Empyre is Zumiez’s in-house denim line and quietly one of the better-value baggy options in the under-$60 tier — the cuts are correct, the fabric punches above the price, and the only real catch is finding a pair in your size before they sell through.
The brand sits in a useful sweet spot between Cotton On’s fast-fashion super baggy and JNCO’s heritage premium, with construction that’s closer to the latter and pricing closer to the former. This empyre jeans baggy review covers the fit specs across the line’s main cuts, fabric reality after months of wear, sizing for different body types, and how the brand stacks up against the obvious alternatives. For broader silhouette context see the Womens Denim Silhouettes hub and the Super Baggy Jeans umbrella review.
The Empyre baggy line at a glance
Empyre runs roughly four core baggy cuts that rotate through Zumiez seasonally. The Loose Fit Baggy is the entry-level cut at 18 to 19-inch leg opening — borderline baggy, more relaxed-straight by my measure. The Tori Baggy and Mim Baggy sit at 20 to 22-inch leg opening, qualifying as super baggy. The Tara Carpenter and the seasonal extreme cuts push to 23 to 24 inches with utility detailing.
Pricing across the line runs $45 to $65 with most cuts landing at $55. That’s about $10 over Cotton On and $40 to $60 under JNCO for comparable silhouettes. The construction sits noticeably above Cotton On (more substantial fabric, better hardware) and slightly below JNCO (less heavyweight, simpler finishing). For the wash and fit consistency, the value calculation favors Empyre at this tier.
Fit and sizing across body types
Empyre sizes in standard US women’s numeric (24 to 32) and the cut runs true to size at the waist with slightly extra room through the seat and thigh — which is usually what baggy-cut buyers want. I’m typically a 27 in Madewell and the Empyre Tori Baggy in 27 fit correctly through the waist with comfortable room through the thigh.
The rise varies more than the brand markets. The Tori sits at roughly 11.5-inch rise (mid to high), the Mim at 10.5 inches (clear mid-rise), and the seasonal cuts vary widely. If you want a high-rise super baggy, check the spec sheet on each cut rather than assuming — the line markets all of them as “high rise” but only some genuinely qualify.
For pear and triangular shapes the cut is forgiving — extra seat and thigh room means you can size to the waist without compression issues. For straight rectangular shapes the silhouette adds the volume you’re going for without making the waist swim. Hourglass shapes will see slight waist gap; an inch of belt cinch or a small alteration solves it.
Search Empyre Baggy Jeans Womens on Amazon for current stock and the broader cross-brand baggy selection.
Fabric reality after months of wear
The denim is typically 100% cotton in the core baggy cuts, occasionally 99% cotton 1% elastane in the carpenter variants. Fabric weight runs around 11 ounces — heavier than Cotton On’s 10-ounce, lighter than JNCO’s 13 to 14-ounce — which is the right weight for shape retention without the long break-in that heavyweight denim demands.
I’ve worn the Tori Baggy heavily for five months. The fabric softened correctly through the first month and has held shape since — no thigh stretching, no waistband bagging. The wash has held better than my Cotton On pair from the same period (less aggressive fading on high-wear zones), which I’d attribute to the slightly heavier fabric and the dye process. Hardware is metal throughout, bar tacks are present at stress points, and after five months I’ve had no construction failures.
The honest negative: the inseam runs long across most cuts (32 to 33 inches) and the brand doesn’t offer a short or petite option. Anyone under 5’4″ should plan to hem.
Wash range and styling
Empyre’s wash rotation hits the standard super-baggy palette — medium indigo, dark indigo, washed black, occasional bleach-treated light wash, and seasonal washes (a brown, a charcoal, an ivory). The dark indigo is the most consistent year-round and is the wash I’d point first-time Empyre buyers toward — it dresses up better than the medium indigo and reads less specifically skate-aesthetic.
Distressing is moderate — most cuts have minor whiskering and some intentional distressing at the hem on specific styles, but the line stays mostly clean compared to other Zumiez house brands. The minimal distressing is correct for super-baggy silhouettes where the volume is doing the work.
For styling cues, the brand’s house aesthetic skews skate and streetwear, but the cleaner cuts wear up surprisingly well. Pair with a fitted top and the volume reads architectural rather than purely casual. See Baggy Jeans Outfit for specific styling combinations that work with this cut family.
How Empyre stacks against alternatives
Against Cotton On (see Cotton on Super Baggy Jeans for that review), Empyre wins on fabric quality and construction durability for a small price premium. Against JNCO (see Jnco Baggy Jeans), Empyre is significantly cheaper but loses on heritage credibility and the heavyweight 13-ounce fabric weight. Against Zumiez’s other in-house baggy options like RVCA and Volcom, Empyre runs slightly cheaper with comparable construction (covered in the Zumiez Baggy Jeans review).
For a women’s-cut tailoring upgrade, Womens Baggy Jeans covers the broader brand spectrum including Madewell and Levi’s at the next price tier up. For premium options at $200-plus see Designer Jeans for Women.
