Inspired by the history of Black cowboys, Ouigi Theodore, the founder and creative director at BKc, worked closely with the Lee design team to thread the significance of Black cultural influence on the West throughout the collection’s development, Lee said in a press release.
US’ Lee has launched a collection with The Brooklyn Circus (BKc), available in the US and Europe. Drawing from Lee’s workwear and western heritage, the Lee x BKc collection uses archival Lee silhouettes with the unique vision of BKc. Lee, a part of Kontoor Brands, has been a pioneer in purposefully designed denim and casual apparel for more than 130 years.
The collection includes men’s and women’s pants, tops, Union-Alls, overalls, and jackets. Taking its cue from the iconic 101 Cowboy Jacket, the Lee x BKc Cowboy Jacket brings classic heritage style elements to the modern city. A coveted staple of BKc, this Melton wool and leather varsity jacket incorporates a one-of-a-kind embroidered illustration of a Black cowboy, creating a statement piece for the ages. Inspired by Lee’s original 1925 Cowboy Jean, Lee x BKc refreshes the original style using selvedge denim, custom hardware, and modern aesthetics. The Whizit Overall honours Lee’s heritage as the first apparel brand to use zippers in clothing. Crafted of selvedge denim, it pays homage to the workers who built America.
“Power to the people. We aim to tell the story of our community through meaningful partnerships like this one with Lee. The BKc finds inspiration in the pages of history, so collaborating with a heritage brand like Lee to highlight the history of the Black working west made perfect sense,” Theodore said.
“Lee can tap into different cultures because we were there in real time. Concepting this collaboration was very exciting as we worked to blend western and workwear with urban sophistication while keeping the integrity of each. Every detail from the Japanese selvedge denim to the Melton wool fabric and exclusive patterns and pallets twist these two stories together,” Lee global director of men’s design, Sedgwick Cole Jr, said.
“It was an honour to collaborate on women’s apparel with The BKc. We took historically masculine designs, like the WhizIt Overall, and mixed in feminine details to create pieces that align with the collection’s overall vision. Merging the past with the modern or the unexpected is what makes design interesting, which is what this capsule achieves,” Nicola Mielke, Lee global director of women’s design, said.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)
