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Published Oct 18, 2026
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Levi's Knit Denim: The Japanese Collaborations Redefining Comfort
Levi's has spent more than 150 years perfecting denim, so it says something when the brand's most talked-about release this fall isn't made of denim at all. The new Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER collection takes two of the brand's most recognizable designs, the Type I Trucker Jacket and the straight-leg jean, and rebuilds them in loopwheel cotton terry knitted on vintage Japanese machines.
The result is a knit take on denim: garments that look like Levi's workwear from across the room but feel closer to a heavyweight sweatshirt once you put them on. The capsule landed at select BEAMS stores in Japan on October 17, 2026, and arrives on Levi's and at select Levi's stores worldwide from October 22.
This is the fifth chapter of the long-running Levi's and BEAMS partnership. It is also timed to celebrate BEAMS' 50th anniversary, which makes this drop as much a story about Japanese craft and Americana as it is about a new jacket and pants. Below, we break down what loopwheel fabric is, who makes it, what's in the collection, what it costs, and how to wear it.
Knit Denim vs. Woven Denim: What's the Difference?
Classic Levi's jeans and trucker jackets are cut from woven denim, a sturdy cotton twill. Two sets of yarns cross over and under each other at right angles, which creates the diagonal texture and rigid structure denim fans love. It breaks in slowly and molds to the wearer over months of wear.
A knit fabric is built differently. Instead of crossing threads, a single yarn is looped through itself row after row. That construction gives knits natural give, softness and drape, which is why sweatshirts, T-shirts and hoodies are knitted rather than woven.
The Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER pieces sit between those two worlds. They keep the cut, pockets, hardware and tabs of Levi's denim icons, but the body is a dense loopwheel cotton terry. Loop wheel fabric is recognizable by the small loops on its reverse side, the same texture you find inside a quality vintage sweatshirt.
What makes loopwheel terry a credible stand-in for denim is its toughness. Despite its softness, it is far more durable than ordinary jersey and holds its shape well over time. Vintage loopwheel sweatshirts from the 1950s and earlier are still sought after today, largely because they have survived decades of wear.
Meet the Japanese Partners: BEAMS and LOOPWHEELER
BEAMS: 50 years of Americana through a Japanese lens
BEAMS opened in Harajuku, Tokyo, in 1976. Over five decades it has become one of Japan's most influential select shops, known for taking classic American style and reinterpreting it with Japanese attention to detail. That makes Levi's, the definitive American denim brand, a natural partner.
The two companies have collaborated several times. Their best-known work is the "Super Wide" series, which stretches classic Levi's silhouettes into exaggerated, roomy shapes. The earlier Super Wide drops used selvedge denim with orange selvedge stitching in BEAMS' signature color instead of the traditional red, along with co-branded Red Tabs and patches. A later "V2" capsule drew on Levi's archives from the 1940s and used heavy 16-ounce selvedge denim.
The new collection brings the Super Wide jacket and pants back, this time to mark BEAMS' 50th anniversary in 2026.
LOOPWHEELER: guardians of a disappearing craft
LOOPWHEELER was founded in 1999 with one goal: to make the world's most authentic sweatshirts. The company is both a fabric mill and a clothing brand, and it is devoted to preserving traditional loopwheel knitting machines and the skills needed to run them.
In Japan these machines are called tsuriamiki, or hanging knitting machines. They rotate slowly and let the yarn settle under gravity rather than under mechanical tension. LOOPWHEELER says this creates a porous layer next to the skin that helps air circulate, so the fabric stays breathable even though it is dense.
That combination of breathability and durability made loopwheel cloth the standard for athletic wear until the 1960s, when high-speed knitting machines took over. In Japan it was also valued for workwear. Today only a handful of mills around the world still produce genuine loopwheel fabric, and LOOPWHEELER's machines are based in Wakayama. The process is slow and cannot be sped up without losing the qualities that make the fabric special.
LOOPWHEELER has worked with brands such as Nike, kolor and Graphpaper, and it previously partnered with Levi's Made & Crafted on a 20th-anniversary capsule. This release is the first time the three names have appeared together on one label.
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Inside the Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER Collection
The capsule is tightly edited: six pieces in total, made up of a jacket, a pair of pants and a bandana, each offered in two colors. The jacket and pants are made from LOOPWHEELER's LW Basic loopwheel terry in navy and heather gray, so they can be worn as a matching set or split up.
Super Wide Type I Trucker Jacket
The jacket is based on the Levi's Type I, the brand's earliest trucker design, pushed into the wide, boxy Super Wide shape. It keeps the original Type I details, including the double-pleated chest panels and the back cinch, plus a broad chest pocket that matches the oversized proportions.
