MR MAGAZINE
we had a chance to talk to the brand’s Creative Director Zihaad “Zee” Wells, who brings a unique perspective to the brand: He was its first design director in 2006, holding the title until 2017.
MODERN RETAIL
True Religion has collaborated with artists, designers, musicians and influencers for quite some time. But it wasn’t until its creative director Zihaad Wells — who had been with the brand from 2006 to 2017 — came back to the company in 2019 that it began to explore what would become the True Creators program.
VOGUE BUSINESS
Back in the early 2000s, America’s True Religion was one of the coolest denim brands in international fashion. However, when Michael Buckley rejoined the company in 2019 as chief executive, he was tasked with rebuilding the brand after the pain of bankruptcy, alongside creative director Zihaad Wells, who had first moved to True Religion in 2006 alongside Buckley.
WWD
True Religion creative director Zihaad Wells is moving the denim brand forward through collaborations with celebrities and influencers who have deep ties with its heritage and young creatives who are reinterpreting the label in new ways.
HIGHSNOBIETY
“It was really just about paying attention,” says Wells. “What are they asking for? What are they wearing? I want to see what they’re buying from a creative point of view.
HYPEBEAST
“This was a dream collaboration,” said Rich the Kid. “Growing up wearing True Religion, and wearing them while I learned to skateboard, the collaboration with True Religion and Anti Social has definitely been a full circle moment. It is an honor to be the face of this campaign.”
COMPLEX
Ahead of the release of the Supreme x True Religion collaboration, we got a chance to sit down with Wells to discuss how the project came together, the brand’s loyal supporters in New York and beyond, the resurgence of Y2K fashion, and more
HYPEBEAST
“We are excited to launch our first-ever Asian-owned collaboration with a brand as bold as Sundae School,” says Zihaad Wells, True Religion’s Creative Director. “Their irreverent and fearless design sensibility was a match made for our exaggerated design principles and attitude towards icons
HYPEBEAST
“Our collaborations are a result of authentic partnerships. And when you think of True Religion you think of Chief Keef, because the brand and the artist have become synonymous,” said Zihaad Wells, SVP, Creative Director for True Religion.
HYPEBEAST
“While camouflage prints are part of True Religion’s DNA, today’s headlines have made us look at them differently. When we learned about Soldier’s story and how he uses camo as a message for peace, we knew this was the right partnership for us,” said Zihaad Wells, SVP, Creative Director for True Religion
COMPLEX
It’s been 10 years since 2 Chainz dropped his T.R.U. REALigion mixtape with cover art showing the rapper in head-to-toe True Religion denim. The mixtape proved to be a boon for the artist as it prompted the release of his Grammy-nominated debut studio album Based on a T.R.U. Story. And, according to True Religion’s creative director Zihaad “Zee” Wells, 2 Chainz solidified the brand’s prime position in hip-hop and streetwear culture.
SOURCING JOURNAL
The streetwear and premium denim brand appointed Zihaad Wells, who had served as True Religion’s vice president of design from 2006 to 2017, to creative director. Most recently, he was the vice president of design and creative at AG Jeans.
RETAIL TOUCH POINTS
Retail TouchPoints (RTP) sat down with True Religion’s creative director Zihaad Wells to dig into the partnership and how it ties into the brand’s direction moving forward.
FASHION UNITED
Differential Brands Group has announced a partnership with Throat Threads Apparel to relaunch the denim line, Hudson Jeans into Canada. The company said, under new design direction from seasoned denim innovator, Zihaad Wells, Hudson Jeans is injecting a rebellious energy into the denim world.
MARIE CLAIRE
“If you look at the traditional process of making some jeans, designers start with a 'blank' or basic pair that hasn't been distressed yet," explains Zihaad Wells, VP of Design & Creative for AG Jeans.