Today is Levi Strauss Day

Levi Strauss was a German-American businessman born in Bavaria on February 26th, 1829, who went to the United States with his family the mid-1800s when he was 18 years old. Strauss began as a dry goods wholesaler in San Francisco, California, where he sold various items such as clothing, bedding, bags and handkerchiefs to settlers, many of whom had arrived in California to take part in the gold rush.

One day in 1870, one of Strauss’ clients, a tailor named Jacob W. Davis was approached by a woman who needed a pair of exceptionally strong working trousers for her husband, a woodcutter. Her request prompted Davis to make a pair of trousers from the denim he’d bought at Strauss’ shop that he then strengthened with copper rivets to reinforce the stitching. Word of the new article of clothing and its endurance spread fast, and soon Davis was not able to keep up with the demand for his invention, nor did he have the resources to open a larger tailor shop or obtain a patent.

Falling further and further behind and afraid someone else would steal his idea, Davis decided to ask for Strauss’ financial backing in the filing of a patent application. Strauss agreed, the patent was issued, the two men became business partners, and Levi Strauss & Co was born.

My first pair of Levis cost 37/6 from Millets - I had great trouble convincing my Mum that they were worth the money.

Did you know that the little pocket was originally designed to hold a pocket watch?

 

I didn't know about the pocket watch, this now means I can get rid of all my waistcoats

 

I didn't know about the pocket watch either, every day is a school day

 

Here's a bloke that was so keen on jeans ,it's his name

 

Have you seen the price of Levis nowadays? Did we all use to sit in the bath in our new shrink to fit Levi’s?

 

I didn't know about the watch pocket either but I haven't worn jeans since I was at school!

 

I have over a dozen pairs of Levis... I'm not entirely sure why. When I find em cheap I just buy them!

 

...and end up with blue legs...

 

I bought a pair in New York a few months back for $17 they had been reduced by 50% and then on the day we went into the store they had a 50% flash sale going on. I would have bought a few pairs but they only had one in my size

 

Loons. I'll say no more.

 

Got my first pair from an advert in Melody Maker.

 

The original One-Time Trouser. If you washed them, they shrunk and cut off the blood supply to your genitals

 

That explains a lot

 

Yes I’ve seen the price , that’s why I now stick to Sainsbury’s stretch denims

 

I've still got a couple of pairs of 550s - I have ruined a few pairs in the past as did oil changes and running repairs on the MG wearing them - oil stains are a bugger to remove. I started buying Wranglers because they were cheaper - even they are going for silly prices now.

 

Dare I ask, what are loons?

 

Loons are class, mate. Brushed denim loons, cheesecloth shirt, you're sorted