Brand profile
Lee 101
Lee's premium heritage line, rebuilding archive 101 jeans and Rider jackets in Japanese selvedge raw denim.
GreensboroOrigin
UnisexFocus
Workwear / HeritageStyle
$$$Price
What to know about Lee 101
Archive reproductions, not new designs
The line rebuilds specific Lee pieces: the 1924 101 cowboy jean, the 101Z zip-fly, and the Rider and Storm Rider jackets.
Japanese selvedge on an American pattern
Denim comes from Japanese mills including Kaihara and Kurabo, with raw indigo alongside workwear shirting and outerwear.
A European-built premium tier
Developed by Lee Europe in the 2000s and sold through heritage denim specialists like Cultizm and Son of a Stag, well above mainline Lee pricing.
Shop Lee 101
Shop all Lee 101 ↗Available atCultizm · DeeCee style
If you like Lee 101
78% matchNudie Jeans
Raw five-pocket denim with repair-led sustainability
What changes: Organic cotton and Swedish minimalism rather than US archive repro
76% matchKapital
Okayama indigo craft, far more eccentric and patchworked
What changes: Art-school boro styling and much higher prices vs faithful reissues
73% matchA.P.C.
Selvedge raw denim with Parisian restraint instead of workwear
What changes: Minimal fashion cuts, no archive or heritage storytelling
72% matchCarhartt
The original US work uniform, duck canvas over denim
What changes: Utility pricing and modern production, no premium selvedge line
Brand facts
Lee 101 is the premium heritage line of American denim brand Lee, recreating archive styles including the 1924 101 cowboy jean, the 101Z zip-fly and the Rider and Storm Rider jackets. Garments use Japanese selvedge from mills such as Kaihara and Kurabo, alongside raw indigo denim, workwear shirting and outerwear. It sells through European heritage specialists including Cultizm and Son of a Stag. Parent Kontoor Brands agreed in May 2026 to sell Lee to Authentic Brands Group for up to $1 billion, with closing expected in second-half 2026.
- Founded
- 1924 (101 jean debut); modern Lee 101 premium line developed by Lee Europe in the 2000s
- Origin
- Greensboro, United States
- Price
- $$$
- Typical prices
- Jeans $280–$336
- Focus
- Unisex
- Styles
- Workwear / Heritage, Streetwear