DOCKERS RELEASES SECOND COLLECTION WITH STYLIST KARLA WELCH

Dockers has released its newest collection with stylist Karla Welch. Building off of last year’s collection, this year sees an all-new lineup of gender-neutral khakis, shorts, and tops—all of which feature an exaggerated take on the classic American wardrobe.

With a color scheme that includes harvest gold khaki or sea pink, each piece in the collection mixes a utilitarian aesthetic with a modern approach to shape. There is the long trouser, a wide leg cotton twill chino with a pleated front, slant pockets, and a fit that’s slim through the waist, opening up at the thigh, and finishing with an ultra-wide leg at the bottom. Then there’s the anorak, an oversized brushed cotton twill anorak hoodie with Japanese nylon lining, elasticized cuffs, a kangaroo pocket, and neck zip. Also, with an oversized fit is the button-up shirt, a work shirt in Japanese nylon fabric with a subtle crinkle effect for texture, and two utilitarian chest pockets.

For a breezier warm-weather look, there’s the pleated cotton twill khaki short with slant pockets, a hidden fly, and minimal stitching detail. There’s also a midi length, cotton twill skirt with forwarded side seams, in-seam pockets, and an invisible zipper, that’s narrow at the waist and wide at the bottom. And wrapping up the collection is a soft, yak-blend knit cardigan based off of a favorite sweater from Karla’s childhood. It features multi-varied cable and stitch construction with a CF zipper and a shrunken fit for a snug, slim appearance.

When designing this collection, Welch drew inspiration from photographs of Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams, and how they dressed while navigating the great outdoors. To capture the versatility and universality of these pieces, Karla and her husband, photographer Matthew Welch, captured images of their family, out in nature and in the studio alike.

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“I just see this as a continuation of pieces that are really wearable and really affordable,” said Welch. “In a way, it feels like a uniform, a little bit utilitarian, but with a fashion element too. All of my collaborations are built on this idea of the American classics. Of working on the perfect closet that I need and that everyone else needs. It’s my idea of your uniform for living life, and you just add your special pieces in there. Dockers has an authenticity rooted in craftsmanship and classic, versatile style. There’s nothing more special than a tee you love or a pair of khakis you love.”

“One of the reasons Karla connects with the Dockers brand is her ability to be authentic, effortless, and cool, and all without trying too hard. Everything she does comes out in an interesting way,” added Janine Chilton-Faust, global vice president of men’s design at Levi Strauss & Co. “And it’s exciting to create a more gender-neutral collection, and continuing on a path that’s more fluid. Some pieces might appeal to women more, some might appeal to men more, but it’s really a fluid collection with pieces for everyone.”

In honor of the collaboration, Dockers is making a donation to The Trevor Project. The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, The Trevor Project works to save young lives by providing support through free and confidential crisis counseling via phone, chat, and text. The Trevor Project also runs TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth, and operates innovative education, research, and advocacy programs.

The Dockers x Karla Season 2 collection ranges from $128 to $248 and is now available on dockers.com and xkarla.com.