Lee® Unveils Collaboration with H&M: Lee x H&M

By: Kontoor Brands News Team Jan 27, 2021 Feature Story Tags: Lee, Product, Sustainability

Collaborating for the next generation of more sustainable denim

Lee Jeans is proud to announce it has partnered with fashion retailer H&M on a global collaboration that brings its sustainable message to a worldwide audience. The result is a collection that embodies the brands’ drive to push for reduced impact, planet friendly designs that will champion sustainable denim around the world. At each stage of the collaboration the brands have aimed to use the most sustainable options in terms of materials and processes.

Drawing on Lee’s iconic status as denim innovators, the collection reimagines pieces from the Lee archives and features exciting products, including 100% recycled jeans – a first for H&M – as well as cotton-free denim made using renewable fibers and pieces finished with water-free dyes. The collection is every bit as stylish as it is sustainable with a mix of oversized silhouettes and workwear detailing updating the heritage inspiration.  

“Lee is proud to be collaborating with H&M to continue our efforts to make better denim. Our brand was founded more than 130 years ago with innovation in mind, and today we are happy to be joining with H&M to advance denim into a more sustainable future,” says Chris Waldeck, EVP Global Brand President, Lee®

“We just loved working with Lee to push for change. A change for more sustainable and circular denim garments. We looked at every detail and challenged each other in a positive way. It’s also amazing to work with Lee’s iconic designs and give them a bit of our flavor, for H&M denim lovers around the world,” says Jon Loman, designer at H&M.

With pieces for men, women and kids in the range, the design teams have come together to fuse authentic and nostalgic styles with forward-looking and sustainable designs and processes.

For men, iconic workwear jackets are recreated alongside workwear style dungarees and our coveted Carpenter Jeans, which are made with water-saving dyes and 100% Tencel™ Lyocell cellulosic sewing threads. Classic, relaxed fit jeans come in in 100% recycled cotton while heavyweight jersey pieces help to complete the look of this low-impact high style collection. Accessories include denim bucket hats and tote bags.

For women, the iconic Rider and Storm Rider jackets are reworked in oversized shapes alongside jeans that come in a range of on-trend wide cuts and looser fits with a nostalgic Nineties feel. Dungarees and overshirts nod to our authentic workwear history, while other standout pieces include denim corsets and pieces made using recycled cotton jersey.

Created using a raft of innovative, sustainable solutions and processes, this collection writes the next chapter in the 130-year Lee Jeans story as the iconic denim brand continues to develop its sustainable platform, For a World That Works.

The collection is available from January 28 online at HM.com and at selected H&M stores globally.