Levi’s Vintage Clothing: Boomtown

As well as the revival of the Orange Tab, Fall/Winter 2013 sees Levi’s Vintage Clothing visiting the 60s once again, specifically they are visiting Detroit during its heyday. This is Boomtown.

The antithesis of what it is today, Detroit in the 60s was a thriving hub of the North American motor industry. The promise of employment drew people from all over the United States to work in the factories and on the assembly lines. With such a diverse influx of people and culture, Detroit became a melting pot for the spirit of the times. One of the most recognized and enduring results of this fortuitous blend of influences was Motown Records. The Motown Sound is defined as “soul music with a heavy pop influence” and in the early 60s it spread like wildfire throughout Detroit. It brought with it liberation from the past prejudice’s, past fashion and the status quo. A defined Detroit look appeared and this is what Levi’s have focused on when putting together this collection.

Naturally all the pieces in the collection achieve the same high standards we have come to expect from Levi’s Vintage Clothing and certainly there are some pieces that really resonate with the times, we will have a closer look those in a moment. What really lends authenticity to the collections however is the way it is embedded in the times. Not content with simply recreating a garment faithfully, Levi’s Vintage Clothing also provides us with chattels from that era. To accompany the collection they have faithfully reproduced seven distinct vinyl singles that give a glimpse into the huge verity within the music scene at the time.

http://youtu.be/luwF5Y19XRI

There is also a film to accompany the collection; again it lends another dimension to the garments when you see them in the context from which they have been derived. This is fashion made tactile, not just by the attention to detail but by the attention to the vibe of the time.

So, let’s have a closer look at some of the really intriguing pieces.

First up is the Climate Sealed Bomber. An exact reproduction of a 1950s bomber with a nylon body, faux fur collar and quilted sateen lining

Quite at home in Detroit in the 60s and most trendy bars in 2013 the 1960s Spikes Super Slim comes right out of the Levi’s archive and is an exacting reproduction from a ‘White’ Levi’s model.

The Beatnik of the late 50s paved the way for a lot of the more recognized cultural changes in the 60s and what Beatnik would be without a good Turtle Neck Sweater.

Okay, we know this is not from the 60s exactly, especially when it is called “1940s Reversible Leather Jacket” and indeed we have seen this kind of jacket as part of the Levi’s Vintage Clothing collection over the last few years.

However, this one has a slight twist, it is fully reversible. Perfect for the Super Spy who made this jacket so desirable that they were changing hands for double the retail price. Movie appearances aside, this jacket may hark from two decades before Motown but it has a timeless quality which makes it right at home in the 40s, 60s or on the back of Daniel Craig in 2013.

This is a well rounded, well envisioned and entirely authentic collection and with the addition of the short film and singles it really achieves a great deal of depth. All this really excites and makes us wonder, what will they dream up next! You can see the full Boomtown collection on the Levi’s Vintage Clothing website here. While there take some time to have a look at their full offering. Great stuff!