LEVI’S® X GUIZIO : DREAMING WHILE YOU’RE AWAKE

New York based designer Danielle Guizio has always had a soft spot for Levi’s®: “I'm usually always in vintage Levi's®,” she tells us, “for me that comes natural.” For Guizio, it was that natural inclination towards upcycling our iconic denim that helped stoked the fire for this sustainable collaboration between the designer– whose work is best known for a combination of romantic details and form-fitting silhouettes–and us, here at Levi’s®. “I pretty much have been wanting a collaboration with Levi's® for the past six years.” We sat down with Danielle, to talk all things collab–from inspo, to styling­, to her favorite piece and we’ll tell you this, 6 years was well worth the wait.

DG: I pretty much have been wanting a collaboration with Levi's® for the past six years. We initially started toying with the idea because we used to rework vintage Levi's® in our e-commerce shoots. At the time when I first started my brand, we didn't, make any pants. So, I was always styling and merchandising everything with vintage Levi's® because that's personally what comes to mind first I'm usually always in vintage Levi's®. My first instinct was, and is, always to pair so many of my designs with vintage Levi's®, it was a no brainer that this would be one of my dream collaborations.

DG: My specific inspiration behind the collection was combining the femininity of the pieces along with the rough true American spirit. Having that kind of romantic silhouette where you feel confident in the pieces but making sure it could be balanced out with, a more unisex baggy pants. It’s the best of both worlds.

Personally, as a woman, it's hard to find denim that we feel really, truly very comfortable in. I feel like any denim aside from vintage Levi's® are just so tight they hug you in all the wrong places. They don't exactly make you feel super confident. It was my goal to provide women with baggier silhouettes and let that be okay, so we don't have to keep buying men’s pants.

DG:  I just want it to be accessible and hope that people will just be comfortable in the collection.

My overall designs are made to be interpreted in its own way it can be dressed up or it can be dressed down. For instance, the corset with the oversized denim, [our customer] can wear heels with that and she can be going on like a full girls’ night out, or she can be having, a casual day. So, I like the idea that it is universal in its own way, and I think that kind of embodies the modern day woman.