Levi's 501

Back to the ideas wall
Who

Levi Strauss, a Bavarian Jewish immigrant, and tailor Jacob Davis, a Latvian Jewish immigrant

When

1873

Where

San Francisco, California, United States

The Levi's 501 is the original blue jean, worn around the world for 150 years. It grew out of the 1873 patent for riveted work trousers held by Levi Strauss, a Jewish immigrant from Bavaria who ran a dry-goods business, and Jacob Davis, a Jewish tailor from Latvia who devised the copper rivets. '501' was simply the lot number Levi Strauss & Co. assigned to the design.

Part of “The Gifts of the Jews” — verified Jewish contributions to the world, with sources.