Duck Head may be best known for its chinos, but the brand has slowly been expanding into a variety of other categories as it moves toward building a full lifestyle brand.
On Sunday, the Atlanta-based division of Oxford Industries, launched Duck Head Denim Co., marking the return to a category that was a staple for the company since its founding in 1865.
The company got back into the category with two core fits: classic straight and slim straight, both of which include subtle archival references such as vintage-inspired hardware and heritage-printed pockets. The jeans are created with premium Japanese denim from the Kaihara Mill, itself a heritage company that was established in 1893. The fabric has structure and durability, but incorporates stretch for recovery and everyday comfort. The jeans are available in both a light wash or a darker rinse and retail for $178.
To complement the jeans, Duck Head is also offering a Draper Harrington jacket in polyester/cotton/nylon with a cotton chambray plaid lining that will sell for $278, short-sleeve graphic T-shirts for $44 and a cotton twill baseball cap for $34.
The relaunch of Duck Head Denim is part of a broader evolution of the company as it expands beyond bottoms into more elevated sportswear, soft tailoring and a golf collection. Oxford bought the Duck Head brand in 2016 and started to relaunch it the next year. The brand traces its history to two Nashville brothers, George and Joe O’Bryan, who turned duck — heavy canvas used for Army tents — into sturdy work pants and overalls. The company’s pants with their mallard logo became a wardrobe staple and were especially popular in the South.
