Canada’s sweeping landscapes are the source of inspiration behind Levi’s new collaboration with Karla Welch, founder of the apparel line xKarla.
The women’s collection is an homage to the Canadian prairies in Alberta, where Welch’s mother grew up. Grounded in autumnal corduroy, with earthy tones of dark green, rust, khaki, and dark indigo denim, the collection features a range of jackets, tops, jeans and overalls that “call back to an era when outdoor gear was as stylish as it was functional,” Levi’s stated.
The collection is anchored by statement pieces like a wide wale dark green corduroy blazer and trouser with a velvety hand feel, and a rust-color corduroy puffer vest. Vintage jean silhouettes, meanwhile, enhance the line’s western vibe, including a high-rise wide-leg flare indigo jean and a bootcut jean, based on the men’s Levi’s 517, available in indigo and washed black.
Also featured is a flared wide-leg overall in washed black with an exposed side zipper at the right hip and crossover straps in the back.
Other pieces that honor the western Canada aesthetic include a two-tone denim Western shirt, a corduroy Trucker jacket with extra-long fringe, and a reversible, mixed media Trucker jacket with a cropped silhouette.
“In a way, the collection is an ode to my mother and how I imagine her as a prairie girl in Alberta, Canada. Being outside, being a tomboy,” Welch stated. “The flannels, the cord, the fringe, they all have a ruggedness and a connection to nature. It’s clothes to climb trees in.”
Levi’s has found a creative match with Welch. The stylist created a nine-piece capsule for 501 Day, and was one of 50 influencers who customized a Trucker jacket for the garment’s 50th anniversary in 2017. She also worked with Levi’s sister brand Dockers on a line of elevated basics and an utilitarian-themed collection earlier this year.
The collection ranges from $176-$398 and is now available on xkarla.com, Levi.com, on the Levi’s app and in select Levi’s stores around the world.
