Lee Collaborates With The Brooklyn Circus To Tells The Story Of The Black Cowboy

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By Cassell Ferere originally published on Forbes.com

Heritage denim brand Lee® launches a new collection in collaboration with The Brooklyn Circus (BKc) and is currently available in the US and Europe. There is something special about this collaboration between Lee and The Brooklyn Circus, spawning from a design studio in Brooklyn. 

Based in Greensboro, NC, Lee® has had 133 years of manufacturing iconic denim workwear for cowboys, rangers, and those seeking garments that would outlive their work and passions. That classic American heritage is what The Brooklyn Circus, founded by its Creative Director Ouigi Theodore, has built its brand on over the past 15 years. Theodore states, “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.” 

Ironically, Theodore has expressed his 100-year plan as a designer, creating a label and lifestyle that educates and elevates communities through fashion. As inspiration, Lee has opened its vault of archival workwear and western heritage silhouettes to The Brooklyn Circus, offering a fresh take on an American classic and fashion staple, Lee jeans.

“This moment is an important chapter for me,” Theodore points out. “When we talk about heritage in the fashion industry. We’re talking about clothing and all these objects. But this is heritage - this is legacy. We’re talking about ‘Sed’ [Sedgwick Cole Jr.], who came to The Brooklyn Circus as a customer, became part of the family, and now is a part of BKc history. Leaving the BKc to sharpen his tools, improve, and bring that back home. This is an amazing moment. If I can continue to do this for the rest of my life, I’m golden.”

Sedgwick Cole Jr., Lee’s Global Director of Men’s Design, the Lee design team, and Ouigi Theodore of The Brooklyn Circus worked closely in creating the narrative of Black cultural influence on the American West. Cole Jr. ultimately started his career in fashion at The Brooklyn Circus, first as a fan, and later on, as a designer working closely with Theodore, foreshadowing a mentorship manifested into collaboration.

“I left New York in 2016 with three kids. I wanted a slower pace lifestyle, so I moved to Greensboro and started working with Wrangler,” Cole jr explains. “Then I moved over to Lee and have been with them four years now. It’s a good brand for me because even coming from The Brooklyn Circus, we appreciate workwear, so it’s the perfect blend for me.”

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