LEVI’S: Print the Legend

After the Gold Rush, but at the Right Place and Time

By Jim Kempton

Levi’s 501 jeans, the shared uniform of cowboys, bikers and surfers alike, are iconic. The rugged, blue-denim, five-pocket, ultra-utilitarian workwear pant, with its orange stitching, copper-riveted stress points and metal button fly-front are famous worldwide. The printed leather label on the right rear waistband—depicting two horses being goaded in a futile attempt to tear apart a pair—are as effective branding in the 21st century as they were when Levi Strauss & Company was granted its patent on their design and construction. Levi’s are certainly legendary, but how much of what people think they know is actually fact?


In John Ford’s classic movie, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” there’s a line that sums up some of this romance. “This is the West, sir, "a newspaper reporter explains. “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.”
 
OK, so let’s take a look. Legend number one: Levi’s jeans were the favored work pants of gold rush miners because they were so tough. Fact is, Levi Strauss likely did head West, to San Francisco in 1853, to open up a West Coast version of his family’s New York dry goods business—selling textiles, some clothing, handkerchiefs, etc.—because the Gold Rush has spurred business opportunity in the city. But young Levi himself wasn’t a tailor and didn’t begin making jeans until 1872, by which time the Gold Rush was pretty much over.
 Legend number two: Levi’s were the favored work pants of cowboys in the golden age of the cattle drives. Nah, not likely, although they may well have been the favored workwear of the Hollywood movie crews (including directors and wardrobe dept.) who were making westerns in the 1940’s, ‘50s and ‘60s. In fact the real “wild west” was rather short, 1856 to 1886, after which railroads brought cattle to markets and the cowboy era was done and dusted. What’s more, real cowboys were more likely to wear castoff woollen pants from Civil War uniforms, tucked into their boots and covered with leather chaps to save their legs from being shredded by sagebrush, cactus and other thorny bushes.
 
Legend number three: The term “jeans” is derived from canvas sailcloth originating in the Italian port of Genoa. Nope, Levi’s were never made out of sailcloth. OK, legend three-and-a-half: Jeans were made of denim from the French town of Nimes (so, from Nimes, de Nimes, equals “denim.” No, sorry; yet again a factual corruption. The textile “serge de Nimes” may have been sometimes dyed blue, but it was traditionally made of wool and silk, not cotton twill.
 
Legend number four: Levi Strauss was a genius clothing designer whose creation has stood the test of 200 years. Well, he was clearly a good businessman, but the real genius of Levis 501s was more likely Jacob Davis, a tailor from Reno, Nevada. In a letter to Strauss, his textile supplier, Davis disclosed the unique way he made pants using stress-point rivets to make them last longer. Davis wanted to patent this new idea, he wrote, but needed a business partner with money to get the idea off the ground. Strauss saw the potential. The patent was granted to Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss & Company on May 20, 1873. And the legendary blue jeans were born.

Fact is, the real history of Levi’s largely went up in smoke in 1906 when the great San Francisco earthquake started a huge fire that burned down Levi’s HQ.  All of the company’s archives were destroyed, leaving an almost clean slate for a cultural legend to be re-born.

In his early 1960s book “Modern Surfing Around The World,” John Severson, the founder of Surfer magazine wrote: “The uniform of the surfer is … Levi’s and a white Tee-shirt, preferably with an advertisement on the back.”

When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

 

2122 comments

Эта весьма хорошая фраза придется как раз кстати
eventually (emphasis on long") in the [url=https://www.bimmer.pro/]more[/url], we finally get a new toyota supra.

JessicaCreep October 14, 2023

Я думаю, что Вы не правы. Я уверен. Пишите мне в PM, поговорим.

