Denim Tears Cotton Wreath: What It Means and Where to Find It in the IE

You've seen the wreath. White cotton bolls in a ring, printed all over a hoodie or a pair of sweats. The Denim Tears cotton wreath is one of the most recognizable prints in streetwear right now, and it carries more weight than most graphics. Here's what it means, and which Cotton Wreath pieces are on the rack at The Galleria at Montclair Place in Montclair.

Quick answer: Denim Tears is designer Tremaine Emory's label, and the cotton wreath points to the story of cotton in America and its tie to slavery. It first dropped on the Denim Tears x Levi's collection in January 2020. In the IE, Cotton Wreath pieces are on the rack at The Galleria at Montclair Place in Montclair.

What the cotton wreath means

Straight up: it's about history.

Tremaine Emory built Denim Tears around the Black experience in America. Cotton is at the center of that story because enslaved people were forced to pick it. The wreath takes that plant and turns it into a logo, so the history goes wherever the garment goes.

Emory has said the idea came from a cotton wreath he saw on artist Kara Walker's Instagram.

Wear it knowing the story.

Where it first dropped

Levi's. January 2020. (Denim Tears tells the story here.) A Trucker Jacket and 501 jeans covered in white cotton wreaths, built on vintage denim. That drop put the print on the map.

Since then Denim Tears has worked with Converse and Dior, among others. The wreath shows up across a lot of it.

What's on the rack right now

As of October 9, 2026:

• Cotton Wreath zip-up, red. $260.
• Cotton Wreath sweatpants, grey. $280.
• Cotton Wreath crewneck sweatshirt, green. $340.
• Denim Tears x Cactus Plant Flea Market "Cactus Tears" Wreath sweatpants, navy. $320.

Four pieces. Small rack. Check the collection page before you head over.

Is it worth $260 to $340?

That's real money. No way around it.

You're paying for a print that started a conversation in 2020 and still carries it, from a designer who built the whole label around a point of view. If the story matters to you, the price makes sense. If it doesn't, there are louder graphics on our wall for less.

How to wear it

The print is the whole fit. Let it be.

Red zip-up over a plain white tee and dark denim. Grey sweats with a black hoodie and clean sneakers. Full set if you're feeling it. Keep the shoes quiet and let the wreath talk.

Come cop it

Cotton Wreath hits different in hand. The weight, the print, the color. Come check the Denim Tears rack at The Galleria at Montclair Place in Montclair, where you can buy, sell, and trade in person. Browse the Denim Tears collection online first, peep the new arrivals, and hit the contact page with any questions. Hunting more hard-to-find labels? Here's where to find ASAALI, SDL and Cough Syrup. Come through and cop it in person.

Quick answers

What does the Denim Tears cotton wreath mean? It references the history of cotton in America and its tie to slavery. Designer Tremaine Emory turned the cotton plant into the brand's logo.

When did the cotton wreath first come out? It debuted on the Denim Tears x Levi's collection in January 2020.

Where can I buy Denim Tears in the Inland Empire? The Galleria at Montclair Place in Montclair carries Cotton Wreath pieces in store.

How much is Denim Tears at The Galleria? Cotton Wreath pieces ran $260 to $340 as of October 9, 2026.