Levi's Launches "Made Here" Product Concept to Support Emerging Designers

 

The people over at Levi's are some busy little bees. It seems like every month there is a product launch, a new concept store or an unexpected collaboration to announce. I guess that's what it takes to keep a century old brand fresh. Other industries should take note.

The latest project from Levi's is a new product platform called 'Made Here'. 'Made Here' is an assortment of handcrafted goods and apparel developed by emerging artists here in the US that will includes Levi's and non-Levi's products. This is actually a pretty cool concept when you think of it in terms of giving back. It's always a great thing when a company with the reach of Levi's uses it's powers for good and gives exposure to up-and-coming talent.  

 'Made Here' debuted at the opening of Levi's new concept boutique on Newbury Street in Boston and will be available at already existing boutiques in Malibu and New York City’s Meatpacking District. For this installment the designers are:

 

Belts by Austin Jeffers 

Based in Essex, Connecticut, Austin Jeffers uses the finest leathers from all over the globe, pairing them with unique, hand-caste, artisan-made hook-style belt buckles.  

Marlin Spike

Tim Whitten, a self-taught master of traditional maritime rope-work, uses vintage Irish linen cord and classic mariner’s hitching techniques to construct functional, nautically-themed necklace designs.    

Farm Tactics Bags

Founded by a 24-year Angeleno, Farm Tactics salvages dead stock military and hiking equipment and reworks them into modern bags and apparel. 

Upstate

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Kalen and Astrid from Upstate make some of the most covetable scarves around with their unique take on Shibori and dip dyeing. An ancient Japanese technique of dyeing cloth, Shibori uses different methods of binding, folding, or compressing the fabric.

Schott Apparel

In 1913, brothers Irving and Jack Schott began making leather coats in a basement on the lower east side of Manhattan. Originally sold door-to-door, the Schott brothers were the first to add zippers to coats.  By 1928, they introduced the world’s first motorcycle jacket. Dubbed the Perfecto® after Irving’s favorite Cuban cigar, it’s been worn by everyone from James Dean to pioneering punk band, the Ramones. An American icon, Schott NYC is crafted with the pure essence of freedom, rebellion, and rugged Americana. 

Hand Made’ Goods from the Levi's® Tailor Shop NYC

Sewing and crafting everything in-house and by hand in our Levi’s® Meatpacking store location, this assortment offers unique, limited-edition bag aprons and special production items made by our very own on-site tailors. 

I'm looking forward to seeing this concept continue beyond it's debut.