I may chat about my books, what I'm writing or reading, or just general thoughts. You may read posts about my cats or just my crazy life in general. Comments are welcome, if anyone wants to interact with me. Maybe we can share war stories, whether it's writing related or just about life in general.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Blue Jeans are Timeless

Blue Jeans - Public Domain Photo

I know we all own at least one pair of good, old-fashioned blue jeans. They are so rugged and durable. What did people do before the invention of blue jeans?


Levi Strauss must have looked into the future. I wonder what he would think today. Tons of companies have jumped on this bandwagon, when they saw a good thing, and after the patent ran out. They have made millions of dollars manufacturing and selling blue jeans.

I want to tell you something about Levi Strauss and denim. Invented in 1873, by Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss, immigrants from Latvia and Germany, the first blue jeans used a canvas material and were sold as work wear. Eventually, these inventors dropped the canvas because it was stiff and they turned to denim, a fabric actually used for work wear dating back to the 1600’s in London. Later, with rivets added, the denim blue jeans we all know came to the marketplace.

Jacob came up with the idea of adding the rivets because one of his customers kept ripping the pockets right out of his work pants. However, he didn’t have the $68 to apply for a patent for his idea, so he approached Levi Strauss, who was supplying him with denim material, and together, as business partners, they applied for the patent, receiving it on May 20, 1873, the official birthday for blue jeans.

The two entrepreneurs added rivets to the work wear and had an exclusive here until the patent ran out. After it expired, dozens of people started making riveted clothing inspired by Levi’s jeans. The number 501 assigned to the pants in 1890 is still used today.

Levi's Blue Jeans - Public Domain Photo

The word jeans comes from the French phrase “bleu de Gênes.” This word literally means “the blue of Genoa.” Invented in Nimes, France, the original material denim, when Americanized, was “de Nim,” or “denim.” The word jean comes from sailors in Genoa, Italy.

Jeans became popular first as work pants because of durability, then in 1930’s westerns. In the 1940’s, soldiers wore them before they were seen in movies and on TV in the 1950’s. In the 1960’s, styles started changing and all of a sudden, we had embroidered jeans, painted jeans and psychedelic jeans. Bell-bottoms emerged on the scene.

Things went from there, and today, although they are about the same as they’ve always been, we have jeans in every shape and color, from sandblasted to dark blue and every shade in between, as well as some with elaborate decorations.

I think this fabric will outlast all others, as I have some jeans that are 40 years old and I still wear them. How many of you can say that? I’m glad they still fit and aren’t full of holes because it is very hard to find bell-bottom jeans today. Occasionally, I make my own, but that’s a lot of work, not to mention its very thick material to sew. It can be frustrating and I can break many needles in the process.

18 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Changes,

      Thanks for reading. I just read your informative article too. I may have posted a reply twice.

      Sunni

      Delete
  2. Interesting history about jeans, especially their name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jagoda,

      Yes, I learned soemthing too when researching that.

      Thanks for coming by.

      Sunni

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Texas Cat,

      Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I'm glad you liked that story.

      Sunni

      Delete
  4. I love wearing jeans (when they fit) and always buy Levi's, they are the best when it comes to jeans. Enjoyed reading about a bit of history.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rowena,

      Thanks for visiting. Levi's will probably always be the best.

      Sunni

      Delete
  5. First, I am amazed that you have made jeans. That is some serious skill you have there!

    Second, I couldn't function without jeans. I wear them all the time!

    I learned a lot today that I didn't know. Thanks!

    Lyre at Lyre's Musings #atozchallenge

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amy,

      Thamk you! Making jeans is VERY HARD to do. I love jeans too. I learned a lot by researching their history.

      Sunni

      Delete
  6. Yes, rugged, durable, and somehow they trigger a sense of wellbeing - how does that work, I wonder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Rite of Passage.

      I certainly agree. Thanks for reading and commenting.

      Sunni

      Delete
  7. I would be lost without my jeans. Thanks for the backstory!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Clean Slate,

      I think we all would be lost without blue jeans. Thanks for reading and posting.

      Sunni

      Delete
  8. A nice comfy pair of jeans will never go out of style. Great word for the day!

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Kristen,

    You're right about that - jeans will never go out of style.

    I had to really think about some of these letters. I've got some wacky things coming up.

    I'll check out your blog now. I'm trying to visit a few tonight before it gets too late around here again.

    Sunni

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great post. So much I never knew about blue jeans, though I wear them almost every day. This was a fun and delightful explanation. Really fine writing. Thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael,

      Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment.

      I'm glad you enjoyed that bit of history.

      Sunni

      Delete

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comment on my posts. I appreciate it.
Sunni