We are fans of the understated Levi Made & Crafted range of contemporary casual clothes and it’s great to see that the collection has moved out of the poky confines of the Levi Vintage store near Carnaby Street into its own, better sized space in the main Levi flagship on Regent Street. Indeed for the next month the brand has commandeered the front entrance space of the store to big-up the profile of the range with coffee table style merchandising -love the 70s vases!- and a big emphasis on product quality.
Made & Crafted is well made, I can vouch for that as I’ve bought lots and it’s all looking good after multiple wears, the fabrics are great and best of all (I think) is the simple, no fuss design that focusses in on quality of shape and fit. I’ve also seen how good Spring 2014 looks and interestingly there’s no trend-chasing, instead it appears to be concentrating on producing great shapes that can be carried from season to season in new colours and fabrics, with a few short-term crackers thrown in to keep things interesting.
For its launch within the flagship store (the shop-in-shop is downstairs) the entrance space presents the styles in an outfit-build manner on the tables, with little stories written about each style emphasising the use of french seams, woven rather than printed T shirting and an obsession with good buttons.
We’ve mentioned it before here, but there is definitely a swing towards product quality by some brands keen to buck the fast fashion label and attract a more discerning and concerned customer. I don’t think it’s about age, there seems to be a cross-generation growth in wanting clothes that have potential to be loved and live in your wardrobe for a long time.
All good news for us, particularly when shapes are given such attention, I would direct you towards the best selling silk shirt shape, which also comes in chambray, which is long enough to cover your bottom nicely and has a sweet curved pocket to keep it interesting…curved pockets aren’t that easy to produce, either. I also loved the bee stripe Hey Sailor long top/short dress in navy/mustard and the great Heaven cardigan in navy, which would make a great weekend throw over, I’m currently loving navy as an alternative to black too.
There’s nothing rocket-science about these styles, they just look very useful and effortless to wear. The Beau Boyfriend jean is also a good cut and sensibly high-ish rise and let’s face it, Levi’s can do a good jean…
The range is available online from a few different retailers and for the London based, the Regent Street store is worth popping into. It’s not a huge range, neither will it make you go ‘wow!’ but it might supply you with a few styles you wear to death.
PS Anyone from the store who is reading, get the steamer out, would you? The styles will look so much better with a quick going-over with the steamer, those packaging creases do not help sell a quality product!
Don’t you love the vases? The accessories are great too, simple bags and useful belts.
Levi’s Made & Crafted website here, but for women’s product check Atterley Road or Net-A-Porter where there are also some summer styles in the sale….