Specific cuts that consistently sell out
Empyre rotates seasonally but a few cuts return consistently and tend to sell out within their drop windows. The Tori Baggy in dark indigo and washed black is the strongest year-round seller. The Mim Baggy in lower-rise variants drops every spring and tends to clear within weeks. The Tara Carpenter with utility detailing drops in fall with hardware specifics that vary by year.
For first-time Empyre buyers, the Tori in dark indigo is the safest starting point — it’s the most consistent cut, the wash holds saturation reasonably well, and the silhouette qualifies as super-baggy without being trend-extreme. Sizing has been stable across recent batches.
The seasonal extreme cuts (the wider Tribal-adjacent variants Empyre stocks occasionally) are worth grabbing if you’re a confirmed super-baggy wearer because they fill a 23-24 inch leg-opening niche that’s hard to find at this price point. Stock is unpredictable; sign up for restock notifications if a specific cut catches your eye.
Limited collaborations occasionally push Empyre into capsule territory with art-driven graphics or premium fabric upgrades. These price slightly higher ($65-$85) and quality varies by partnership. Skip unless the collaboration specifically appeals — the core line is the value play.
Who Empyre baggy is the right buy for
This is the right buy if you want super-baggy denim in the $50 range that’ll outlast Cotton On and you’re not paying for JNCO heritage. It’s also good value as a second or third super-baggy pair when you’ve already committed to the silhouette and want rotation without dropping $200 per pair.
It’s the wrong buy if you want a refined women’s-cut silhouette — Empyre’s tailoring is unisex-leaning and the cuts have skater roominess rather than fashion contour. It’s also the wrong buy if you only want one pair of baggy denim to wear hard for years; in that case spending $130 on JNCO or $200 on Levi’s heavyweight makes more sense long-term.
Care notes for Empyre’s specific fabric
Empyre’s 11-ounce cotton or cotton-elastane fabric responds to care choices meaningfully. Three practices that extend the silhouette integrity over time:
Wash cold, inside out, every five-plus wears. Empyre’s wash holds saturation reasonably well but the dye is mid-tier, not premium fastness. Cold water and inside-out washing slows the fade noticeably. Hot water washing accelerates color loss and fabric softening.
Hang dry rather than tumble dry. The 100% cotton cuts shrink half an inch in inseam if tumble dried hot; cotton-elastane variants stretch and recover poorly with heat. Hang drying preserves both dimensions and shape integrity.
Skip the dryer entirely on first wash. The first wash sets the fabric’s relationship to your body — heat shrinks unevenly and creates fit changes that don’t recover. Cold wash and hang dry on the first cycle keeps the original fit.
For higher-friction wear (skate use, biking, manual labor), expect faster wear at the knee and seat than typical retail-customer wear patterns. Empyre’s construction handles this better than fast-fashion at the same price but won’t last as long as JNCO heavyweight or premium denim under similar use. Plan replacement cycles based on actual wear rather than calendar age.
The verdict
Empyre baggy jeans is the strongest value play in the sub-$60 super-baggy category — the fabric weight is right, the construction is honest, and the cuts qualify as actually baggy rather than relaxed-straight with marketing. The Tori at 22-inch hem is the standout cut and the right entry point for first-time buyers. Skip the entry-level Loose Fit (it’s not baggy enough to qualify) and skip the seasonal extreme cuts unless the wash specifically appeals — the fit and pricing on those varies too much. At $55 with consistent quality, Empyre is the baggy I’d point most people toward before they spend more, and the cuts hold up well enough that you might not need to upgrade.
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FAQ
Where can I buy Empyre jeans?
Zumiez stores and zumiez.com are the primary retailers — Empyre is the in-house brand. Some independent skate shops carry Empyre, and Amazon stocks intermittent older inventory. The full current range is consistently available through Zumiez direct.
Are Empyre jeans good quality?
For the price, yes. The 11-ounce cotton fabric is real denim rather than a polyester blend, hardware is metal, and the construction holds up through six-plus months of regular wear. Quality sits below premium denim ($150-plus brands) but well above fast-fashion at the same price.
What’s the best Empyre baggy cut?
The Tori Baggy at roughly 22-inch leg opening is the most balanced — fully qualifies as super baggy, sits at correct mid-to-high rise, and styles across casual to dressed-up contexts. The Mim sits at slightly lower rise for a 90s-leaning look. Avoid the entry-level Loose Fit if you want true baggy volume.
Do Empyre jeans run small or large?
True to size at the waist with slightly extra room through seat and thigh. Size to your normal jean size without adjustment. The inseam runs long at 32 to 33 inches across most cuts — anyone under 5’4″ should plan to hem.
How does Empyre compare to JNCO?
Empyre is significantly cheaper ($55 vs $130 average) with lighter fabric (11oz vs 13-14oz) and a more women’s-friendly cut. JNCO has stronger heritage and longer durability. If price is the main concern, Empyre. If you want denim built to last five-plus years and like the heritage angle, JNCO.