The finishing is pure Levi's workwear: metal rivets, rivet buttons and a red tab on the chest pocket where Levi's traditionally places it. A second tab sits on the cuff, which is where LOOPWHEELER usually puts its own label, and LOOPWHEELER name tags appear on the cuffs and front pocket. In the U.S., the jacket is priced at $350.
Super Wide Pants
The pants are modeled on Levi's straight-leg jeans and cut in the generous Super Wide fit. On the back, a patch carries the LOOPWHEELER and BEAMS names, and the back pockets keep Levi's signature arcuate stitching in contrasting colors that stand out against the soft terry. A clip-on tag sits on the front pocket. The pants are priced at $300.
Vintage-pattern bandanas
Rounding out the set are bandanas in red and navy. Their prints draw on vintage Levi's bandana patterns, making them an easy way to add a piece of the collaboration to an existing wardrobe.
Japan pricing, extras and purchase limits
In Japan, BEAMS lists the Super Wide Trucker at ¥58,300, the Super Wide Pant at ¥49,500 and the bandana at ¥4,400. Purchases are limited to one item per style and color per customer. At the three Japanese launch stores, customers who bought the jacket and pants together could enter a draw for a special T-shirt. It is made from LOOPWHEELER jersey and features a Levi's Saddleman graphic on the back, reworked for this collection.
The campaign
The campaign was shot in Oakland, California, and takes its mood from classic American movies. It features pro skateboarder and custom motorcycle builder Max Schaaf alongside Steven Orellana. A short documentary film accompanies the release, following the artisans in Wakayama as they turn yarn into fabric on the loopwheel machines.
Why This Collaboration Matters
On the surface, a sweatshirt-fabric trucker jacket looks like a fun side project. In practice, it shows how Levi's keeps its heritage designs relevant without changing what makes them recognizable.
First, it answers a clear shift in how people dress. Loose, relaxed silhouettes and comfort-first clothing have become everyday staples, and Levi's has leaned into that with roomier fits across its line. A Super Wide trucker in soft loopwheel terry delivers the look of classic workwear with the comfort of loungewear.
Second, it strengthens Levi's ties to Japan, a market that has long treated vintage Levi's as collector's items. Japanese mills, makers and select shops have shaped how denim fans worldwide think about quality. Partnering with BEAMS and LOOPWHEELER puts Levi's next to two names that carry real credibility with that audience.
Third, it tells a craft story. In an era of fast production, a fabric that can only be made slowly on decades-old machines is a powerful selling point. The documentary film and the focus on the Wakayama artisans make that story easy to share.
How to Style Levi's Loopwheel Pieces
Because the jacket and pants share the same fabric and colors, the easiest look is the full set. A navy or heather gray Super Wide suit with a plain white tee and clean sneakers reads relaxed but deliberate, somewhere between workwear and a tracksuit.
Splitting the set opens up more options:
- Jacket with denim. Wear the Super Wide Trucker over a pair of rigid or vintage-wash Levi's jeans. The terry adds texture and softness to an all-denim outfit without the stiffness of a classic "Canadian tuxedo."
- Pants with knitwear. Pair the Super Wide Pants with a chunky sweater or a hoodie for a cozy fall look. Low-profile sneakers or work boots both suit the wide leg.
- Layered for cold weather. The boxy cut leaves room to layer a sweatshirt or flannel shirt underneath the jacket, and it sits well under a longer coat.
- Bandana as an accent. Tie the red bandana around the neck, keep it in a back pocket, or use it to add a pop of color to a gray outfit.
To care for loopwheel garments, follow the instructions on the label. The fabric is built to last, and like vintage sweatshirts, it should only get better with age.
Where to Buy
The Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER collection launched on October 17, 2026, at BEAMS Harajuku, BEAMS JAPAN in Shinjuku and BEAMS JAPAN Kyoto. It became available on the official Levi's online store and at select Levi's stores worldwide from October 22, followed by BEAMS America from October 23.
Given the limited quantities and purchase limits in Japan, this is a release to shop early. If your size sells out, keep an eye on Levi.com for restocks, and browse the wider Levi's range of relaxed fits, Type I and Type III Trucker Jackets and 501 jeans in the meantime.
Frequently Asked Questions About Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER collection
Is the Levi's x BEAMS x LOOPWHEELER collection made of denim?
No. The jacket and pants use LOOPWHEELER's loopwheel cotton terry, a knit fabric, cut in classic Levi's denim designs.
How much does it cost?
The Super Wide Type I Trucker Jacket is $350 and the Super Wide Pants are $300 in the U.S.
What colors are available?
The jacket and pants come in navy and heather gray. The bandanas come in red and navy.
When was it released?
October 17, 2026, in Japan, and from October 22 online and at select Levi's stores worldwide.
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