The Story of Billow Denim

When Volcom launched the Billow denim in Fall 2019, the timing was bold. Baggy fits were only just resurfacing in skateboarding, but they hadn’t yet broken into the mainstream.

Born as part of the Abandoned Playground II capsule, the Billow was super-wide for its time. Too wide for most, perhaps, but quietly ahead of the curve. While most brands froze their denim development during the pandemic, Volcom’s Billow was already on the market, giving the brand a head start when baggy denim suddenly exploded post-Covid. Volcom was one of the only players with a truly wide fit available, and it flooded the market.

From Baggy Pioneer to Mainstream Fit

Back in 2019, the Billow was considered an extremely wide cut, compared to the slim and straight silhouettes still dominating the market. But as trend shifted and looser fits became the norm, the Billow gradually lost its “baggy” label.

Today, it reads more like a mainstream loose and straight fit, accessible to a wider audience. To meet the growing demand for even roomier cuts, Volcom introduced the Chillow, a longer and looser evolution of the Billow.

The Billow even found its way into boys’ collections, proving just how widely the style resonated across age groups.