Only Haute Hippies Need Indulge in Valentino's Elevated Levi's 517 Jeans
Two late ’60s bootcut styles are given the Pierpaolo Piccioli twist.
Pierpaolo Piccioli loves a good collaboration. The Valentino creative director has enlisted the aid of several legacy labels over the past few years, including Birkenstock, Onitsuka Tiger and UNDERCOVER, with Spring/Summer 2021 realizing another partnership by way of two special Levi’s jeans.
First seen on the runway in late September, Valentino’s bespoke Levi’s take on 1969’s 517, a bootcut style that enjoyed widespread popularity in both hippiefied and blue collar circles. Ostensibly a cowboy cut dubbed the “Saddleman,” vintage denim enthusiasts across the globe appreciated the effortless cut and gentle flare that blossomed below the knee, translating to modern 517 styles and even Levi’s Vintage Clothing’s retro aspirations.
The Valentino collaboration sees Levi’s delivering exclusive Vintage and Re-edition models. While the Re-Edition is a reproduction of the original style — complete with special patching, washing and paint-flecking processes — the Vintage lineup consists of upcycled ’70s vintage, reinforced and retrofitted with the new co-branded patch.
Select boutiques, Valentino’s website and its physical stores will launch the Vintage and Re-Edition 517 jeans on April 28. The Vintage pairs, limited to only 517 pieces, will retail for ¥143,000 JPY (approximately $1,315 USD) while the men’s Re-Edition 517 weighs in at ¥132,000 JPY per pair (approximately $1,213 USD).
Both brands are delving deeper into collaborative affairs, as evidenced by Valentino’s We’re Not Really Strangers card game and the ongoing Denim Tears x Levi’s line.
