Lee x J.Crew Storm Rider Jacket Brings Japanese Denim to a Classic
Kaihara denim, a tartan lining and Lee’s Storm Rider details define J.Crew’s jacket, now listed at $230, 14 percent below its original price.
The Lee x J.Crew Storm Rider stands out for the materials and details behind its familiar workwear shape. It pairs washed, medium-weight Japanese denim from Kaihara with a tartan cotton lining and corduroy collar, bringing a considered update to a jacket Lee introduced in 1954. Listed at $230, it’s discounted 14 percent from its original $268 price.
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J.Crew’s history with high-quality denim gives this release some useful context. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the New York retailer helped bring Japanese denim to a wider American audience. Its earlier work with a Japanese supplier is part of the story behind this year’s return to Lee: the brands’ collaboration draws on Kaihara denim, the mill that supplied much of J.Crew’s denim during that earlier period. The pairing was introduced in March.
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What sets the Storm Rider apart
The Storm Rider takes its cues from Lee’s earlier 101J Rider Jacket, while adding the features that became its signature: a blanket lining and a corduroy-lined collar. J.Crew keeps the recognizable profile but changes the materials and finish for its version. Instead of a blanket, the interior uses green, blue and white tartan cotton poplin. The collar’s brown corduroy is lighter in shade than the one on Lee’s standard model.
There’s plenty to distinguish the cut and construction, too. The jacket has a tapered back panel, flat shoulder yokes, barrel cuffs, metal shank buttons and bar tacks. Its U-shaped pockets give it a different look from the broadly similar Levi’s Type III Trucker Jacket. At the waist, adjustable tabs use plastic buttons instead of metal rivets. That design choice avoids placing hard metal fittings against the back when the jacket is worn seated.
The medium-weight Kaihara denim is washed for a worn-in appearance. That finish, the tartan poplin and the contrasting collar give the jacket a vintage character without copying every detail of Lee’s standard Storm Rider. The fabric is pure cotton, and the collaboration’s use of Kaihara cloth is a step up from J.Crew’s standard denim, according to the source reporting. More background on the cloth appears in this coverage of Lee’s collection.
Price and available versions
The Lee x J.Crew Storm Rider denim jacket is listed for $230, down from $268. A 14 percent reduction is modest, though the source reports that J.Crew rarely discounts collaborations and third-party merchandise. At the time of that report, the jacket was available across all sizes.
There’s also a white denim version with a navy corduroy-lined collar. The reported size selection for that color was limited to medium and large. As with any sale listing, price and availability can change.
The case for the jacket rests on a specific mix: Kaihara denim, Lee’s recognizable Rider design and J.Crew’s tartan-lined interpretation. For someone after a substantial denim layer with a vintage look, those details matter more than the sale percentage; the current listing gives the material and construction a lower entry price than the original one.
J.CrewLee x J.Crew Storm Rider Denim Jacket
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$268 (14% off)
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