A new collection puts timeless American style and premium Japanese fabrics in the spotlight.
On Thursday, Lee and J.Crew launched a capsule collection spanning men’s, women’s and children’s denim essentials.
The collection reinterprets iconic Lee silhouettes like the Storm Rider jacket, a style that dates to 1948 when it was originally designed and advertised to cowboys. The denim pieces are designed to evolve with wear, reflecting the enduring appeal of American style that gets better over time.
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“This collaboration felt incredibly natural,” said Olympia Gayot, creative director of J.Crew women’s and kids. “Lee represents an essential part of American denim heritage.”
She added that her goal was to honor that legacy while refining it through J.Crew’s “polished but relaxed, thoughtful but unfussy” lens. “We focused on pieces that feel authentic and enduring, the kind of wardrobe staples you reach for instinctively and keep for years. It’s about respecting heritage while making it feel relevant now,” she said.
The men’s collection includes the Storm Rider jacket lined with plaid cotton-poplin fabric—a limited-edition detail designed by J.Crew exclusively for this collaboration—and the Japanese Selvedge Denim Straight Jean. The indigo version of the jean is made with 13.75 oz. selvedge denim from Kaihara. The vintage white version is made with 13 oz. cotton denim from Kurabo.
The men’s Oxford Western Shirt, available in blue stripe and daffodil, nods to J.Crew’s preppy heritage.
Women’s denim styles include a rigid straight jean, a shrunken Storm Rider jacket with a corduroy collar and a denim pencil skirt. The jean and skirt are available in medium wash and vintage white. Tops include a black garment-dyed Western shirt and white ribbed tank.
The collection taps into J.Crew’s strong reputation in children’s fashion with unisex denim overalls and Storm Rider jacket, girls’ vintage straight jeans and boys’ high rise straight jeans.
Custom hardware, embossed brass finishes and vintage-inspired labels that reference early 1970s Lee imagery are used throughout.
The collection arrives as Lee is in the process of repositioning its presence in the market. Last year the Kontoor Brands-owned label unveiled “Built Like Lee,” its first brand equity campaign in over a decade. Additionally, the brand’s recent collaborations with Paul Smith and Buck Mason have elevated its name in men’s wear.
The collaboration with J.Crew is the first available on Lee.com that encompasses men, women and kids apparel. Joe Broyles, VP of collaborations at Lee said J. Crew couldn’t have been a better partner in this endeavor.
“They are a master at product storytelling, and we’re thrilled with the outcome. This capsule amplifies Lee’s new global ‘Built Like Lee’ platform—highlighting how we’re showing up in new ways for today’s consumer,” he said.
The Lee x J.Crew collection is available now at lee.com and jcrew.com and will be available in select J.Crew stores. Prices range from $45-$268.
