Los Angeles, CA — From presidents to rock stars to laborers alike, they're an American classic. Their story has survived almost 150 years. The look grew up in the West and fashioned the world over. Worn by the biggest stars, misfits, outlaws and pioneers and weathered on a path of rebellion and solidarity, below is a brief history of the simply designed denim that have stood the test of time.
Our retail stores now carry one of our most evolving collections. We repurpose and up-cycle custom-distressed vintage 501 denim. We source vintage 501s in need of refurbishment, and patch them up with vintage textiles ranging from American quilts to West African fabrics. We like the way up-cycling old materials creates something fresh and exciting.
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Our retail stores now carry one of our most evolving collections. We repurpose and up-cycle custom-distressed vintage 501 denim. We source vintage 501s in need of refurbishment, and patch them up with vintage textiles ranging from American quilts to West African fabrics. We like the way up-cycling old materials creates something fresh and exciting.
Our repaired and hand-painted vintage denim bring an international flair to a classic American style. Shop the collection online as well as in our stores.
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1873 - Birth of the Blue Jean
"Levi Strauss & Jacob Davis are granted a patent on the process of riveting pants by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 20. It is patent number 139,121 and this is the invention of the blue jean."
c 1901 - Birth of Pockets
" The pants – now just called “overalls” - now have two back pockets. It’s likely we added this additional pocket due to consumer requests or changes in men’s fashions at the time."
1922 - Belt Loop Gang
"Belt loops are added to the overalls, but the suspender buttons are still retained. The cinch is also still used on the pants, but some men cut if off in order to wear the overalls with a belt. Again, the addition of belt loops was in response to changes in men’s fashions and our understanding of what consumers wanted."
"Belt loops are added to the overalls, but the suspender buttons are still retained. The cinch is also still used on the pants, but some men cut if off in order to wear the overalls with a belt. Again, the addition of belt loops was in response to changes in men’s fashions and our understanding of what consumers wanted."
1936 - Knock-Offs Not Welcome
"The red Tab is first placed onto the right back pocket of the overalls. The word “Levi’s ® is stitched in white in all capital letters on one side only. The Tab is created to differentiate Levi’s® overalls from the many competitors in the marketplace who were using dark denim and an Arcuate stitch. We had not yet trademarked the Arcuate so other companies were using it in direct imitation of us."
1960 - "JEANS"
"The word “overalls” is replaced by the word “jeans” in advertising and on packaging. We had made other products in the past which we called “jeans” (specifically, denim pants for boys in the 1930s) but our top of the line “overalls” – 501® jeans – did not get this name until teenagers began calling the product “jeans” in the 1950s. No one really knows why the word became associated with the men’s overalls, but teenagers adopted the phrase and it became the term used by all manufacturers."
"The red Tab is first placed onto the right back pocket of the overalls. The word “Levi’s ® is stitched in white in all capital letters on one side only. The Tab is created to differentiate Levi’s® overalls from the many competitors in the marketplace who were using dark denim and an Arcuate stitch. We had not yet trademarked the Arcuate so other companies were using it in direct imitation of us."
1960 - "JEANS"
"The word “overalls” is replaced by the word “jeans” in advertising and on packaging. We had made other products in the past which we called “jeans” (specifically, denim pants for boys in the 1930s) but our top of the line “overalls” – 501® jeans – did not get this name until teenagers began calling the product “jeans” in the 1950s. No one really knows why the word became associated with the men’s overalls, but teenagers adopted the phrase and it became the term used by all manufacturers."
1966 - TV Time
"The first television commercial for Levi’s ® jeans is aired."
1981 - Who Runs the World?
"501 ® jeans for women are introduced, with the airing of the famous “Travis” television commercial."
1981 - Who Runs the World?
"501 ® jeans for women are introduced, with the airing of the famous “Travis” television commercial."
STARS IN 501's ®
Rebel without a cause and fashion icon James Dean in Levi's 501 ®.
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