Unlike S.F. denim counterpart GAP, Levi’s has managed to avoid a fall from consumer grace in recent years. Yes, the icon American label still churns out a bunch of corny junk that no one wants (their logo tees are a hard sell), but there’s real quality happening if you know where to look.
Consider the diversity of the brand’s sub-collections, from the beautiful, heritage-inspired Made & Crafted (we’re fans of their latest collab, too), the Levi’s Workwear line, their curation of vintage menswear and an array of handsome sportswear — including the lesser-known Levi’s Skateboarding.
Despite a 2012 collection with NIKE SB and gradually positioning their own streetwear to entice skaters more and more, Levi’s Skateboarding didn’t come into its own until 2014, with their first skater-centric jeans. Even now the brand tends to fly under the radar, so much so that when their new collab with Poetic Collective crossed your menswear-aware correspondent’s desk, her first reaction was “Wait. How long has Levi’s had a skateboarding brand?” They only added a skateboarding version of their iconic 501s last year, so safe to say they are just now hitting their stride.
The new collection with the Swedish skate company is chock-full of back-to-school vibes by way of hoodies, rugby shirts, denim and (non-corny) graphic tees. What makes ‘em good for boarding? That’d be the durable Cordura, LYCRA and reinforced stitches and seams that can stand up to road rash (they call it “exceptional abrasion resistance”). Bully for you, the clothes look good off a board too, and as evidenced by their photo shoot, double as great workwear. One of their reps called the skateboarding pants “practically bomb-proof,” so do with that info what you will.
The brand does more than make good-looking digs, though. It also supports the programming behind Make Life Skate Life, who design and construct skate infrastructure for underserved communities around the world, including in Oakland, India, Bolivia and now with this latest collection, Morroco.
As far as the new Skateboarding collection, here are a few of our favorites:
Photo 1: Skateboarding Anorak ($100), Work Pants ($70)
Photo 2: Long Sleeve Rugby Polo ($60), 504 Regular Fit Jeans ($55)
Photo 3: Graphic Tee ($30), Mechanic’s Jacket ($100)
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