LA-based clothing brand, Buck Mason, and iconic American denim brand, Lee, launched a collaboration spotlighting vintage-inspired updates to three of Lee’s heritage styles. Mark Wystrach, lead vocalist of the band Midland, is the face of the capsule.
The menswear collection features Lee’s 101B jean, 101J Rider® jacket and 91B zippered work jacket, meticulously recut to the patterns from the 1940s. The nearly stitch-by-stitch reconstructions of the jean and Rider jacket are crafted in a Japanese loomstate selvedge denim and a Japan-milled 100% cotton herringbone twill, each with archival trim details. The 91B jacket, originally in denim, has received a West Coast twist. Using Buck Mason’s hand-burnished Rambler Suede, this version is a leather model that could have existed in the past.
“Lee is such a big piece of the puzzle when it comes to American denim and workwear,” said Kyle Fitzgibbons, chief creative officer at Buck Mason. “The 1940s, specifically, that’s when we saw the first version of the 101 in modern form. The influence those jeans had on American culture from that point forward, it informs so much of what we do at Buck Mason today. It was like a dream for us, getting to connect those dots.”
The photo campaign featuring Wystrach, a long-time fan of Buck Mason, also was inspired by history. Shot in settings reminiscent of the golden days of Hollywood, the images convey an era of rugged actors wearing Lee both on and off the silver screen.
}The Buck Mason team does an incredible job with storytelling, and we’re thrilled to have Mark in this campaign,” said Brigid Stevens, global vice-president of marketing, Lee. “The images do a great job paying tribute to the capsule’s historic inspiration while remaining true to the Lee of today.”
The full Buck Mason x Lee capsule includes:
Suede 91B Jacket – A revisit to the 91B work jacket in Buck Mason’s hand-burnished Rambler Suede. The distinctly Lee design has two D patch pockets on the waist, a full zip front, and a zippered chest pocket. Cropped with a boxy fit, it can be adjusted with side-buttoned tabs. Finished with Japanese hardware and a black and gold Lee label.
101J Rider® Denim Jacket – A true ‘40s reproduction of Lee’s famous Rider jacket featuring a pleated, cropped silhouette, generous sleeve proportions, distinctive zig-zag stitch placket, and two chest pockets with a metal tack button front. It is stitched with a narrow bite width and lower SPI, authentic to original Lee patterns. Made with loomstate Japanese denim from Kaihara Mills or in herringbone twill; finished with Japanese hardware and crowned with a black and gold Lee label.
101B Jean – The jean stays true to Lee’s 1940s silhouette with a full leg, a high, scooped back rise, button fly, and signature “x” bar-tacks at the back pockets. We’ve also omitted the lazy “S,” as represented in late 1940s models. The jeans are stitched with a narrow bite width and lower SPI, authentic to original Lee productions. Made with loomstate Japanese denim from Kaihara Mills or herringbone twill and finished with Japanese hardware and crowned with a black and gold Lee label.
Bandanas – Vintage-inspired bandanas are made in Japan of 100% rayon. It features the facades of numerous Lee factories and the Buck Mason Knitting Mills in Mohnton, PA.
The collection is available to purchase in Buck Mason’s retail stores and online as well as on the Lee website.
