History of blue jeans in the United States

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Many people are aware of the roots that blue jeans have in the United States. They are a symbol of everything America is supposed to be: free from the status quo. It is almost impossible to distinguish the social and economic status of any individual who wears a pair of them. They are an invention of Jacob Davis, but were made famous by businessman Loeb Strauss, who later changed his name to Levi. On May 7, 1873, the patent was received from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Jacob Davis had invented the riveted pockets of blue jeans at pocket stress points for a customer of his pants. The customer constantly teased Davis about the holes that developed in his pockets. It was this that gave Jacob the inspiration for riveted pockets. However, he did not have the $ 68 at the time to file a patent and wrote to Strauss offering to jointly file it with him in exchange for Strauss paying the patent filing fee.

For the next 25 years, while Levi Strauss & Co held the patent rights to the blue jeans, they became immensely popular with the working class. They were known for their great durability. Immediately after exclusive patent rights expired and the invention entered the public domain, many companies began manufacturing blue jeans. Because they were worn by the working class in the 19th century, they were a symbol of the working man. The wealthiest and most pampered members of society did not wear blue jeans during this time.

During World War II, blue jeans gained the overseas popularity that they had graced many years earlier in America. Foreigners admired the pants that American soldiers wore. The end result was that they were no longer uniquely Americans. Europeans and other foreigners can now enjoy the benefits of durable denim. Shortly after World War II, with jeans now internationally recognized as a comfortable and durable pair of pants, sales skyrocketed.

Jeans were a symbol of rebels for much of the 20th century, until the 1980s. Rebel figures like James Dean in movies wore jeans almost exclusively, while the more conservative generation did not. Blue jeans continued their tradition as a symbol of the revolution in the 60s and 70s, as they were the pants of choice among hippies. Jeans would become more common again in the 1980s.

The 1980s was when designers started creating and labeling their own jeans. It was during this period of time that jeans were a symbol of haute couture. Jeans sales soared during this decade. They were more accepted at this point than ever. Blue jeans fell out of favor in the decade after the 1980s when kids poked fun at the clothes their parents wore. While the boys still wore blue jeans, they had to be different from the traditional straight blue jeans their parents grew up in. As a result, many jeans manufacturers had to remodel their designs to keep up or face potential bankruptcy.

Blue jeans continue to be worn today and still hide the status of the wearer. Its robustness and durability appeal to both the poor and the rich. Today, jeans are making a comeback and traditional jeans manufacturers have fragmented as a result of the last two decades filling various niches. Whichever path blue jeans take, their roots are rooted in American soil.

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