100 YEARS LEE UNION-ALL 1913 - 2013

1913

THE LEE UNION ALL

Said to be inspired by his chauffeur, when he repaired his car, H.D. Lee gets the idea to design a suit, that supports both: from the waist down and protects the upper body.

A jacket and trousers are sewn together and thus form a long-armed suit. Since the overall is suitable as a one-piece work clothing for car mechanics, railroad workers, farmers and other occupational groups, the Union gained immediately popularity All across the country. With the jumpsuit H.D. Lee was only responding to his chauffeur who was complaining that his uniform was dirty every time when he repaired the car of his boss. The Union-All work clothing makes Lee a household name. 

2013

THE LEE UNION ALL

Lee 101 is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Union All with 101 units available worldwide in a Kaihara lightweight overdyed selvage chambray. You can do the job. (last 3 pics from the Lee 101 SS 2013 campaign)

STORE LOCATOR - THE GLOBE, ARNHEM

"THE GLOBE - AUTHENTIC & ORIGINAL SINCE 1969"

The Globe is located in a historic building from the 15th century, the oldest stone building in Arnhem.

When I entered the store I bumped into the owner Harry Wonder, his eyes filled with passion for authentic brands. I asked him when and how he started the business. He told me that he never finished school, and learned by doing. He sets himself a goal of learning 3 new things a day and even now this is his motto. Before he started the Globe he was a vintage dealer, but then in Italy he saw for the very first time a brand called Stone Island and that was 30 years ago. Harry was the very first dealer of Stone Island in the Netherlands. Bringing the brand to Holland changed his whole world.  He changed his way of working from vintage dealer into a store concept with authentic and original brands not just casuals but also outdoor gear. Even now you see still both influences, brands like Pendleton, Filson, Lee 101, Grenson going hand in hand with brands like Fjallraven and Patagonia. 

For a true shopping experience visit Harry and his team Anton & Ricardo @ the Rijnstraat, Arnhem.

DENIM & COFFEE @ MANN

What a great combination Coffee & Denim. Today Mann - Almere let us taste some great coffee from Heilig Boontje and a great selection of Denim, like Lee 101, Edwin, RedSeal, Denham etc. You can compare a good black coffee with a raw denim or what to say about a broken in denim with a cafe latte. This season Mann added some nice brands to it's collection like Red Wing, Gant Rugger, Herschel, Carhartt & Penfield.

STORE LOCATOR - COUNTRY HOUSE

Country House, Rotterdam was founded by Harry Polderman in 1981. He was one of the pioneers of the Dutch Denim scene. The first Country House at the Oude Binnenweg was closed down 5 years ago, but like a sphinx it raised from his ashes. Last year October, after 8 weeks of hard labor and with a warehouse stocked with vintage industrial furniture and lamps, Harry opened "Country House - Authentic Blue". This store is based on Iconic brands like Pendleton, Filson Bags, CP Company, Levi's Vintage, Redwing, Barbour, Lee 101, "Big E" to name a few heroes. With a friendly team, great coffee and a fine selection of merchandise, the message is clear. Harry tells me that clients from the"old" Country House already find their way back to the store, but also a new group loves to buy here. Authentic Blue is back in the city of blue collars. 

LEE STORM RIDER JACKET - HISTORY REPEATING

Paul Newman in a Lee Storm Rider Jacket

A Raw Denim, A used and an inside out Lee Storm Rider

the original labels

"Loco" Jacket

Chambray Quilted overshirt

Alaskan lining blanket

Tonight, I paid a visit to the Lee Showrooms in Amsterdam and I got a full explanation from Rutger on one of the icons of the brand. 

In 1931, Lee introduced the famous Lee Rider jacket. It was a slim jacket that had inward slanted breast pockets for easy access. This jacket was introduced with the cowboy in mind. The "Slim" jacket was the very first shorter, more tailored western-style jacket. In 1933, Lee launched what was to become one of its most famous designs, the Storm Rider Jacket. It was a winter version of the "Slim" Lee Rider Jacket and it featured a Alaskan Blanket lining, a product which was used for horse blankets. And it had a corduroy collar, which was softer for the neck than a denim collar. 

For Fall/Winter 2012 the Alaskan Lining of the Storm Rider Jacket is the red thread of the Lee 101 line. The lining is used several garments for example in a chambray quilted overshirt, on belts, wallets a Denim "Loco" Jacket coated with Teflon and even the chairs are covered with the Alaskan lining. You can find the Lee 101 collections at selected dealers throughout Europe.

After several hours, lots of info and photo's I went home, not brainwashed, but stonewashed.