Comments on: Asked & Answered | Levi Strauss & Co.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:56:16 +0000

I have found that Jacob Davis was probably the first one to put a watch pocket and a back pocket on a pair of denim or duck pants. I also think he was the first to decorate the back pocket, just not in 1873 more like 1876 or 77. I find that the first decorative stitches were under the front pockets from pants most likely made in New York. I cant find any proof that denim work pants were being made in San Francisco in the 1860′s. I think most of your work pants were coming from New York.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:46:19 +0000

I have a question, I saw that the LVC line had a reproduction from 1875. The label on these pants had none genuine unless bearing this trademark, from my research the first time Levi started using the words trademark is when they came up with the two hoarse label around 1886. We found that the two hoarse label was not registered as a trademark until 1906. On Levi ads from the late 80′s they used the word trade mark most of the time but not always. I have never seen a piece of levi from 1875 that had riveted cinch straps or a watch pocket that was placed off the waist band.
I have never seen the arcuate stitch show up on a 1875 Levi, I think these pants would most likely be from the mid 1880′s. If any one has seen the words trademark on any Levi ad or bill head before 1880 I would love to see it.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:08:25 +0000

Something that might interest some of you is that a report in 1876 gave the number of chinese that worked sewing pants for Levi Strauss 180 chinese and 38 non- chinese. It was reported that a china man would sew a pair of pants for 7 cents. Levi’s competition was using chinese labor so this might of forced Levi Strauss to do the same. Sometime after the riots in China town in 1877, Levi Strauss used white labor only. We have a ad from the 1880′s stating that Levi Strauss was the only one made by white labor.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:38:02 +0000

I thought I should mention what the very first levi label said, Levi Strauss and Company sole proprietor and manufacturer of the patented riveted duck and denim pants. Levi Strauss only made pants for the first year of production. I have what might be the oldest Levi ad from May 9th 1874, the bottom of the ad reads none genuine unless bearing our copyrighted leather label. With that information we did a search at the library of congress and came up with what the very first patch said. I have what is most certain the oldest pair of Levi’s there will ever be, first few months of production. I have a way to date early Levi’s, it’s all about the size of the cinch strap. A cinch strap for people who don’t know is the built in belt that you could adjust in the back of the pants, also called a buckle back to some people. We are also researching a man by the name of J wall who patented the first belt loop on pants in 1883. We think this is why belt loops don’t show up on other pants until the turn of the century.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:46:36 +0000

Some of Levi’s competitors in the 1870′s & 80′s were the Green Baum Brothers, Neustadter Brothers, A.B Elfelt and co, Banner Brothers, Toklas and Brown just to name a few. These companies had there own patents for pocket reinforcement and it was said that the Neustadter Brothers pants, were know on the west coast more than any brand come the turn of the century. By the time that Neustadter was bought out in 1932 they had been in business for over 80 years. It’s a miracle that we know Levi today, family members and relatives were willing to step up and keep the company going. I am publishing a book in 5 months that focus on Levi Strauss and it’s competitors in the 1870′s and 80′s

By: RICHARD

RICHARD — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:22:38 +0000

IS THERE A CODE ON LEVI JEANS THAT IDENTIFIES THE DATE THAT THE JEANS WERE MADE?

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:56:42 +0000

I had a student in my US History class a few years ago, and aspiring designer…albeit 17 years old. She was bored most of the time until I told the class their project could include design, machinery, film..etc. She came alive and did a whole project on 20′s fashion. Your blog has already provided me with dozens of ideas for students who aren’t into the typical stuff, but love material culture!

By: Mark wessler

Mark wessler — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:28:16 +0000

Russ…u can goes to oldestlevis.com and write to the owner of the site regarding your pants. He could help u for sure!

By: Ekky

Ekky — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:30:57 +0000

When did levi start making levis in mexico??

By: Axel

Axel — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:33:18 +0000

Let’s face it, today’s Levi’s are cheap, imported crap. Cheap as in junk, not cheap in price. So, yeah, that makes them overpriced. Lee jeans are all imported too, but they are better-fitting and higher quality. For one thing, you don’t sit on your wallet in Lee jeans. The fact that Levi’s is making “vintage” jeans and charging a huge price for them, when the jeans they made in America not that many years ago were the best quality jeans you could buy is a sad statement on the state of manufacturing and hucksterism in the USA today.
I bought only 501′s for years. Never had to try them on, just bought my size and they always fit the same. I remember the first pair I bought that were made in Mexico. The waist was too tight, the back pockets too low, the watch pocket too wide, the legs were “stovepipe”…. I realize that styles have changed over the years, but the reasons for these changes were solely to make a cheap, uneven product slapped together in third world countries by what amounts to slave labor that Levi’s could sell for an even higher price.
There’s no pride in the manufacturing of Levi’s jeans today. It’s only about making money. It’s fine to celebrate what the company once was, but don’t mistake it as resembling anything that exists today.