CynthiaBek October 11, 2023

LEVI’S: Print the Legend – WILLBO
inbzdsyi http://www.g6y05199n5cqbcwt803740d8cxvap8h5s.org/
ainbzdsyi
[url=http://www.g6y05199n5cqbcwt803740d8cxvap8h5s.org/]uinbzdsyi[/url]

inbzdsyi October 11, 2023

Специально зарегистрировался, чтобы поучаствовать в обсуждении.
если не выходит отыскать страницу программного обеспечения ресурсе, [url=https://54ts.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=5182191&do=profile&from=space]https://54ts.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=5182191&do=profile&from=space[/url] на нее попасть по ссылке с площадки БК (фрагментация, приложения»).

Robertbok October 11, 2023

LEVI’S: Print the Legend – WILLBO
[url=http://www.gac56q68zle1i36k5tx73ua294x66l0hs.org/]uimeynzgyw[/url]
imeynzgyw http://www.gac56q68zle1i36k5tx73ua294x66l0hs.org/
aimeynzgyw

imeynzgyw October 11, 2023

Я извиняюсь, но, по-моему, Вы не правы. Давайте обсудим это. Пишите мне в PM.
в этом случае, у клиента появляется редкий шанс купить качественную вещь с отличной скидкой, однако с течением времени у него могут сложиться ситуации с возвратом, [url=http://antonioarrieta.com/blog/?attachment_id=105]http://antonioarrieta.com/blog/?attachment_id=105[/url] гарантией или ремонтом.

Danadog October 10, 2023

неплохо для утра они выглядять
In the [url=https://www.ntos.co.kr:443/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=8027970]https://www.ntos.co.kr:443/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=8027970[/url] industry, there are unique illnesses on production. In 1976, New Jersey allowed gambling in Atlantic city, now the second largest gambling city in the USA.

Emilyrar October 10, 2023
в интернациональных компаниях данная процедура проходит легче, [url=https://www.early.engineering/blog/2017/06/20/voice-overs/]https://www.early.engineering/blog/2017/06/20/voice-overs/[/url] чем у официальных российских букмекеров. помимо этого, букмекерская контора время от времени дарит своим посетителям скидки и персональные фрибеты к различным событиям.
Dianashulp October 09, 2023

По моему мнению Вы не правы. Я уверен. Предлагаю это обсудить. Пишите мне в PM, поговорим.
основное – положение среди грузовых автомобильных перевозок занимают [url=https://aff-redir.com/away.php?visitorId=60fb23c8bf6eee6a4e6a1866&reason=blind_no_js&to=aHR0cHM6Ly9rYW1lbmRlcmV2by5ydS9hcnRpY2xlcy9wZXJldm96a2Ffa2F0a2FfbmFfdHJhbGUuaHRtbA]https://aff-redir.com/away.php?visitorId=60fb23c8bf6eee6a4e6a1866&reason=blind_no_js&to=aHR0cHM6Ly9rYW1lbmRlcmV2by5ydS9hcnRpY2xlcy9wZXJldm96a2Ffa2F0a2FfbmFfdHJhbGUuaHRtbA[/url] перевозки тарно-штучных грузов. Ещё в 1926 году компания североамериканских железнодорожных веток north shore line представила клиентам новый сервис – перевозку трейлеров железнодорожным транспортом.

ManuelErume October 09, 2023
?? ???? ? ?? ?? ?, [url=https://chtbl.com/track/7D2FG5/joker-win.casino/ru/]https://chtbl.com/track/7D2FG5/joker-win.casino/ru/[/url] ??? ??? ???? ? ??? ????. ?? ? ??? ??? ? ?????? ??? ?????.
Racheltug October 09, 2023

Изготовление номерных знаков на авто
Дубликат номера

Terryagerb October 08, 2023

LEVI’S: Print the Legend – WILLBO
mwkcxftw http://www.g876a69jubaz9o3f7is6s4tu9932bg01s.org/
[url=http://www.g876a69jubaz9o3f7is6s4tu9932bg01s.org/]umwkcxftw[/url]
amwkcxftw

mwkcxftw October 08, 2023

Абсолютно согласен с предыдущей фразой
?? ?? ?? ?? ?? “? ?????”, ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ? [url=https://instagram.com/extas?igshid=NjIwNzIyMDk2Mg==]?????[/url].

