Chase Sui Wonders Channels James Dean in Levi’s x Sacai Campaign

Few things feel more All-American than a good pair of blue jeans—more specifically, a pair of Levi’s. And while you can’t mess with a good classic, there’s always room for experimentation. And sometimes, such as in the case of the Levi’s x Sacai capsule collection, the end result is better than one could ever anticipate.

Launching on May 28, the new capsule—which first debuted on Sacai’s spring/summer 2025 menswear runway show—features a handful of the most iconic silhouettes to come from Levi’s. You’ll find reconstructed jackets, wide-leg jeans with exaggerated cuffs, and more items that fully embody the unique design approach the Japanese label has become known for. Ahead of the launch, ELLE.com spoke with actor Chase Sui Wonders—the face of the James Dean-inspired campaign for the capsule collection—about what it was like to embody the rebellious spirit of the Hollywood icon, her thoughts on The Studio’s season finale, what’s next for the Apple TV+ comedy, and working with other silver screen legends like Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Gritty New York streets are the backdrop for the new campaign, which feels right in place for a collection inspired by the Rebel Without a Cause star—more specifically, the James Dean quote, “I think the prime reason for existence, for living in this world, is discovery.” In an email with ELLE.com, Sacai creative director Chitose Abe shares, “His rebellious spirit and mindset of challenging the norm resonated deeply with me—especially expressed through his iconic American casual look of a white T-shirt and denim jeans.” As for Sui Wonders, having the chance to channel the actor was natural. “The pieces fit so perfectly into that reference; I felt it as soon as I put the clothes on,” she tells ELLE.com over the phone. “To embody such a classically cool man...it felt really cool to step into that character.” As for her favorite pieces from the collection, she highlights the double-breasted denim jacket and the men’s reversible bomber as her two favorites.

Sui Wonders isn’t just channeling the film industry’s biggest stars. She gets to work directly with them, too. When discussing the opportunity to work with comedy greats like Seth Rogen, Catherine O’Hara, and Ike Barinholtz on The Studio—which airs its season finale later this week—she describes it as a masterclass in comedy and filmmaking. “[Each of them] has a storied career, and they were so generous and ready to take me under their wing and teach me.” As for what viewers can expect in the next season, the actor doesn’t want to share any spoilers, but she did share that the storyline will continue to follow what she calls a “chosen family of wackos” whose lives are centered around the filmmaking industry. “Even though it’s not an overly sentimental show, I think the character development of how we’re like this traveling circus family and the intricate dynamics that keep us all together in this kind of sinking ship is where we will go for Season 2,” she says.

In addition to the second season of The Studio to look forward to, the actress also has I Know What You Did Last Summer—the sequel to the 1997 horror flick of the same name—where she had the chance to learn from original cast members Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., who return to their roles for the 2025 remake. “It’s not your average sequel, and the fact that they come back—and the way they come back—is such a testament to the project,” she says. “Watching them act together was one of the more surreal moments of my career.”

The Levi’s x Sacai collection will be available online at Levi.com and in Levi’s stores beginning May 28.