Lee Brings Black Cowboys to Fashion with BKc Collab

The Fashionisto

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Published November 6, 2022

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Updated April 26, 2023

Riding a horse, Christopher Gary Lawson sports a denim look from the new Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection.
Riding a horse, Christopher Gary Lawson sports a denim look from the new Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection. Photo: Ivan McClellan / Lee

Lee and The Brooklyn Circus (BKc) collaborate and launch a new collection. Lee’s heritage workwear and western roots inspire the range. The clothing lineup aims to combine the brand’s signature American style with BKc’s unique vision. Ouigi Theodore, the founder and creative director of The Brooklyn Circus, approached the collaboration inspired by the history of black cowboys. Theodore worked with Lee’s design team to create a collection that references the influence of black culture on the West.

Pictured left, Christopher Gary Lawson models a union-all while Dave Lilja a corduroy shirt and carpenter pants from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection.
Pictured left, Christopher Gary Lawson models a union-all while Dave Lilja a corduroy shirt and carpenter pants from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection. Photo: Ivan McClellan / Lee

Lee x The Brooklyn Circus Collection

“We aim to tell the story of our community through meaningful partnerships like this one with Lee,” says The Brooklyn Circus’ Ouigi Theodore. “The Brooklyn Circus finds inspiration in the pages of history, so collaborating with a heritage brand like Lee to highlight the history of the Black working west made perfect sense.”

Dave Lilja wears overalls and a sweatshirt from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection.
Dave Lilja wears overalls and a sweatshirt from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection. Photo: Ivan McClellan / Lee

The Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection includes overalls, jackets, pants, and tops with several highlights. Standouts include the cowboy jacket inspired by the iconic 101 Cowboy jacket. Meanwhile, The Brooklyn Circus shares its popular leather varsity jacket for a unisex style featuring an embroidered black cowboy. Finally, Cowboy jeans reference Lee’s original 1925 Cowboy jeans, but they receive an update with selvedge denim, a modern fit, and custom hardware.

Christopher Gary Lawson wears a quilted overshirt from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection.
Christopher Gary Lawson wears a quilted overshirt from the Lee x The Brooklyn Circus collection. Photo: Ivan McClellan / Lee

“Lee can tap into different cultures because we were there in real time,” explains Lee global director of men’s design, Sedgwick Cole Jr. “Concepting this collaboration was very exciting as we worked to blend western and workwear with urban sophistication while keeping the integrity of each.” 

For its Lee collaboration, The Brooklyn Circus updates its popular varsity jacket with embroidery of a black cowboy.
For its Lee collaboration, The Brooklyn Circus updates its popular varsity jacket with embroidery of a black cowboy. Photo: Ivan McClellan / Lee

Cole discusses the care that went into the collection’s pieces: “Every detail from the Japanese selvedge denim to the Melton wool fabric and exclusive patterns and pallets twist these two stories together. The final result is a unique collection that makes you say, ‘Wow, this is so new and fresh.'”


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