Lee partners with Smiley to mark 130th year

I love wearing denims. My staple attire included a pair of torn denim jeans when I was working as a publicist at the Manila Metropolitan Theater where I met Tita Conching Sunico, the grand dame of Manila’s high society. She was the executive director of the newly-renovated MET at that time. Tita Conching was an important fashion and theater impresario whose great sense of style was impeccable. Although she stared in disbelief whenever I sashayed in the august halls of the MET wearing my torn jeans, she would not say a word or reprimand me. The benevolent Tita Conching embraced my fashion choice and took me under her wings with love and affection. She generously taught me the fundamentals of PR and it was the beginning of what I refer to as my best education. The rest, as they say, is history.

My fashion has evolved insanely through the years but my love for denims has remained the same.

I remember being invited as a guest speaker at the Asia Speaker’s Congress in Singapore. I brought several formal outfits with me when I realized that I didn’t want to blend in with the crowd. I wanted to be different so I ditched my previous suit and tie. Instead, I made a bold fashion statement by wearing boots, ripped jeans and a trench coat for my speech in front of an audience composed of professional public speakers who were all dressed formally.

Speaking of denims, did you know that global brand Lee is celebrating its 130th anniversary? Lee is one of the world’s most iconic signatures of quality, innovation and craftsmanship. Lee remains a legendary denim brand since Henry David Lee established the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in Kansas, USA in 1889.

According to Lee’s website, James Dean, the quintessential bad boy of Hollywood in the ‘50s, wore jeans in his two classic films East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause. With James’ rugged looks — disheveled hair, worn jeans, simple shirt, boots, and jacket — he personified the defiant youth of his generation. His style was effortless.

Just like the timeless iconic actor whose life was cut short at an early age, Lee has transcended generations. To celebrate its 130th anniversary, Lee partners again with Smiley, another iconic label. Lee’s workwear heritage is revisited with functional but fun outfits that are brightened up with the sunlit Smiley.

This year’s Fall/Winter range is given a trendy injection of ‘80s and ‘90s street style. The Lee X Smiley collection is a cool, comfortable, and epochal collaboration between two legendary brands — Lee’s classic denim heritage and the iconic yellow Smiley face.

For its Fall/Winter collection, the range includes stretchable overalls and comfy oversized sweatshirts in sun-kissed yellow and dark forest green. Smiley logos in distinct positions on Lee’s pieces give this collection an upbeat, youthful energy with the co-branding in Lee’s iconic badges, the iconic Lee hickory stripe, the drawstring tipping, woven labels, metal buttons and rivets, as well as underneath Lee’s classic leather patch and the logo in Lee’s lazy S back pockets.

Decorative texts of Lee X Smiley also run across the front and sleeves of rider jackets, as well as the new utilitarian belt bags which can be worn in multiple ways. These matching street style denim outfits are perfect casual looks with attitude. A key design element in the latest collaboration is the Smiley playing “hide and seek” with the Lee logo, with vivacious variations on the logos and messages hidden within the waist and along the zipper.

For women, the long fur-trimmed hoodie denim jacket is perfectly paired with tapered cut stretchable jeans or flares that complements the retro feel of the ‘70s Smiley.

Over the years, Lee has created history with its numerous product innovations like the world’s first-ever zip fly jeans — the 101Z in 1926, the iconic Hair-on-Hide leather label and the Lazy S back pocket stitching. From the launch of the first Lee bib overalls to the 13oz 101 cowboy jeans, Lee has demonstrated an undying passion for innovation, transforming from practical and durable work-wear to a contemporary trend-setting denim maker.

Meanwhile, Smiley was founded in 1971. The Smiley Company has shaped the way we share happiness and express ourselves for over 45 years. Smiley is an evergreen lifestyle brand that has influenced musical generations, social movements, popular culture and the pursuit of happiness.

You can check out information about Lee on the following: Facebook: LeeJeansPhilippines / Instagram: LeeJeansPhils / Twitter: LeeJeansPhils / YouTube: LeeJeansPhilippines