For a while now, it has seemed like our choices in bottoms have rotated between yoga leggings, track pants, bike shorts and sweatpants.
That’s about to change. For better or worse, jeans are making their way back into wardrobes. We’ve seen them all over the runways: at Celine, flared styles that hark back to the ’70s reign supreme, while Balenciaga’s baggy jeans are deliberately paired with their chunky sneakers as a nod to ’90s fashion.
But if it’s nostalgia that’s making jeans especially attractive now, then you’ll be better off with a pair from Levi’s, the OG of the denim world. Like Uggs and Birkenstocks, the American brand has been seeing something of a revival thanks to its collaborations with high fashion brands like Valentino.
Levi’s has also been making its own efforts to appeal to the new generation of eco-minded shoppers, such as by introducing an environmentally-friendly cotton alternative to replace its denim, or launching its SecondHand platform to offer preloved jeans.
It’s with this same sustainable attitude that Levi’s has taken on a slew of new collaborations that’s putting it in the spotlight again. Their jeans are timeless — ask anyone who owns a pair — but now they’re timely, too. Discover how brands have elevated Levi’s everyday denim offerings with a fashionable twist.
Valentino x Levi’s
If Valentino’s Spring/Summer 2021 collection had an air of lightness to it, what with its flowing floral dresses, see-through lace blouses and open-stitched, crochet sweaters, the Italian brand’s Levi’s collaboration certainly grounded it. Valentino has revived the latter’s 517 boot-cut jeans, a cowboy-inspired design from 1969 that features a gentle flare below the knee, in both Vintage and Re-Edition versions. The former refers to authentic Levi’s 517 jeans from the ’70s, of which Valentino has 517 pairs available, while the Re-Edition jeans perfectly replicates the original 517s, down to its washing and paint-flecking processes. Both also sport a special Levi’s patch featuring the Valentino logo, which is as subtle as branding in designer collaborations can go.
Ganni x Levi’s
If you aren’t already one of the many #GanniGirls on Instagram, then the Copenhagen label’s new Levi’s collaboration will change that. The two brands have paired up for a clothing capsule that speak to their commitment to sustainable fashion. Enter an array of timeless dresses, jackets, tops and of course, jeans, that have been made from a special cottonised hemp fabric. It feels like denim, but it uses 70 per cent less water to produce. You can take comfort in that when you wear the floral print jacket in an off-shoulder style a la Rihanna, or beat the heat the Alexa Chung way in a pair of paperbag waist denim shorts.
Miu Miu x Levi’s
Last year, Miu Miu made its foray into upcycling with a collection of vintage dresses, glammed up with embroideries and embellishments. In 2021, Prada’s sister label is offering something just as sustainable, but much more wearable: an upcycled denim capsule. For the collection, Miu Miu has sourced Levi’s iconic 501 jeans and Trucker Jackets from the ’80s and ’90s and reworked them with feminine flair. The jeans now sparkle with crystals, pearls and diamanté embroideries straight out of Bridgerton, with Levi’s signature backpatches have been replaced by powder pink versions. The jackets, meanwhile, come with puffed sleeves, Art Deco-inspired leather patches and lace collars. Given their upcycled nature, no two pieces in the collection are the same, which only add to their cool factor. You’ll be able to shop the one-of-a-kind designs when they arrive on Miu Miu’s online store later this month.
Header photo credit: Valentino
Pameyla Cambe
Senior Writer
Pameyla Cambe is a fashion and jewellery writer who believes that style and substance shouldn't be mutually exclusive. She makes sense of the world through Gothic novels, horror films and music. Lots of music.
