Buckaroo, the premium vintage casual brand from Hansae MK (co-CEOs Kim Ji-won and Lim Dong-hwan), has launched its FW26 collaboration collection with actor Lee Dong-hwi. According to the company, the collection's 'Jacquard Cowichan Knit Cardigan' has already sold out its initial production run.
The collaboration layers Lee's everyday style, tastes and ideas onto Buckaroo's signature vintage denim heritage. The brand says Lee's sensibility is reflected throughout the line, from the silhouettes and washes of the outerwear and denim to the graphics on the knitwear and accessories, offering a distinctive take on Buckaroo's vintage aesthetic.
At the heart of the collection, the 'Jacquard Cowichan Knit Cardigan' features a cat graphic modeled on Lee's own cat. The first batch has completely sold out, and additional production is now underway. Lee wears the cardigan in the accompanying campaign imagery.
Beyond knitwear, the collection includes outerwear, denim, shirting and accessories. The denim comes in two styles: the 'Vintage Slim Straight Denim Pants' and the 'Vintage Bootcut Denim Pants.' Each pairs its slim straight or bootcut silhouette with a vintage wash to capture Buckaroo's denim heritage. The 'Vintage High-Neck Shearling Jacket' draws on military flight jackets, with fur detailing that creates a voluminous silhouette. The 'Vintage Rider Jacket' plays up a vintage mood with a washed fabric topped by patches and lettering details.
The 'Check Shirt' applies an oversized fit to a check pattern with a classic Western feel, making it easy to style. The 'Logo Ball Cap' brings out a vintage sensibility with a five-panel fit, washing and felt artwork.
Buckaroo also ran a pop-up store where shoppers could experience the collaboration firsthand. The 'Buckaroo X Lee Dong-hwi Collaboration Pop-up Store' was held from the 2nd through the 8th at Central Square on the first floor of Eastpole in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, showcasing key pieces from the collection. Lee visited the venue in person on the 4th to tour the collection and introduce its key items, and images of him posing at the event were also released.
"Lee Dong-hwi's go-to vintage style has come together with Buckaroo's brand heritage to create an entirely new collection," a Buckaroo representative said. "Because the character of this collaboration runs through a wide range of items, from outerwear and denim to knitwear, shirts and ball caps, we hope everyone will enjoy styling the pieces to suit their own taste."
Buckaroo offers denim-focused casual fashion under the concept of 'retro modernism,' a contemporary reinterpretation of 1950s and 1960s New York jeans style. Since its launch in 2004, the brand has built a range of casual items anchored by denim. It has expressed its signature vintage style through washing techniques such as cat-sand, emboss and brush finishes, as well as selvedge and painting details. More recently, the brand has been pursuing a refresh aimed at consumers in their 20s and 30s, continuing a range of brand activities including pop-up stores, digital marketing and collaborations.
Founded in 1995, Hansae MK operates a brand portfolio that includes Buckaroo; 'the B archive,' which reinterprets vintage heritage and streetwear; sports street lifestyle brands 'NBA' and 'NBA KIDS'; K-babywear brand 'MOIMOLN'; and 'PLAYKIZ-PRO,' a curated platform of global kids' sports brands.
The Buckaroo x Lee Dong-hwi FW26 collaboration collection is available at Buckaroo stores and online through Style24 and Musinsa.
