In the late 1800s, farms, ranches, railroads and gold mines were popping up all over the American West. Men needed tough clothing like they needed a hot bath. Unfortunately, their work pants often split at the seams. Jacob Davis—a tailor in Reno, Nevada—had the idea of placing rivets at these points of strain. He reached out to his fabric supplier Levi Strauss in San Francisco, suggesting a patent partnership.
On May 20th, 1873, Levi Strauss & Co and Jacob Davis secured their patent, and the riveted blue jean was born. Thanks to the near-indestructibility of these reinforced pants, Levi’s® became the clothing of choice for the hardworking men of the American West. The rest? Well, it’s history.
The greatest story ever worn? It all began with a letter starting, “Dear Levi Strauss…” Our new collection celebrates the historic collaboration between Levi Strauss & Co. and tailor Jacob Davis—and the 150th anniversary of their legendary patent: No. 139,121: for “an Improvement in Fastening Pocket Openings.” Translation? Rivets. And the blueprint for every pair of jeans worn and loved ever since.
VINTAGE CLOTHING
Just like America the beautiful, every piece of vintage clothing has a story rich in history. Since 1873, we've been making clothes for men and women from all walks of life. Levi's® vintage clothing is a collection inspired by the iconic looks worn by the generations before us with a few modern upgrades. Find jeans, sweaters and more dedicated to reinventing the fabrics, fits and small details of the bygone years. Every look is pulled straight out of Levi's® archives, with looks initially released as early as the 1930s, to provide you with a roundup of vintage clothing for men and women.
Today, our collection of vintage clothes provides plenty of opportunities for women to find their own sense of style. However, that wasn't always the case. Back then, the only option for women was to wear jeans designed for men. In 1934, we made sure that changed by inventing the first 5-pocket jean made specifically for women, the iconic 701®. The 701® isn't just any old jean — it's a superstar made famous by the premiere American fashion magazine of its time. The 701® has been worn by celebrities, models, artists and even your mom. Now you can rock this iconic look, too, when you shop from the Levi's® vintage clothing collection for women. We have reproduced this glossy magazine-approved fit stitch-for-stitch using premium selvedge denim. Known for its distinct high-waisted and more curved fit, you'll turn heads wherever you go. Pair it with a vintage sweater or jacket for a look that wows from head to toe.
Throughout the years, America has experienced a lot of changes, and like a true ride-or-die, the 501® Original jean was able to adapt to the times. The 501® started as pants worn by men working the mines out West. In 1937, things took a shift as the Great Depression went into full swing, and many lost their jobs. As the country adapted to the times, so did the 501® with three subtle changes: The removal of suspender buttons, the covering of the back rivets and the addition of one of the first implementations of the now-famous Red Tab™. All details you can find in our collection of vintage clothes.
In 1947, our beloved 501® jean would evolve again. The end of the war also meant the end of rations, allowing the return of a few 501® Original features, like the watch pocket rivets. However, we also took the time to make some thoughtful updates by incorporating a slimmer fit and removing extra details like the cinch in the back that you can now find in our collection of vintage clothing. Modernize these vintage-inspired jeans with outerwear and accessories like a leather belt and beanie.
By 1954, the 501® was on the move again, literally. Up to this point, Levi’s® were primarily worn out West, where they were known and loved. East Coasters quickly fell in love with the 501® Z, a zipper version of our original blueprint. Thanks to this new invention, you can now find both the classic button fly and zipper options in our collection of vintage clothes. Needless to say, the 501® has lived many lives and has no intention of slowing down.
Create a wardrobe full of meaningful moments when you shop from Levi's® vintage clothing collection.