VanessaDorse October 08, 2023

LEVI’S: Print the Legend – WILLBO
aelxsxljwps
[url=http://www.gs4q9lqb9cm9r8u31nw8v73k53s05v74s.org/]uelxsxljwps[/url]
elxsxljwps http://www.gs4q9lqb9cm9r8u31nw8v73k53s05v74s.org/

elxsxljwps October 05, 2023

фуфа смотрел
Печь может работать в двух режимах. следует учитывать площадь, [url=http://yasuo52.com/2021/05/21/hello-world/]http://yasuo52.com/2021/05/21/hello-world/[/url] на которую рассчитана дровяная печь.

BattyHit October 05, 2023

Вы не правы. Я уверен. Могу это доказать. Пишите мне в PM, пообщаемся.
with us are large selection elements and items hyundai, which will help secure your car or will select its from crowd in the [url=http://www.hyundaiforum.pro/]Hyundai Parts Catalog[/url].

DonteMot October 05, 2023

Весьма ценное сообщение
все заставки тщательно сортируются и [url=https://decorlightinginc.com/?attachment_id=8]https://decorlightinginc.com/?attachment_id=8[/url] проверяются. скачать изображение на гаджет бесплатно. качественные hd-обои для какого угодно размера экрана.

NikkiTraus October 04, 2023

вот это ты отмочил ))))
this is especially useful for hardy athletes, like runners and [url=https://glassdeep.com/preparing-for-the-tour/]https://glassdeep.com/preparing-for-the-tour/[/url] who need maintain high degree endurance, in order reach success.

Staceypouch October 04, 2023

В этом что-то есть. Буду знать, большое спасибо за помощь в этом вопросе.
what do I have to do if I need to remember my password to receive [url=http://nolimitssecurity.com/2017/07/14/the-average-police-response-time-can-be-upwards-of-four-minutes/]http://nolimitssecurity.com/2017/07/14/the-average-police-response-time-can-be-upwards-of-four-minutes/[/url] blaze?

Tiffanytew October 01, 2023

Ваш ответ бесподобен… :)
even if only up to twenty% of spare parts come directly from factory manufacturer [url=http://www.kiaforum.net]KiaForum[/url] of the manufacturer kia.

Davidtaums October 01, 2023

Замечательно, весьма ценная информация
you about everything are talking about 6:30 in the morning. in February 2019, [url=http://ohlalafood.com/sausage-festival-chicago/]http://ohlalafood.com/sausage-festival-chicago/[/url] police arrested Jones at casino in Indiana after allegations of cheating at the desk for blackjack, at him he was sitting.

KerryMat October 01, 2023

долго вы будите искать такого чуда
Chief Operating Officer Richard Noble said that after consideration of his activity the current [url=https://visatrauli.co.in/casino-barcelona/]https://visatrauli.co.in/casino-barcelona/[/url] “does not seem commercially viable.”

RobLaday September 30, 2023
Размер пошлины может быть различной исходя из региона и определенной ситуации. Первым нюансом остается обращение в [url=http://a1agregator.ru/zhizn/osobennosti-izgotovleniya-nomerov-na-avtomobil.html]http://a1agregator.ru/zhizn/osobennosti-izgotovleniya-nomerov-na-avtomobil.html[/url] Госавтоинспекцию вашего региона.
Adambit September 30, 2023

Какая интересная мысль..
they make him maximum large object concentration and put room in “proud isolation" among the maddening [url=https://allianzcloud.com/2023/09/07/content-find-your-slot-casino/]https://allianzcloud.com/2023/09/07/content-find-your-slot-casino/[/url] with an inferior audience.

JessicaGof September 30, 2023

Подтверждаю. И я с этим столкнулся. Давайте обсудим этот вопрос. Здесь или в PM.
Покер – популярная карточная игра, [url=https://ncitsquared.co.za/2021/01/06/hello-world/]https://ncitsquared.co.za/2021/01/06/hello-world/[/url] история которой содержит не менее 500 лет. покер онлайн абсолютно не отличается от экологического Покера.

Tiffywax September 30, 2023

Comment