Alexa Chung Goes Madewell

Wednesday, January 20, 2010



From across the poind, to the PR folks, to the inbox, and now on to you.

Alexa Chung is many things: TV personality, model, DJ, writer, photographer, downtown-cool style icon, best-dressed-list mainstay . . . and now she can add fashion designer to the list. She’s is partnering with Madewell, the heritage denim label that’s part of J.Crew Group, to create an exclusive collection—her first-ever collaboration with any label—due to debut fall 2010. Chung will translate her widely admired aesthetic and irreverently sexy tomboy look to this limited-edition Alexa Chung for Madewell collection, which will include covetable jeans and a tightly-edited group of key pieces to wear with them. The collection will be sold through madewell1937.com - which will also be launching ecommerce this spring - and in Madewell stores nationwide. Chung will also be the creative muse and face of the collection for a planned fall ad campaign.

“I’m very excited for my first collaboration and thrilled that it’s with Madewell,” says British-bred Chung. “This partnership came together organically and is a great fit as the brand is so classic and really encompasses my style. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with the team and I can’t wait for my friends to wear it!”

The evolution of the relationship between Madewell and Chung was a natural one: When the Madewell team, already inspired by Chung’s innate style, learned that Chung, in turn, was a Madewell fan (and a regular at Madewell’s Soho store), they knew their mutual admiration could be spun into a partnership fusing their creative sensibilities.

“Alexa’s style is inspiring and inventive, yet unbelievably approachable and down-to-earth,” says Madewell design director Kin Ying Lee. “The way she puts everything together is so spot-on—and so perfectly Madewell. What excited us the most about Alexa is that she has such a clear point of view, and she enthusiastically brings that to the collection.”

In the lead up to the collection’s launch, the latest developments about the collection will be tweeted by Chung at twitter.com/madewell1937, and additional updates will be posted on madewell1937.com.


About Madewell

Originally founded in 1937 in New Bedford, Massachusetts as a traditional work wear label, Madewell was reinvented and relaunched in 2006 as a modern-day heritage denim purveyor under the J.Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) by J.Crew Group Chairman and CEO Millard "Mickey" Drexler. The vintage-meets-modern influence of the line draws from Madewell’s historic roots. In addition to denim, a full range of downtown-cool clothing and accessories is also on offer. Each Madewell piece has an easygoing feel and is designed to pair back to denim to create an individual, inspired look. Madewell currently has 17 stores across the U.S., including a flagship in New York City's Soho. Madewell's website, www.madewell1937.com, will be launching ecommerce in mid-2010.

About Alexa

Born in central England, 26-year-old television personality, writer, model and style icon Chung started her career in London after attending art school. She moved to New York City in 2009 to launch her widely acclaimed live daily MTV talk show It's On with Alexa Chung, and was quickly lauded for her inspirational style in the pages of Vogue. In her free time, Alexa serves as a contributing editor to British Vogue, enjoys scouring for vintage, taking photos, watching MAD MEN and singing bad Karaoke.