History of Levi's Jeans
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis received a patent for placing rivets in men's work pants on May 20, 1873. Although denim had been invented much earlier, Strauss and Davis were the first to put rivets at stress points to create what we now call jeans.
Invention
- Davis, a tailor by trade, purchased fabric wholesale from Levi Strauss and Co. While searching for a way to reinforce pockets, Davis came up with the idea of rivets.
Partnership
- Lacking funds to file for a patent, Davis proposed a business partnership with Strauss. The two men filed jointly for the patent.
First Pair
- It is unknown when the first pair of Levi's jeans was actually produced. All of the corporate records were lost in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Name
- The first jeans were called "waist overalls," the term used for men's work pants at the time. They were originally designed to be worn over a regular pair of pants as a protective layer. After 1900 they were worn as pants on their own.
Modern Term
- The term "jeans" came into use in the 1960s.
Exclusivity
- From 1873 until the patent ran out in 1890, Levi Strauss and Co. was the only manufacturer that produced jeans. After 1890 many other companies began making their own versions.
Read more: History of Levi's Jeans | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5125108_history-levis-jeans.html#ixzz1Q6lpPoys
