Development Of Levi Jeans For Men

By Ray Hauser


Levi jeans for men embody a classic American style with a commitment to quality and fashion recognized and imitated around the world. The jeans are made by Levi Strauss & Co, a privately held American company founded in 1853 by Levi Strauss.

In 1847, Strauss immigrated to New York from Germany and joined his two brothers in their wholesale dry goods business. He became a U.S. citizen in 1853 and eventually travelled to San Francisco where he found abundant opportunities in the California Gold Rush. He initially resided with his sister Fanny and her family and soon opened his own dry goods store called Levi Strauss & Co. He peddled boots, clothing, canvas, bedding and other products to general stores in the region that largely catered to miners.

Jacob Davis, Strauss's eventual partner, worked as a tailor in Reno, Nevada. He would often buy material from Strauss. The story goes that a working man's wife once asked Davis to make some sturdier pants for her husband since he was always ruining them at work. Davis began making pants with metal rivets at the corners of the pockets and the button fly. The pants were a big hit and held up well under very tough working conditions.

In 1872, Davis contacted Strauss about his new process for making work pants stronger. He wanted to patent the product, but didn't have the money to file the application. Strauss agreed to fund the process and the two men would share the patent. In May 1873, U.S. patent 139121 for "Improvement in Fastening Pocket-Openings" was granted to the two men opening the way for the production of modern Levi jeans.

Davis soon moved to San Francisco where he joined Strauss in the manufacture of their "waist overalls" later known as jeans. The pants were sold under the "XX" brand name since nine ounce XX blue denim was used in their production. Each pair had a watch pocket, cinch, crotch rivet, arcuate stitching and suspender buttons. The rivets all had the "LS&CO" logo embossed on them.

In 1886, the Two Horse brand leather patch was first used to demonstrate the strength of the pants and reinforce Levi's status as the creator of patent riveted clothing. In 1890, the rivet patent expired and Levi's began using the 501 trademark to designate copper riveted waist overalls. These pants were originally listed in the catalog as number 501 and the name caught on. By 1928, "Levi's" was registered as a trademark.

By the 1950's teenagers began referring to Levi's as jeans and a zippered version of the jeans was introduced and called 501Z. By 1960, the word "overalls" was formally replaced by "jeans" in labels and advertising.

During the 1950s, teenagers began referring to the overalls as jeans and the name stuck. A zippered version of the jeans called 501Z was also introduced around the same time. By 1960, the name "jeans" replaced "overalls" in all labels and ad campaigns. Levi jeans continue to be a world class leader in apparel and an iconic symbol of American culture and fashion.




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