Since 1853, Levi’s has been both creating unparalleled denim and calling California home. Together with Venice Beach-based fashion brand, ERL, Levi’s has reimagined some of their iconic denim in order to pay homage to the laid-back, effortlessly cool essence of California.
Launched by renowned designer Eli Russell Linnetz in 2020, ERL has made waves in the fashion industry by utilising playful retro-inspired designs that blend pop art aesthetics with surf and skate culture.
Linnetz expressed his excitement to work with Levi’s and stay true to the grunge, casual skater energy that can be found in California through the collaboration.
“I really enjoyed going through the Levi’s archives to fully understand the heritage of the brand and see how people throughout the years have customized and made it their own,” said Linnetz.
For bottoms, the Levi’s x ERL collection features a reimagined pair of 501 jeans, which celebrated its 150th anniversary this year. The light wash Levi’s x ERL 501 Spilt Leg Jean offers a unique take on the iconic jean. The Levi’s x ERL Stay Loose features a frayed waistband on a breathable pair of jeans. Featuring blown-out knees, the Levi’s x ERL Low Rise Flare showcases a superflare look. The Levi’s x ERL Shorts take inspiration from Venice Beach, offering a new shape that looks like an oversized boardshort that has been cut from a pair of overalls. Meanwhile, the Levi’s x ERL Mini Skirt looks like a cut pair of light, washed-out indigo five-pocket jeans.
Matching denim tops in a light indigo finish give the Levi’s x ERL collection a sense of consistency that allows pieces to be mixed and matched. The Levi’s x ERL Sherpa Trucker offers a shorter, boxier fit when compared to the Levi’s x ERL Duster Trucker, which elongates the look. The collection includes the Levi’s x ERL Heritage dress, which drapes and flows into a high-volume skirt.
Throughout the collection, an embroidered neon ERL logo appears at random places on the garments to give a unique sense of spontaneity.
“The new Levi’s x ERL partnership is a dynamic combination of iconic style and heritage,” said Karyn Hillman, Chief Product Officer at Levi Strauss & Co. “It was amazing working with the ERL team, exploring and crafting new reinterpretations of our denim staples.”
The Levi’s x ERL collection was photographed on a cast of siblings and friends, bringing to life the sun-kissed vibe of a Californian family. The collection launches worldwide in early September.
