In the grand tapestry of collectibles, few figures command the reverence of Medicom Toy’s BE@RBRICK. Like a totem of modern pop culture, it has shape-shifted through collaborations with Supreme, KAWS, and Chanel, standing at the crossroads of fashion, art, and streetwear. The BE@RBRICK is more than a toy; it is a canvas, a relic, and a cipher - its faceless form absorbing the identities of the world’s most influential brands. Now, Levi’s threads its own story into this evolving narrative, draping the bear in the nostalgia of its rich denim heritage.
This latest collaboration, announced via Levi’s official Instagram, reimagines BE@RBRICK as a walking (or rather, standing) archive of vintage Levi’s advertisements - a tactile time capsule that merges the past with the present. The collection spans three sizes, each iteration a different expression of denim devotion: the towering 1000% model boasts a custom-fitted pair of selvedge 501 jeans, tailored to perfection. The 400% version carries a subtle imprint mimicking the wear of beloved denim, while the two 100% figures become miniature billboards of Levi’s illustrated legacy.
A Collector’s Grail, A Wearable Myth
BE@RBRICK, since its 2001 debut, has been more than a mere collectible - it is a modern talisman, an object imbued with cultural currency. It has been swathed in MCM’s monograms, outfitted in a Nike Tech Fleece, and even dressed in the unmistakable BAPE shark face. Each iteration is a statement, a fusion of iconographies that turn consumer goods into objets d’art.
Levi’s, too, is no stranger to iconography. It is the denim gold standard, the fabric of rebellion and reinvention, worn by Marlon Brando, Steve Jobs, and streetwear’s most discerning tastemakers. To see the two worlds collide again is to witness a meeting of timeless craftsmanship and contemporary storytelling, where advertising ephemera is transformed into a collector’s dream.
Denim, History, and the BE@RBRICK Continuum
This is not the first time Levi’s and BE@RBRICK have crossed paths. Their 2010 Taiwan-exclusive collaboration, featuring fully denim-wrapped bears, remains a legendary grail - only five pieces exist. That same year, a three-way collab with BAPE birthed a 1000% model cloaked in a Levi’s x BAPE denim jacket, an homage to streetwear’s intertwined histories.
However, this latest drop is more than a rare artifact - it is an invitation. Unlike past hyper-limited editions, this collection is set to be more accessible, allowing more collectors to partake in the legacy. Launching March 21 via Levi’s, with Medicom Toy following on March 22, prices range from $185 for the three-piece set to $1,200 for the statement 70cm figure.
A century from now, Levi’s vintage ads will still whisper stories of craftsmanship and cultural evolution. And perhaps, somewhere on a collector’s shelf, a BE@RBRICK will stand silently - draped in those very stories, a denim-clad oracle of the past, present, and future.
---
Words by AW.
Photo courtesy of Levi's.