THIS YEAR MARKS the 150th anniversary of the garment that became the most popular item of apparel ever, turning the world indigo blue. On Tuesday 20 May 1873, Jacob W Davis and Levi Strauss & Co of San Francisco were granted US Patent No.139,121 for 'work pants: reinforced with metal rivets. The following month The Pacific Rural Press, a local San Francisco newspaper, carried a modest ad announcing the granting of the patent, concluding with the statement: 'Levi Strauss & Co of this city are sole agents for the new manufacture, and will soon place them in the market in large quantities, so that our miners, farmers and workingmen can supply themselves with superior overalls. Little could anyone have imagined quite how large those 'large quantities' would be.
Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss arrived in New York from Germany in 1847 to join his two brothers in their dry goods wholesale business just as the California Gold Rush kicked off. With thousands making their way west to seek their fortunes, the Strauss clan decided to join the 'rush' by dispatching Levi in 1854 to open a San Francisco branch.
At around the same time, 23-year-old tailor Jacob Youphes, born in Riga, Latvia, arrived in the US and changed his name to Jacob Davis. He settled in Reno, Nevada, making tents and horse blankets for workers on the Central Pacific Railroad, purchasing his material - nine-ounce 'serge de Nîmes' and ten-ounce white duck twill - from Levi Strauss.
Bu hikaye Octane dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Octane dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Will China Change Everything? - China is tearing up modern motor manufacture but is yet to make more than a ripple in the classic car world. That could be about to change dramatically
China now dominates the automotive world in a way even Detroit in its heyday would have struggled to comprehend.Helped by Government incentives, the new car world is dominated by China's industries: whether full cars that undercut Western models by huge amounts, ownership of storied European brands such as Lotus and Volvo, or ownership and access to the vast majority of raw materials that go into EV cars, its influence is far-reaching and deep. However, this automotive enlightenment hasn't manifested itself in the classic world in any meaningful way - until now.
Jem Marsh
The hard-bitten Marcos boss was driven like few others and never knew when he was beaten. Thankfully
Vandamm House
A Mid-Century Modernist masterpiece that was immortalised on celluloid - despite never actually existing
Making light
Alfa Romeo's post-war renaissance began with the 1900 saloon - and matured with Zagato's featherweight coupé version, as Jay Harvey discovers
FULL OF EASTERN PROMISE
Is burgeoning classic car interest in the Middle East good for the global classic market? Nathan Chadwick investigates
Before the beginning
This rare Amazon Green pre-production Range Rover is Velar chassis number 4. James Elliott charts its historically revealing factory restoration
Ben Cussons
As the outgoing chairman of the Royal Automobile Club hands on to his successor, Robert Coucher quizzes him about the evolution of this great British institution
BULLDOG & THE PUPPIES
We gather five motoring masterpieces by avant-garde designer William Towns - and drive all of them
Below the tip of the Audrain iceberg
As the Audrain organisation grows, we take a look behind the scenes at the huge car collection that feeds it
Flying the Scottish flag
Young Ecurie Ecosse driver Chloe Grant gets to grips with the Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type at Goodwood. Matthew Hayward is Octane's witness