Lee Jeans Drops ’80s Archive Collection
Y2K could finally be in the rearview—again. Another era is poised for a comeback, however, according to Lee Jeans.
The 134-year-old heritage denim brand released the 80’s Archives Collection last week, resurrecting colored denim, acid wash and high-waisted, tapered-leg silhouettes. “Born in the 80s, and ready to return. These vintage jeans are like no other,” the brand proclaimed.
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The collection contains 40 unique pieces for men and women, all priced at $80. Styles range from multi-pocket denim cargo pants in bright reds, greens and yellows to brown or blue acid wash styles in parachute silhouettes, bell-bottoms and straight or tapered fits.
The limited drop is the third from Lee Archives, which launched in 2022. Leaning into the younger generation’s obsession with secondhand styling, the denim label created the vertical as “an homage to vintage lovers who scour shops and flea markets for Lee relics.”
The first Lee Archive debut in October 2022 was comprised of a range of the brand’s iconic Storm Rider jackets, first released for cowboys in 1948. The style entered the mainstream during the 1960s and ‘70s, popularized by pop-culture icons like Marilyn Monroe.
Last summer, Lee Archives brought back denim styles from the 1970s, including its Rider vest styles, originally inspired by the Storm Rider jacket, in light, medium and dark washes. Some featured telltale ‘70s details like brown corduroy collars and chest pockets with rounded flaps. The drop also included cut-off jean shorts for men and women.
20th-century vintage denim styles have been cropping up frequently in recent seasons.
Moschino’s pre-fall 2023 “M05CH1N0 Jeans” collection, inspired by the Italian luxury label’s 1986 line of denim designed by founder Franco Moschino, featured stonewashed denim and crystal embellishments across a range of jumpsuits, bra tops, cropped jackets and pencil skirts.
Vintage chain store and online retailer Beyond Retro last year launched the Denim Shop, a vertical featuring an extensive collection of vintage styles spanning decades. Shoppers can filter based on the era when a pair of jeans was produced.
