TL;DR
Get travel and outdoor gear delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Imogene + Willie and Wrangler are releasing the third and final part of a three-drop denim collaboration on Nov. 7. The collection was produced entirely in the United States, using domestic manufacturing partners and Wrangler-supplied deadstock denim from the shuttered White Oak plant.
Imogene + Willie and Wrangler are set to release the third and final drop of their denim collaboration on Nov. 7, concluding a three-part collection produced entirely in the United States. The release features western-inspired styles made with domestic manufacturing partners and includes deadstock denim from Wrangler’s supply of fabric from the closed White Oak plant in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The final release includes deadstock denim styles in western cuts, including a rigid western snap shirt, according to WWD’s Sourcing Journal report. The collection’s earlier drops are part of the same three-part project; the report does not give their release dates, prices, quantities or a full product list for the final release.
Production drew on the brands’ existing U.S. manufacturing relationships. The report identifies Mount Vernon Mills in Trion, Georgia, as one of the partners, alongside garment and laundry facilities in Los Angeles. Wrangler supplied deadstock fabric associated with White Oak, the former Greensboro denim plant that has shut down. The report describes the collection as entirely U.S.-produced, but does not detail the origin of every component or the specific production steps completed at each facility.
Jackie Berkley, Imogene + Willie’s head of people and culture, said the brands wanted the collaboration to have a clear purpose. She described the project as bringing Wrangler’s first domestically manufactured collection in more than 20 years to life. That characterization comes from Berkley; the supplied report does not independently provide a production history or define the scope of the earlier Wrangler collections.
Why Domestic Denim Partnerships Matter
The collaboration puts attention on the network of mills, factories and skilled workers needed to make clothing in the United States. Berkley said domestic manufacturers need consistent business and brands willing to invest in their capabilities to remain viable. The project offers a specific example of two brands combining existing relationships and resources to produce a collection domestically.
That matters beyond the products themselves because manufacturing capacity depends on sustained demand, not just a single launch. Berkley said the work involves expertise developed over years and expressed hope that continued investment will give younger workers opportunities to learn from experienced workers. The report does not establish whether this collaboration will lead to longer-term orders for the named suppliers, so its wider effect on domestic production remains to be seen.
For shoppers, the project also links the collection’s design to a particular source of materials: deadstock denim associated with White Oak. The collaboration therefore draws on both archival Wrangler designs and existing fabric, while the final quantities and the exact share made from deadstock versus newly developed materials are not stated.
Popular right now
KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, Porcelain White (KSM55SXXX)
KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, Almond Cream
Dyson Cyclone V10 Origin Cordless Vacuum
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Wrangler Archives to Final Drop
Imogene + Willie, a Nashville-based denim and clothing brand founded in 2009, has built its work around denim and domestic production. Berkley pointed to the company’s Cotton Project, which brings farmers, mills and makers within a 400-mile radius of Nashville together to make T-shirts and jeans. That existing experience with local supply relationships formed part of the collaboration’s manufacturing approach.
Wrangler brought its brand history and archive to the design process. Berkley said Imogene + Willie’s team studied original garments, patterns, construction, washes, stitching and finishing details, then considered adjustments to fit while retaining the character of the originals. She said limited original fabrics and newly developed materials required planning with manufacturing partners, and that fabric availability partly shaped production quantities.
The project was presented as a meeting of distinct capabilities: Wrangler’s archive and institutional knowledge, and Imogene + Willie’s relationships with U.S. mills and manufacturers. The final drop closes the collaboration’s planned three-part release, though neither the report nor the supplied material gives a complete timeline for the project.
““For domestic mills and manufacturers to survive, they need consistent business and brands willing to invest in their capabilities.””
— Jackie Berkley, Imogene + Willie’s head of people and culture
Release Details Still Unreported
The supplied report gives Nov. 7 as the final drop date but does not identify the year, provide the collection’s prices, state how many items will be available or specify where customers can buy them. It also does not provide production volumes or say how much of the collection uses White Oak deadstock compared with newly developed fabric.
The report describes the collection as entirely U.S.-produced and names several domestic partners, but does not itemize the origin of every material or component. Berkley’s statement about Wrangler’s first domestically manufactured collection in more than 20 years is attributed to her and is not accompanied by supporting details about Wrangler’s manufacturing history. The collaboration’s future relationship with the named mills and facilities is also not specified.
Final Drop Closes the Project
The immediate next step is the Nov. 7 release of the collaboration’s third and final drop. The supplied source does not state whether the pieces will be sold online, in stores, or through both channels, and it provides no launch-hour or inventory information.
After the release, the collaboration will be complete as a three-part collection, according to the report. Berkley said the teams hope the project will prompt further conversations and opportunities around U.S. clothing production. Whether either brand plans another joint collection, or whether the supplier relationships will support additional orders, has not been announced in the available material.
Key Questions
When does the final Imogene + Willie and Wrangler drop launch?
The final drop is scheduled for Nov. 7. The supplied report does not specify the year or the release time.
What is included in the final release?
The report says it includes deadstock denim styles in western cuts, including a rigid western snap shirt. It does not provide a complete product list.
Where was the collaboration made?
The three-part collection was produced entirely in the United States, according to the report. Named partners include Mount Vernon Mills in Georgia and garment and laundry facilities in Los Angeles.
What does White Oak have to do with the collection?
Wrangler supplied deadstock fabric from White Oak, the shuttered denim plant in Greensboro, North Carolina. The report does not state how much of the final collection uses that fabric.
Will the brands continue working together?
The Nov. 7 release is described as the third and final drop of this collaboration. No further joint collection or ongoing production arrangement has been announced in the supplied material.
Source: wwd.com
