Lee Archives Offers Vintage Summer Denim Staples
Denim from the 1970s is the focal point of Lee’s latest vintage clothing drop.
The Kontoor Brands-owned heritage label released its second Lee Archives collection this week, offering men’s and women’s pieces fit for the summer.
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The collection includes an assortment of vintage Rider vest styles based on Lee’s iconic Rider jacket. Options span dark to light washes. Some vests have brown corduroy on the collar; others are made without the collar and waistband.
The drop also includes a range of cut-off jean shorts for men and women spanning black to light denim.
Lee Archives launched last October as a vintage shopping vertical on the brand’s website. Described as “an homage to vintage lovers who scour shops and flea markets for Lee relics,” the first Lee Archives focused on Lee Storm Rider jackets “likely produced” in the ’60s and ’70s.
At the time of the launch Lee said it is working with a qualified third party to source and vet all its vintage pieces, with each item also undergoing an internal check with in-house design and quality teams.
Each Lee Archives product has a unique description including details about its condition as well as multiple photos. Some descriptions in the new collection note small holes on the back and outseam or a stain on the front. Other items are described as “good and clean.”
Lee Archives shorts retail for $50 and are available in sizes 25-37. The vintage vests retail for $70 and span XS-XXL.
Bringing vintage resale in-house is a popular move for denim brands. In April last year, Lee’s sister brand Wrangler launched Wrangler Reborn, a curated collection of jeans from as early as the 1950s. Levi’s bowed Levi’s SecondHand, a buyback and resale program, in 2020. Most recently, Gap dabbled in vintage through a partnership with collector Sean Wotherspoon.
