1930s Levi’s Jeans Reflects Cowboy Lifestyle

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Levi’s 501 Jeans From The 1930’s

At the last Kingpins Show in Amsterdam denim designer and creative consultant Miles Johnson showcased a remarkable piece of blue gold: a vintage pair of 1930s Levi Strauss & Co. jeans. The iconic 501 jeans by the American denim brand was displayed in ‘The Boxes’ concept area at the denim fabric show. A curated area which highlights special and inspirational items from people all over the world.

More about the Kingpins Show can be read here. The next edition of the show will take place next week in New York on Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd!

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The Special Details Of The Jeans

This original vintage Levi’s 501 jeans offer a glimpse into the life of a true cowboy. They’ve been worn for years, washed countless times, repaired repeatedly, and even shortened. It shows beautifully how a vintage pair looks like worn so heavily.  

It features all the characteristics that you can expect from this era. The main features are;

  • Right-hand denim fabric. This fabric was milled by the legendary White Oak plant by Cone Denim.
  • Hidden rivets on the back pockets. This is to avoid scratching on leather saddles and sofas.
  • Cinch back on the back. The cinch back was part of every jeans until World War 2. They removed it during Wartime to save material. It never came back afterward.
  • Red Tab on the right back pocket. The Red Tab was introduced in 1936, so this pair was produced after its introduction. Learn more about the Red Tab here.
  • Back pocket arcuates are single stitched. These arcuates with these shape are also called ‘Crazy Eagle’ amongst denim collectors.
  • Washed out selvedge. Originally it shows a red selvedge ID, which is completely washed away during all the years. Something very common on vintage Levi’s jeans.
  • Lemon thread stitching.
  • Levi’s donut buttons on the fly showing Levi Strauss & Co. and a star.

The Hand-Carved Doll In Denim

In the back pocket, there’s a hand-carved doll dressed in a denim bib-overall and chambray shirt, holding a photo of a cowboy in action, a perfect tribute to the original wearer’s rugged lifestyle.

Miles Johnson shared about the picture: ‘’The picture was found at the Ventura swap meet, where I lived and worked for a while. It’s of two young cowboys and their prize-winning Hereford cattle. I come from the Herefordshire borders in England, where these cows originate from. In 1817, Henry Clay, a Kentucky Statesman, transported a Hereford bull all the way from the UK to the USA, to cross with the longhorn cattle already in the U.S. The journey was so arduous that in 1966 Hollywood made a movie, A Rare Breed, starring James Stewart. Nowadays you see the descendants of this enterprise all across the States.’’

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