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Kia Jean Day
Kia Jean Day on Instagram (opens in a new tab) 2026 details

Annual · Est. 2024 at SFU

Kia Jean Day

November 19. Every year. Annual tradition

Too much denim.

How it started See 2026’s plans
Illustration of a denim back pocket with 11·19 stitched on it, under a leather patch reading Kia Jean Day KIA JEAN DAY EST. 2024 · NOV 19 11·19

Next one November 19

What is Kia Jean Day?

An entire day dedicated to denim. Somehow.

Kia Jean Day is an annual tradition, which is a generous way of saying it’s a joke that refuses to end. Every November 19, students and friends who trace it back to SFU put on as much denim as they can physically fit into, then find somewhere to be together about it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Tuesday. It doesn’t matter if you have a midterm. Every year it’s a celebration, and every year there is far too much denim. Drinks are optional. Denim isn’t.

When
November 19
How often
Annually. Every single year.
Started
2024, at SFU
Status
Unofficial. Very.

The origin story

It started with a pair of jeans. Specifically, Kia’s.

His friends thought his jeans looked a little too skinny. So everyone wore skinny jeans.

  1. The observation

    One day in 2024, a few of Kia’s friends at SFU took a good look at his jeans and reached a group verdict: a little too skinny. Especially when he sat down.

  2. The overreaction

    Most friend groups would have made the joke and moved on. This one decided the only fair response was for everyone to wear skinny jeans for a day. In honour of Kia’s jeans.

  3. The tradition

    What started as a one-time joke is now a celebration everyone plans for. November 19 is Kia Jean Day, every year.

The dress code

As much denim as humanly possible.

That’s the only rule. Skinny jeans get extra respect, for historical reasons. Any denim counts.

  • Level 01

    Classic Jeans

    Jeans. Ideally skinny. You have technically participated, and nobody can take that from you.

  • Level 02

    Double Denim

    Jeans plus a denim jacket or shirt. Some people call it a Canadian tuxedo. On November 19, it’s just being polite.

  • Level 03

    Full Denim

    Denim from head to ankle. Denim hat if you own one. Denim bag if you’re making a statement.

  • Level 04

    Maximum Denim

    You’ve raided a thrift store. You may be wearing two jackets. People are asking questions. Correct.

Not a rulebook. Wear what you’ve got. Nobody checks, but people notice.

The history

From one joke to a tradition.

A short timeline, because it’s a short history. We’ll keep adding to it every November.

  1. 2024

    The Joke

    A group of SFU friends decides Kia’s jeans look a little too skinny, and that the only reasonable response is for everyone to wear skinny jeans for a day in honour of his jeans.

  2. 2025

    The House Party

    Kia Jean Day becomes a house party: a room full of denim and one of those nights people keep bringing up.

  3. 2026

    The BierCraft Takeover Upcoming

    The celebration heads to BierCraft UniverCity, near SFU’s Burnaby campus, on November 19. Same denim, new venue.

This year

Kia Jean Day 2026

Confirmed

Date
Time
Venue
BierCraft UniverCity
8902 University High Street, Burnaby, British Columbia
In UniverCity, near SFU’s Burnaby campus
Dress code
As much denim as possible.
Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Good to know

  • Wear the denim all day. The night is just where everyone ends up.
  • Skinny jeans get extra respect, for historical reasons.
  • Bring friends. Bring more denim than seems reasonable.

Hosted by the Kia Jean Day crew. Not an SFU event, and not organized by the venue. The venue’s own policies apply on the night.

Updates first on @kiajeanday (Instagram, opens in a new tab)

Add Kia Jean Day to your calendar

An all-day reminder on November 19, every year, forever (or until you delete it). This is for the day itself, separate from the BierCraft UniverCity night, which has its own details above.

Apple / Outlook (.ics) Google Calendar (opens in a new tab)

The archive

Photographic evidence

Real photos from real Kia Jean Days only. Empty frames are waiting on the people who were there.

2024

The Joke

2025

The House Party

2026

The BierCraft Takeover

  • Photo placeholder 2026 · Slot 1
  • Photo placeholder 2026 · Slot 2
  • Photo placeholder 2026 · Slot 3

Hasn’t happened yet.

FAQ

Reasonable questions

About an unreasonable day.

What is Kia Jean Day?

An unofficial annual tradition where people wear as much denim as they can every November 19 and get together to celebrate. It started in 2024 as a joke between friends at SFU. Nobody has managed to stop it since.

When is Kia Jean Day?

November 19, every year, whatever day of the week it lands on. In 2026 that’s a Thursday. The jeans don’t care.

Where did Kia Jean Day start?

At Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, among a group of friends, in 2024. It’s a student tradition, not an official SFU event.

Who is Kia?

The original skinny jeans wearer. One day his friends at SFU decided his jeans looked a little too skinny, especially when he sat down. Instead of letting it go, they gave him a holiday.

What were the original jeans?

A pair of dark-wash H&M men’s regular fit jeans. Yes, regular fit. His friends looked at them anyway and decided they were a little too skinny, and here we are. That’s the actual pair in our logo.

The original pair: dark-wash H&M men’s regular fit jeans, laid flat on a white background
Exhibit B · 2024

What should I wear?

As much denim as humanly possible. Skinny jeans are encouraged. Double denim is respected. Full denim is admired. If all you have is one pair of jeans, that counts too.

Do I have to be an SFU student?

No. It started among SFU friends, and anyone can put on jeans on November 19. A specific celebration can have its own rules, though: the venue or the organizers may have entry requirements, so check that year’s details before you show up.

Is it Kia Jean Day or Kia Jeans Day?

Kia Jean Day. The jeans are plural. The day is not. You’ll also see it written as #KiaJeanDay.