Levi's Is Replicating Bob Dylan's Customized 501 XX Jeans

Levi’s has revealed that it played a special role in the costume department for the forthcoming Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

For the Timothée Chalamet-led film, costume designer Arianne Phillips worked closely with the heritage denim brand, resulting in the release of a special capsule collection ahead of the theatrical release on December 25.

The vintage 501 XX jeans are the centerpiece of the collaboration, featuring a raw-edged triangular gusset sewn at the bottoms. According to Business of Fashion, the added detail replicates customizations on Dylan’s pair done by ex-girlfriend Suze Rotolo to accommodate the singer’s boots. The pants come with a recreation of the singer’s D belt and are offered alongside a suede motorcycle jacket–all styles worn by Chalamet on set.

The concise three-item collection is offered at a premium price point with the jacket retailing for $1200 USD and the jeans retailing for $495 USD. While the pricing strategy may seem ambitious, it’s a conscious choice in honor of the star’s legacy and the unconventional approach to the collection’s development.

Instead of opting for an outsourced line of graphic basics, the collaborators chose a meticulous route to create something unique. Business of Fashion reported that Philips began working with the design director Paul O’Neill of Levi’s Vintage Clothing starting in 2019 to craft historically accurate costumes for the film.

O’Neill helped Phillips with identifying Levi’s silhouettes worn by Dylan in archival imagery, such as the Levi’s Super Slims that he began to wear after spending time with the Beatles. Eventually, the collaborative costume team approached Searchlight Pictures to offer the special capsule as official merchandise for the film.

The Bob Dylan Levi’s collection will be available beginning Friday, December 20 exclusively on Levi.com.