I Want Every Single Pair of Khakis From Dockers' Newest Collab
Dockers is just plain killing it on the collaboration front lately. Earlier this summer, the brand teamed up with celebrity stylist Karla Welch as part of Welch's ongoing "x Karla" series of partnerships. And now, the masters of all things khaki have a new team-up-this time, with Los Angeles-based Atelier & Repairs.
From ethos to execution, Atelier & Repairs' approach to fashion isn't exactly standard. Instead of making new stuff, founder Maurizio Donadi and the rest of the team focus on a circular approach: repurposing and reimagining existing or vintage garments to create something unique (and cool as hell). That's exactly why they went to the company to rework the Signature Khaki, its most popular product.
For Karyn Hillman, the SVP and Chief Product Officer for all Levi Strauss & Co. brands (including Dockers), the partnership was a way to take a stand on sustainability and innovation. "This partnership with Atelier & Repairs gives us a fresh opportunity to offer our best-selling style reinterpreted into something different, but still true to Dockers," she said.
For Atelier & Repairs' Donadi, it was a no-brainer. "Dockers is a blank canvas," he said in a statement. "They are a widely democratic brand that is recognized for great quality at an affordable price point, which was the perfect foundation for me to reimagine what a pair of chinos is."
The result of that experiment was a lineup of three new styles: the Traveler, the Camo Strip, and the Kennedy. All three crop the length of the Signature Khaki to just around the ankle, but they differ in the details. On the Kennedy, which is finished with chambray accents and side stripes, Atelier & Supplies stuck to to a wide-leg silhouette. But on the Traveler, with its added utility pockets, and the Camo Strip, which features camo accents and a stripe of the fabric on the outseam of the right leg, things get tapered down to a narrow, 7-inch hem.
Honestly, you can't pick a winner here; all three are great. The looser, pleated silhouette is something that's exactly on point for this particular moment in menswear, when guys are playing around with fit and trying new things. The tweaks-from fit to fabric-are carefully considered and never over-the-top. The vibe is just different enough to feel special, yet entirely wearable.
That was intentional. Donadi believes that Dockers is an inclusive brand, one that's meant for everyone. "I think the approach to this collection is casual," he explains, calling it "something you can wear every day." Sounds like a pretty damn good plan.
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