The Levi's® Brand and Pendleton® Collaborate on Third Workwear Collection: Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton®

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The Levi's® brand and Pendleton® today announced the launch of the third collection in the Levi's® Workwear Series: Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton®.  This partnership combines the iconic pioneering spirit of the Levi's® brand with the authentic craftsmanship of Pendleton® for a truly American collaboration. In stores now, the new workwear collection features key items for men, women and the home, and will be available at Levi's® retail stores nationwide and at select Pendleton® stores. The collaborative range is also sold on-line through www.levi.com and www.pendleton-usa.com.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101109/NY97605 )

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20101109/NY97605 )

Collection highlights include a selection of men's and women's Trucker Jackets – each incorporating a unique Jacquard pattern woven exclusively by Pendleton Woolen Mills for Levi Strauss & Co.  The Native American-inspired Jacquard design alludes to the signature characteristics of a well-worn pair of vintage Levi's® jeans: the indigo hues of denim that's been aged to perfection; the golden yellow thread selected by the original inventor of the blue jean; and the iconic red found in selvedge stitching and the celebrated Levi's® Red Tab. "The idea behind our partnership with Pendleton was to leverage the 'best-in-breed' aspects of both brands," offers Carl Chiara, director of Men's and Women's Brand Concepts for the Levi's® Brand, the Americas.  "We started in the Levi Strauss & Co. archives, hand-selecting an assortment of styles from the past.  From there, we re-imagined each piece, utilizing the functionality and beauty of Pendleton's® superior, woven-in-America Umatilla wool.  The resulting collection offers a fresh aesthetic, with each style retaining an authenticity that is bolstered by a thoroughly modern fit and constructed with time-honored technique."

This tightly-edited assortment of coveted styles, the Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton® collection spotlights the iconic Levi's® Trucker jacket for men in two styles.  The first, the definitive Jacquard-Lined Trucker Jacket, has been washed down and aged and features a removable Pendleton Wool vest.   The Western Trucker Jacket, in an ode to the Wild West comes in rugged Cone® denim, and features hand-warming pockets for cold mornings on the range and Pendleton wool insert details for added warmth.  Equally pragmatic is the men's workshirt, cut in durable indigo denim twill and reinforced with Pendleton wool panels.

Women get their own convertible trucker jacket, lined with a detachable thigh-length hooded wrap, also made of cozy Pendleton® wool.  This removable lining can be worn on its own or as part of the fitted denim jacket.  The collection also includes a Jacquard-Lined Trucker Jacket, feminine in fit, with a soft wash and a removable button-down Jacquard vest.  A stand-alone 100% Wool Pendleton® Cape features authentic Levi's® workwear details inspired by the company's 1920s "Type I" denim jacket.  

To complete the collection, the Levi's® and Pendleton® brands have produced a limited number of special-edition blankets featuring the exclusive Levi's® Jacquard.  First used as "Indian Trade Blankets" in the 1800s, Pendleton® blankets were later adopted by picnickers, beach bums and workers alike and have become highly sought after by collectors worldwide.  The Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton® blankets are made from the traditional weight 32 oz. wool, with cotton warp, whip-stitch edging in indigo, and come in a commemorative box.

Jim Buckner, manager of Pendleton's Menswear division adds, "The combination of Pendleton® and Levi's® brands is a match unlike any other.  Throughout the last century, these two brands have contributed to the spirit of the West in their own ways.  We're both proud companies with deep roots and a profound respect for quality and craftsmanship. Coming together to offer this collection is a celebration of a shared history and a collective future."

The Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton® collection is the latest endeavor in an ongoing series of special Levi's® products and styles that are constructed, finished and manufactured in the United States, using imported materials.  Previous Levi's® lines in the series include collaborative limited-edition collections developed with Brooks Brothers, Opening Ceremony, Robert Geller, Billy Reid, Filson and Engineered Garments.  Now in stores, the Levi's® Workwear by Pendleton® collection is carried by Levi's® Store locations nationwide and in the following Pendleton® store locations:  The Pendleton® Home Store and Downtown Portland, Portland, OR; LaFiesta Square in Lafayette, CA; Old Town Alexandria, VA; and Galleria Mall in Edina, MN.  The collection will also be sold on-line at www.levi.com and www.pendleton-usa.com.

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 the most recognizable and imitated 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 www.levi.com.

ABOUT THE PENDLETON® BRAND

Pendleton® is a sixth generation family owned business rooted deeply in the American West.  From the early beginnings when Thomas Kay, the first of the family to arrive in America, came to Oregon to weave wool in 1863 to the time the first Pendleton® Jacquard fabrics rolled off the loom in Pendleton, Oregon in 1909, Pendleton® products have been synonymous with quality. The early blanket-weaving grew into a uniquely American heritage of fine craftsmanship and classic, enduring style.  Still woven today in the company-owned and operated Northwest Mills, Pendleton's® fleece to fashion approach provides a genuine "Warranted to be a Pendleton®" statement on every item they make.  Pendleton® products are sold in better specialty stores, in corporate stores nationwide, Japan, Canada and Europe, and via the company's catalogs and online at pendleton-usa.com.

SOURCE Levi's