Levi’s 501 Jean Celebrates its 144th Birthday with Special Anniversary Collection

by Madelyn Chung May 18, 2017

On May 20, 1873, a style icon was born. It was a simple piece, but it has since changed the way people dress, lasting through generations and worn by everyone from workers to rock stars and even presidents. Even designer Tom Ford himself said he wished he invented this very item of clothing.

Now, 144 years after its inception, the Levi’s 501 jean continues to be a style staple in virtually everyone’s wardrobes, especially since it can be easily styled to fit anyone’s own unique style, whether that be with a graphic tee and Chuck Taylors like Kurt Cobain or with a black turtleneck and New Balance sneakers a la Steve Jobs. And that’s the best part of the 501, which has since evolved into a family of many different fits — its premium quality and classic style combined with its affordable price point makes it accessible to everyone, everywhere.

The 501 jean has also played a big role in the music world, with big-named musicians such as Cobain, Beyoncé and Kanye West wearing the style. It is for this reason Levi’s has decided to celebrate the 501 jean’s 144th birthday with concerts held around the world (San Francisco, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Shanghai and Mumbai, to name a few) and a limited edition collection that honours rock ‘n’ roll. This collection will include a Men’s Celebration 501® Jean ($328) and Trucker Vest ($298), both featuring hand-distressed denim, scribbled embroidery and vintage customizations.

The collection is inspired by the Levi’s design team’s road trip to American music capitals of Austin, Nashville, New York and San Francisco. The team doodled and sketched memories from each leg of the tour, and combined the artwork so the celebration collection would have nods to each city —bats for Austin, Golden Gate Bridge for San Francisco, Folk City for New York and Music Row for Nashville.

In addition to the concerts and the limited-edition collection, Levi’s will also release its latest installment of the brand’s 501 documentary series. Called “The 501® Jean: Stories of an Original, Music,” it explores the relationship between music history, Levi’s and the 501, featuring iconic musicians such as Solange and Snoop Dogg.

The Levi’s 501 celebration collection will be available May 20 at select locations including Hudson’s Bay and Simons.

For a detailed history on the Levi’s 501 jean, check out the gallery below:

Photography courtesy of Levi Strauss & Co.

Photography via Wikimedia Commons

Photography courtesy of Levi Strauss & Co.

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Photography courtesy of Levi Strauss & Co.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1873 — The Birthday of the Blue Jean

Levi Strauss partners with Nevada tailor Jacob Davis on a patent to make the first riveted pockets on pants for working western pioneers using copper rivets at points of strain. This was the first iteration of the 501 jean, then known as XX. The original patent was granted on May 20, 1873, marking the birth of the American icon.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1890 — The 501 Jean Gets its Name

Levi’s originally used lot numbers to differentiate its various products. It was this year that the world-famous “copper riveted waist overalls” were dubbed the 501 jean.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1922 — Belt Loops Added

Belt loops were introduced to Levi’s jeans for the first time, based on customer demand.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1943 — Arcuate Stitching Design is Registered as a Trademark

The stitching, which can be found on the back pockets of the jean, remains one of the oldest clothing trademarks still in use today.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1950s — 501 Becomes a Symbol of Rebellion

The style is worn by everyone from James Dean to Marlon Brando, and is embraced by style icons after Marilyn Monroe is seen wearing them in the film River of No Return.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1964 — The 501 Jean Gets Inducted at the Permanent Collections of the Smithsoniinvite,
an Institution in Washington, D.C.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1960s and 1970s — The 501 Becomes Part of the Peace Movement

Millions of pairs of 501 jeans continue to be worn by young pioneers who are writing history.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1980s — The 501 Jean Becomes a Staple in Steve Jobs’ Signature Look

Levi’s later acquires his signature pair of 501 jeans for its archives.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

Jobs personalized his 501s with waistband buttons to accommodate suspenders.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1989 — Pioneers Continue to Wear the 501 Jean During the Fall of the Berlin Wall

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

1990s — The 501 Becomes Part of the Grunge Movement

It’s worn by legendary rockstars, including Kurt Cobain.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

2000 — 501 Jean Dubbed ‘Fashion Item of the 20th Century’ by Time Magazine

It beat out the miniskirt and the little black dress.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

2009 — Former U.S. President Barack Obama Wears Levi’s 501 Jeans to Throw the First Ball at the 2009 All-Star Baseball Game

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

2015 — Levi’s 501 CT (Customized & Tapered) Jean Launches

It’s a modern take on the classic with a custom taper, hence the name.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

2016 — 501 Stretch is Introduced

This marks the first time ever the 501 is offered in stretch. This style uses a proprietary 501 fabric that has all the properties of the original shrink-to-fit fabric.

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The History of Levi’s 501 Jean

2017 — The 501 Skinny Launches

A new take on the skinny jean: the customized slimmer leg gives it that coveted vintage look.

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