What started as a popular workwear item back in the 1900s in the USA has gradually become a stellar piece of style and elegance across the world! Yes, we are talking about denim. As with any popular fabric and style, denim soon started gaining popularity across various segments and was not just limited to pants and trousers. Denim jackets soon became a popular and staple dressing style for various age groups and segments in the early 30s and 40s and, to date, have remained a classic.
Very few styles and fabrics have been able to remain as timeless as denim. In this blog, Mostafawi Group, which is one of the leading suppliers, retailers, and distributors of brands like Lee, Wrangler, Dickies, Victorinox, and more, will take you through a detailed guide to how Lee denim jackets became a timeless piece of elegance and class across the world. So read till the end and share with your friends who love shopping and love the Lee brand.
You may also find our blog titled “Personalize Your Lee Jeans in Dubai” interesting to read.
First Introduced in 1925
Visit any Lee showroom in Dubai, and you will get the idea that the Lee brand was born to fulfill the requirements of mine workers in the late 1800s. Similarly, the first Lee jacket was born in 1925 for railroad workers in the UAS. It soon gained popularity among the masses and started getting called the Lee Loco Jacket. Originally, it had a full cut and a single breast pocket. As with all other Lee apparel, this jacket was functional and highly durable. These two factors hugely contributed to making the Lee Loco Jacket popular in no time. The original style soon got revamped, and many of its versions became popular in the future. However, even today, you can find refined and polished versions of the Lee Loco Jacket that remain as elegant and timeless as they were when they were initially launched.
Today, men as well as women style this popular Lee Loco Jacket in Dubai with Lee denim pants, checkered shirts, white shirts, and hats. Some women pair these jackets with high boots during the winter.
1935–1939: Introduction of the Lee Cowboy Jacket
If you find Lee jeans outlets in Dubai almost at every major location, then much of the credit goes to the Cowboys. The cowboys have a huge role in making denim jackets as well as denim pants popular not only across the United States but also across the world. In the year 1934, the first cowboy jacket was launched, and a year later, a blanket-lined version of the same jacket was introduced. The blanket-lined version became immensely popular not only amongst the cowboys but also among the masses and the general public. It soon came to be known as the jacket of blue-collar workers. The interesting contrast created between the blue denim and the lightly colored blanket was loved and adored by people hugely.
While the cowboy jacket was already pretty popular, the late, great Rodeo star Turk Greenough got his jacket altered by his girlfriend for a slim fit. The slim fit looked fantastic on him, and soon Lee Company launched a new slim-fit version of the original cowboy jacket. The design and fit of the cowboy slim jacket are so functional and yet stylish that people adore and love it even today. It truly is a classic and elegant, timeless piece one must invest in. If you are living in the UAE, then visit a Lee store near you to purchase amazing Lee denim jackets.
Also, read our blog titled “Denim Care 101: How to Make Your Lee Denim Jeans Last Longer.”
1948: Launch of the Rider Jacket
Lee Rider jackets are one of the hottest-selling pieces of apparel at the majority of Lee’s jeans stores in Dubai. This iconic jacket was first launched by Lee in 1948, and be fooled by its name, assuming it was meant for bike-riding men. It was again targeted at the cowboys and the rodeos. During the launch, it was termed the “New Lee Rider Jacket,” and it has been so popular since the launch that it was given on a first-come, first-served basis for members of the Rodeo Cowboy Association and Cowboy Association of America.
It came in a slim-fitted style and was waist-length. It had the iconic vertical pleating on either side of the center front fastening, the distinctive zigzag top-stitching down the button placket, and breast pockets on both sides. To this day, this style of Lee jacket is loved by both old and young people. However, it is more of a young people’s jacket. Many jeans brands in Dubai have come up with styles and designs that match the original Lee Rider Jacket. However, none of them can match the durability and quality that the original Lee jacket offers.
With the strapline “Look at Slim in his New Lee Rider Jacket!” and a description showcasing the cowboy-friendly features—pleated pockets with button-down flaps, a 2-way collar, tailored sleeves with plenty of shoulder and elbow room, an adjustable waistband, and corded button holes—the new jacket was being promoted in rodeo and cowboy magazines by the fall of 1948. Since then, very little has changed—because why mess with perfection?—with those iconic details still there.
Related Read: 6 Ways to Style Your Lee Denim Jacket: A Guide for Men
Conclusion
The major reason why the Lee Denim Jacket has remained timeless and elegant over the years is because of its classic appeal to the masses and the love people have showered on it for years. Be it the original Loco jacket, the slim fit jacket, or the rider jacket, it is functional, highly durable, and still appeals to the masses, making it timeless and a true classic. If you are planning to purchase Lee jeans in Dubai, then you must consider buying one of the Lee denim jackets that go with your style.