Exclusive: This Swedish brand is behind the supermodel staple we've been seeing everywhere

We've previously introduced Worn Vintage as Hailey Bieber's favourite Swedish second-hand store. Spanning slouchy denim and tiny sweater vests, the shop has helped shape the American model's iconic style over the past six months. But being Hailey Bieber’s favourite Scandinavian pre-loved dealer was not enough for Lovisa Källström, founder of Swedish Worn Vintage. Now the brand is launching it's very own line of up-cycled leather jackets – and they're already a hit with the sartorial it-crowd.

With her sought-after second-hand jackets creating a virtual feeding frenzy every time they were released, Källström started to consider creating her own collection of recycled leather pieces. “I got a lot of requests for some jackets to ‘get back in stock,’” she says, explaining the onslaught of daily pleading for certain out-of-stock styles to return. “That is how it all started and it just grew naturally for me to design myself and offer a wider collection,” Källström continues. “It was a natural and organic step for Worn."

Related: This is Hailey Bieber's Stockholm-based vintage store of choice

Källströrm knew she wanted to design an oversized and heavy leather jacket – a signature style in a timeless design to be part of Worn’s core collection. “It was a long process to get the perfect sample in both design and feel,” she says.

A single recycled style was released before Christmas, a tentative drop which was quickly picked up by long-time fan Hailey Bieber and her supermodel colleague Gigi Hadid. Not to mention Elsa Hosk sporting a one-of-a-kind Worn piece on multiple occasions. “It honestly still feels a bit unreal,” says Källström. “I have been dreaming about seeing these people in our pieces, so to see all of them wearing Worn just within a year is amazing and I feel very honoured.”

Källström explains that every celebrity sighting has been momentous to the brand. “All of those moments have been very special in building the brand and they are all so unique in their style,” she says. But her personal favourite is undoubtedly Hailey Bieber. A firm fan from the very start, her unfaltering support has catapulted Worn Vintage into the sartorial stratosphere. “Just this weekend she posted one of our leather jackets and a link to our webshop from her Instagram story which was so kind and cute of her to do,” says Källström.

The monumental rise in popularity, nonetheless for her first recycled jacket, led Källström to create a capsule of more styles to be released in early 2023. “We have been working hard over the last months to offer more styles,” she explains. When designing the collection, Källström has (ofcourse) sourced inspiration from vintage jackets, most of which she has thrifted. Playing with the very concept of the leather jacket the collection is nothing but contemporary – spanning coats, blazers and traditional bikers.

A simple drawing is usually the first step in her process, allowing Källström to experiment with silhouette and volume. It allows her to have a close dialogue with the production team to develop the piece in question. “The production team makes a first sample that I look at and then it usually goes a few rounds before the design is finished,” she says.

Working with recycled materials is another core aspect in creating Worn Vintage’s very own jackets. “We work with a small family run company that works with recycled leather,” explains Källström. “They source and buy the recycled leather and every jacket is handmade in their factory.” It’s an organic partnership, with the two small businesses expanding hand-in-hand. “It has grown into a great collaboration over this past year and we talk daily about the production and upcoming designs,” Källström says with pride.

As for the future, the upcoming capsule collection is just the first step. Källström hopes to keep seeing individuals, celebrities or not, in her pieces. “It would be fun to see more men wearing Worn,” she says.