CORDUROY IS BACK. JUST ASK DUCKWRTH.
Sustainability /
December 2020
Sure, Duckwrth is one of the most exciting and dynamic rappers in the game right now. But he’s more than that, too.This Los-Angeles born art-school kid with rockabilly style is also a fashion icon, who mixes vintage pieces and silhouettes to create something new. The dude can really dress. He recently took some time to talk with us about his vintage, evolving style; his love for corduroy; sustainability in fashion; and much more.
Levi’s:
Have you always worn corduroy?
Duckwrth:
Yeah. Corduroy is a classic, man. It went away for a bit, but it's been finding its way back. It’s just one of those materials and textures that is just timeless.
Levi’s:
Do you remember your first pair?
Duckwrth:
Hell no! But I remember that it was probably some overalls or something my mom put me in—eggplant or lavender or something.
Levi’s:
How would you describe your personal style?
Duckwrth:
I’m definitely into the classics, like rockabilly style: a short torso with a long leg, a shirt tucked in and boots. I love boots. I'm working on my collection of boots. And I like more natural materials, like cotton, wool and denim. They feel organic, I suppose. When I did this shoot, it reminded me of how much I love corduroy and vintage cuts. I love a nice bootcut or semi-flare.
Levi’s:
How did you get into wearing vintage?
Duckwrth:
I was pretty young and got into vintage through shopping. Also, I was living in San Francisco, so I was a hippie. I was just hopping couch to couch for a good minute and still trying to look fresh—but I didn't want to pay $100 for a pair of jeans. So I'd just go to a vintage store and get some Levi's for $5 from the bucket.
Levi’s:
Would you say your style is evolving or have you always kind of been the same dude?
Duckwrth:
I’m always evolving, but I feel like the spirit of it has been the same for a while. My style is from like the '60s, '70s, and some distortion from the '80s. But I have staples, like this leather jacket that I can wear with anything. I look like an action figure, because I’m always wearing this jacket. The staples are always going to be a part of who I am.
Levi’s:
So what have you been up to musically?
Duckwrth:
Well this year, I dropped my new album, SuperGood, and that was great. I used a lot of energy - mental energy, spiritual energy, other types of energy. I channeled it all into SuperGood. Maybe I have to live a little bit to find a new topic to speak on now, or find new ways to talk about the same themes.
So since then, I've been more on the production side than the vocal side - and I've definitely been shopping.
Levi’s:
What would you like to see next in fashion?
Duckwrth:
I’m really interested in seeing more of a marriage between classic vintage and new innovation. I want to see something that we haven't seen before, but using classic cuts.
Take high-waisted pants. Maybe we can bring those back with just more engineering to be more eco-friendly. We should be taking textile waste and turning it cyclically into threads for some high-waisted jeans. You’re already doing it, but we should just continue to find ways to be more eco-friendly and use what's already here. It’s why I like the new vintage initiatives that you guys are taking with Levi’s® SecondHand.
