curve that became one of the defining features of the style.
Almost 20 years later, that curve is still the point.
Meet the new ARC
For 2026, G-STAR has made the ARC’s signature curve more noticeable, with bigger shapes, looser fits and more pronounced cuffs.
For women, there’s the 3D ARC Slim, which is slimmer through the leg but has more room around the waist and hips. Then there’s the 3D ARC Loose, with a low waist, relaxed fit and a high cuff that makes the curved shape stand out.
For men, the 3D ARC Tapered has a relaxed fit through the waist and hips before narrowing towards the ankle. The 3D ARC Loose takes things further with a much roomier fit and more volume through the leg.
The different styles give you a few ways to wear the ARC, depending on how much of its distinctive shape you want to lean into.
Three denim finishes
The ARC comes in different denim finishes for 2026, each giving the jeans a slightly different look.
Raw Vintage X3D is a deep indigo with a green undertone and strong whiskering through the denim.
NEO RAW keeps the look of raw denim, but has already been washed. It comes in rigid, comfort stretch and super stretch versions.
Passado has a bio-based coating made using algae, giving the denim a deeper indigo colour and stronger contrast.
Why bring it back now?
Denim isn’t being driven by one shape right now. Slim, straight, wide and loose jeans are all part of the mix.
That gives a design like the ARC room to exist on its own terms. It doesn’t need to fit neatly into one current trend because its point of difference comes from the way it is made.
That’s also why the return isn’t simply about recreating a jean from 2007. The shape remains recognisable, but the fits and denim finishes have been updated for 2026.
The ARC has changed since it first appeared in 2007, but the idea behind it remains the same: take denim somewhere a little less expected. With Charlotte de Witte now fronting its next chapter, G-STAR is giving the shape a new context while keeping the curve that started it all.
Almost two decades on, the ARC is back, and it seems G-STAR is still staying ahead of the curve.
- The ARC is available globally at selected retailers and on g-star.com.
