Levi’s® announced it is teaming up with sustainable menswear brand, Outerknown, to create a capsule collection of responsibly made products. Utilizing Levi’s® innovative WellthreadTM approach and Outerknown’s sustainable design ethos, the entire collection was produced using inventive practices and visionary materials, focused on protecting the environment and supporting the people making this collection.
The premiere Levi’s® WellthreadTM X Outerknown collection consists of four pieces including the classic Levi’s® 511TM jean and Trucker jacket. Ranging from $128-$185, the collection will be available at Outerknown.com, Huckberry.com, select Outerknown international wholesale partners, and select Levi’s® retail stores throughout New York, California, Oregon, Colorado, and Nevada. Both brands will continue to collaborate, crafting seasonal collections for years to come.
Launched in 2015, WellthreadTM represents an industry-leading approach to making denim more sustainably. WellthreadTM products address sustainability at every step of the supply chain. Each item in the collection is made with less water and centered around a single-fiber strategy that allows for 100% closed loop recyclability, including buttons, labels and snaps. The denim utilizes extra-long Supima® cotton grown in the USA for enhanced durability. All products are also produced in factories that participate in the Levi Strauss & Co. Worker Well-being initiative, which aims to improve the lives of workers who make the company’s products – both inside and outside factory walls.
Founded in 2015 by eleven-time world champion surfer, Kelly Slater, and menswear designer John Moore, Outerknown aims to protect the planet’s natural resources, empower the people crafting its products and inspire positive change within the apparel industry. As the first company in history to join the Fair Labor Association before selling a single product, publishing their full supplier list less than a year into business, and making every decision with the highest regard for people and the environment, sustainability and transparency are the bedrock of the brand.
“I’ve been wearing Levi’s® my entire life and have always had a deep connection with denim,” said John Moore, co-founder of Outerknown. “Since day one at Outerknown, we’ve been searching for ways to make denim in a sustainable way. When I met with Paul Dillinger and the team at Levi’s®, I knew right away that we spoke the same language and shared the same values. Levi’s® WellthreadTM and Outerknown coming together was the solution to making responsible denim we’ve been searching for.”
“There is this false notion that ethical fashion can’t also be good looking or cool – that ethics and aesthetics can’t exist together,” said Paul Dillinger, VP and head of global product innovation, Levi Strauss & Co. “Outerknown is helping us break that perception and show that we can make ethical, amazing looking products that don’t sacrifice sustainability.”
Levi Strauss & Co. has been pioneering sustainable practices in its supply chain for over 25 years. Recently, the company began sharing its sustainability practices broadly with the industry to drive more meaningful, impactful change. At Outerknown, sustainability is the foundation of the brand, extending from fabric to factories, and designed into everything they create.
“We believe that, ultimately, it takes more than one company to make a difference,” continued Dillinger. “Working together with Outerknown with the goal to move the apparel industry forward is a huge opportunity and step in the right direction for sustainable apparel.”
THE COLLECTION:
WellthreadTM X Outerknown Sherpa Trucker:
- Made entirely of single-fiber 100% polyester, which makes it both durable and entirely recyclable – right down to the labels and snaps.
- It was sewn in a facility that invests in workers’ well-being and was constructed in a way to maximize durability and extend its wear.
- Available in Mineral Heather; $185
WellthreadTM X Outerknown Trucker:
- Made with extra-long Supima® cotton and is entirely recyclable—right down to the labels.
- We used Water
- It was sewn in a facility that invests in workers’ well-being and was constructed in a way to maximize durability and extend its wear.
- Available in Eternal Falls Indigo; $145
WellthreadTM X Outerknown 511TM Slim Fit Jean:
- Made with extra-long Supima® cotton and is entirely recyclable—right down to the labels.
- We used Water
- It was sewn in a facility that invests in workers’ well- being and was constructed in a way to maximize durability and extend its wear.
- Available in NIghtshade Heather ($128) and Eternal Falls Indigo ($128)
ABOUT THE LEVI’S® BRAND
The Levi’s® brand epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool. Since their invention by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1873, Levi’s® jeans have become one of the most recognizable garments of clothing in the world – capturing the imagination and loyalty of people for generations. Today, the Levi’s® brand portfolio continues to evolve through a relentless pioneering and innovative spirit that is unparalleled in the apparel industry. Our range of leading jeanswear and accessories are available in more than 110 countries, allowing individuals around the world to express their personal style. For more information about the Levi’s® brand, its products and stores, please visit levi.com.
ABOUT OUTERKNOWN
Founded by eleven-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater and acclaimed designer John Moore, Outerknown is a coastal-minded clothing brand that explores the connections between style and sustainability. By viewing every aspect of our business through the lens of responsibility, we aim to protect our natural resources, empower the people crafting our clothes, and inspire positive change within the industry. Our versatile collection is built with innovative, organic, and recycled materials sourced from factories that share our values.
An active partner of Fair Trade USA, Outerknown has also celebrated a series of successful campaigns and initiatives including a social and environmental awareness campaign labeled #ITSNOTOK where all profits are donated to ocean health. Most recently, Outerkown was accredited by the Fair Labor Association for their social compliance program and launched Project Nomadic, an entry-priced collection furthering their mission of delivering Sustainability for All.
Outerknown launched in 2015 and is sold at outerknown.com and at select premium retailers worldwide.
