Few fashion items have had the longevity and popularity that Levi’s 501 jeans, which celebrated 150 years on May 20, have enjoyed for over a century. First created in the late 1800s, the denim style has evolved from a workwear necessity to a symbol of the ‘60s youth movement to a modern-day fashion insider’s wardrobe essential.
“The 501 is the first, it’s the original, and it’s our icon,” says Tracey Panek, who works as a historian for Levi’s. “It really is the blueprint for the modern blue jeans.”
Known for its button fly and a wide variety of fits, which range from the original straight-leg model to ’90s-style and skinny jeans, the 501s were first designed as “waist overalls,” featuring buttons, as well as a back cinch, for customers — primarily working men — to hook their suspenders. “It was a protective outer garment, and it was originally intended for blue-collar workers who needed tough work products,” says Panek. The original patent for this design was granted to Levi Strauss — the founder of Levi’s — in 1873, yet it wasn’t until 1890 when the lot number “501” started to be used to refer to the model. Subtle modifications were made: in 1901, the pockets became two…
